In 1929 , Mobley auditioned for the Indian Ceremonials at the Hollywood Bowl . She was discovered by Charles Wakefield Cadman , who launched her career . At this time she adopted the name " Lushanya " , meaning " songbird " , and she was henceforth frequently known as the " Songbird of the Chickasaws " . Invited by a promoter to appear in Germany , she received scholarships to study opera at the Berlin University of the Arts and the Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia in Rome in the early 1930s . In 1935 she appeared in the annual performance of '' The Song of Hiawatha '' by Samuel Coleridge-Taylor at the Royal Albert Hall in London , singing the role of Minnehaha . She continued to sing solo roles in Los Angeles and Chicago , notably taking on the title role of '' Aida '' with the Chicago Opera Company in Trieste , the first person of native American descent to perform the part . Another signature piece was Cadman 's opera '' Shanewis '' . Mobley was the first American Indian to sing at La Scala . She performed at the 1936 Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia . The following year she sang at the coronation of George VI of the United Kingdom . She also traveled overseas to entertain American soldiers during World War II . Mobley later married Ramón Vinay , retiring to manage his career . She died in Fort Worth , and is buried in her hometown of Ardmore
1936 Democratic National Convention
1936 Democratic National Convention
Tessie Mobley