Who is Hope Foy?

Answer 1

Hope Foye is a progressive and African American singer. Foye began singing in New York cafes around the time of WWII and eventually would get the opportunity to perform with such established acts as The Weavers, Pete Seeger, and noted jazz pianist Mary Lou Williams. She also occasionally appeared on radio. One noted radio performance had her singing the pro racial and ethnic tolerance song, "The House I Live In", in an episode of "Arch Oboler's Plays" which bore the same title as the song.

Like the Weavers and Seeger, Foye sung many similar populist songs. But those songs, and her association with such progressives artists as Seeger and Paul Robeson, caused her to be brought in front of the Senate Internal Security Sub-Committee in the early 50s. This was one of the committees that engaged in communist witch hunts as well as legitimate investigations. The committee interrogation caused Foye to be blacklisted by the entertainment industry, as were Seeger and many others.

She moved to Mexico were she achieved her fame as an concert singer and talk show host. She later repeated her success as a soprano in Europe.

In February, 2011, a documentary on her life called "Red Hope" was released. There is also a CD of some of her well known performances.