05/21/2026
We are mourning the loss of tenor Limmie Pulliam along with the global musical community. The outpourings of grief and expressions of love for him come as no surprise to us, and we echo all of them.
Working with Limmie was a real pleasure and privilege. This past September 14th, 2025, Limmie and his collaborative partner Mark Markham opened our season with a varied recital of spirituals, opera arias, and an incredible rendition of “Make Them Hear You” from the musical Ragtime. If you were in attendance, you know that Limmie and Mark knocked it out of the park.
This is a tragedy in so many ways; Limmie was only 51 years old, and an extremely kind, generous, and thoughtful person. He took time to ask me and our interns about our lives, interests, and musical pursuits before his performance. And then, of course, his singing left everyone's jaws on the floor.
His talent was beyond measure. In my humble opinion, his was one of the greatest voices of all time. While his singing was perhaps the most powerful I've ever heard live, he also imbued everything he sang with nuance and artfulness. His sotto voce passages were just as beguiling as his fortissimo moments.
Many thanks to Paul Sponseller for supporting Limmie's performance with us, and to Mark Markham for his amazing collaborative work with Limmie over the years.
And, thanks to you, our CC2nd audience, for making Limmie's time in Baltimore special--his concert still stands out, to me, as one of the most thrilling performances CC2nd has ever presented.
Rest in peace, dear Limmie.
