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From singing radio commercials to achieving international fame as a soprano opera singer, Beverly Sills devoted her life to performing, making her singing debut at the age of two. During her career she performed in more than 90 opera roles. She ended her singing career in 1980 claiming that she wanted to "put my voice to bed so it will go quietly, with pride." Beverly Sills was born Belle Miriam Silverman to parents of Russian-Jewish descent. She won first prize in the Miss Beautiful Baby of 1932 contest singing "The Wedding of Jack and Jill." Recognizing Beverly's talents, her mother sent her to dance, piano, and voice lessons, the latter at the age of seven with popular singer Estelle Leibling. Sills did several radio commercials and a show on WOR radio called Uncle Bob's Rainbow House, where she had a singing and tap dancing routine. In 1938, she sang and tap danced in the film Uncle Sol Solves It. At the age of 12, Sills temporarily "retired" from singing to pursue an education....