William Warfield was a Black American actor and singer who earned both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in music and was fluent in several languages. He served in the U.S. Army as one of the few Black service members known as “Ritchie Boys,” who trained in military intelligence and interrogation at Fort Ritchie, Maryland. However, due to segregation, he was not permitted to utilize these skills and instead oversaw musical entertainment. In his later career, Warfield performed with prestigious ensembles like the Philadelphia Orchestra and the New York Philharmonic. He also made appearances on popular programs such as The Ed Sullivan Show and taught music at multiple universities.