Marguerite Piazza (née Luft; born 6 May 1926 [?], New Orleans) is an American soprano and entertainer.
In 1935, Piazza was the first Queen of the Krewe of Virgilians, during Mardi Gras, in New Orleans. A 1940 graduate of Loyola University of the South's College of Music, she then studied at Louisiana State University, where she was a student of the baritone Pasquale Amato. In 1944, Piazza joined the New York City Opera, in its first Spring Season, as the youngest member of the company. Her first role at the City Center was Nedda in Pagliacci, and in subsequent seasons she appeared in La bohème (as Musetta), Der Zigeunerbaron, Don Giovanni (as Donna Elvira), Amelia al ballo (as Amelia) and Troubled Island. In New Orleans she made her first appearance with the New Orleans Opera Association in Martha (in 1945), followed by Hänsel und Gretel (as Gretel), as well as the title role in Il segreto di Susanna.
In 1950, Piazza made her Broadway debut, in Happy as Larry, with Burgess Meredith directing and starring in the title rôle, and Alexander Calder designing. As a result of that production, the soprano was invited to join the cast of the NBC television program "Your Show of Shows," with Sid Caesar and Imogene Coca from 1950 to 1954.
La Piazza made her debut at the Metropolitan Opera in 1951, as Rosalinde von Eisenstein in Die Fledermaus. Following the end of "Your Show of Shows," she embarked on a career in supper and night clubs, bringing her further acclaim as an entertainer.
During the 1950s Piazza was a paid spokeswoman for Camel cigarettes. In 1968, she endured three cancer-related operations on her face. In 1973, she was treated successfully for cervical and uterine cancer.
Piazza had four marriages and six children. In 1975, one of her sons committed suicide, according to her autobiography.
Piazza has done extensive performing and philanthropy in Memphis, Tennessee. She is a longtime supporter of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and has sung the national anthem before 27 Liberty Bowl football games. [1]
Piazza is celebrated for her extensive efforts regarding various charities, especially the annual Marguerite Piazza Gala.[2]
On January 15, 1973, the Willis Music Company published Marguerite Piazza's Christmas Carol Sing-Along Party. Piazza's autobiography (co-authored with her daughter, Marguerite Bonnett), Pagliacci Has Nothing on Me!, was published in 2007 (ISBN 978-1-84728-394-8).