Frank Valentino

Born Francis Valentine Dinhaupt in New York in 1907, Valentino and his family moved to Denver when he was 11 and he began to study music there.

An Italian producer decided his name was "too American" and christened him Francesco Valentino, a stage name that stuck throughout his career.

During the late 1920s and 1930s, Valentino performed at the major European theaters including La Scala in Milan and Glyndebourne in England.

Valentino returned to America in 1940 where he began an association with the Metropolitan Opera, appearing in 26 roles over 21 seasons and never missing a scheduled performance.

During his years at Peabody he lived in Severna Park, Maryland, later moving to Fairfax, Virginia where he died, of renal failure, at age 84.