ED GORDON, host: Lyric soprano Helen Phillips has died.  Phillips broke the color barrier      at New York's Metropolitan Opera 58 years ago.  While the Met had no      official policy banning blacks, in 1947, Phillips became the first      African American in the opera's chorus when she was chosen to fill in at      the last moment.  Her performance would proceed opera singer Marian      Anderson's debut by seven years. Phillips went on to perform with      orchestras in Madrid and St. Louis.  In 1954, she performed the part of      Queenie in "Show Boat" at New York City Center.  Phillips died of heart      failure July 27th.  She was 86 years old.  She will be buried tomorrow in      her hometown of St. Louis, Missouri.
Ed Gordon remembers Helen Phillips, who preceded Marian Anderson as the first African-American soprano on the stage of the Metropolitan Opera in New York City. She died last month at age 86.