Edward Pleasant, baritone, is recognized as one of the most versatile performers of his generation. Critically acclaimed in both opera, musical theater and recordings, he has distinguished himself as a gifted actor with brilliant comic timing and a luscious baritone voice. Pleasant champions the proliferation of the artistic contributions of early 20th century African-American writers, singers and composers, through live performances and recordings, propelling their works into the 21st century for the education and enjoyment of today\'s global audience. He appears on no less than a dozen recordings and operatic compilations.

Mr. Pleasant appears in the Paragon Ragtime Orchestra\'s recordings, Black Manhattan Vol. 1, Vol. 2 and Vol. 3.  These recordings for New World Records garnered praise for Pleasant\'s performances as being "marvelous" and "beautifully sung".  He can also be heard in the definitive recording of Scott Joplin\'s Treemonisha, also for New World Records. This historic recording was designated a BBC Music Magazine Opera Choice and Gramophone Magazine Editor\'s Choice in the year of its release. His discography also includes a recording of The Seven Last Words of Christ for Gothic Records, Kurt Weill\'s The Flight of Lindbergh for Voices International, and a special 250th Anniversary edition of The Music of Mozart for the Madacy label. Pleasant is also the demonstration voice on the popular Karaoke Opera Series recordings of baritone arias. His latest project is a recording of the music of Irving Berlin for New World Records.

A native of Midland, Texas, Pleasant gained national attention when he appeared with the New York City Opera as Jake in Porgy and Bess, which included an Emmy-nominated Live from Lincoln Center telecast on PBS. This historic telecast marked the first time a live performance of the Gershwin masterpiece had ever been televised. He reprises this role both nationally and abroad. Mr. Pleasant returned to New York City Opera in other productions, including the premiere of Margaret Garner by Richard Danielpour and Toni Morrison and their annual Vox Series showcases. Additional roles include Don Alfonso in Cosi fan tutee, Giuseppe Palmieri in The Gondoliers, Pish-Tush in The Mikado, Nardo in La Finta Giardiniera, Jacques in The New Moon, Zodzetrick in Joplin\'s Treemonisha, Harriet Tubman\\'s father in a touring production of Freedom Train and Coalhouse Walker in Ragtime, the Musical. Recent career highlights include his being the first to realize the role of Sam Perry in a contemporary opera entitled Strange Fruit by Chandler Carter and Joan Ross Sorkin for Harlem School of the Arts, and his starring in a one man show about the life of Nat "King" Cole called Sincerely, Nat, which Pleasant also wrote and produced.

Pleasant performs on the world\'s most prestigious concert stages, including Avery Fisher Hall, Alice Tully Hall, and Carnegie Hall. He appeared as a soloist with the world-renowned Moses Hogan Chorale and he has sung in other prominent venues such as the Texas State Capitol and the White House.  Pleasant has performed with the National Philharmonic in a concert version of Porgy and Bess at the Strathmore Arts Complex, North Bethesda, Maryland. He has performed Antonin Dvorak\'s Hiawatha Melodrama in an innovative multimedia presentation. His numerous oratorio and orchestral credits include Bach\'s St. John Passion and Christmas Oratorio, Beethoven\'s Mass in C, Brahms\' Requiem, Ellington\'s Sacred Selections, Handel\'s Messiah, Vaughan Williams\' Five Mystical Songs and Robert Ray\'s Gospel Mass. He is in high demand as a narrator/storyteller performing the perennial children\'s favorites Peter and the Wolf, Carnival of the Animals, Tubby the Tuba, The Thrill of the Orchestra and most recently a new work, Uzu and Muzu from Kakaruzu.