 Tibbett also featured Porgy's songs on his recital programs. George Gershwin admired Tibbett. Everybody did. His popularity was phenomenal. But Tibbett never sang and acted Porgy in a full production. By the time he was signed to do that in Europe in 1953, his voice was shot and he had to withdraw. So far as I'm aware, no white baritone has ever sung Porgy on stage in the United States.