Growing up, Carl Tanner did his best to hide his vocal talent. He played keyboard in a rock band in high school but was reluctant to let out his booming voice. Eventually, a friend overheard him singing and pushed him to join the school choir. His natural ability stunned the instructor, and he started singing hymns at church, too.

Even though he got a degree related to vocal performance, he never saw himself making a living as an opera singer. Instead, to his mother鈥檚 chagrin, he got his commercial driver鈥檚 license and became a truck driver. He supplemented his meager trucker income by working as a bounty hunter on nights and weekends.

After a few traumatic bounty pick-ups and aptly timed comments about his potential future as a singer, Tanner decided to take the risk and move to New York City to pursue a career in opera. His voice caught the attention of people high-up in the world of opera in the early 90s, and his career took off. He has performed at some of the world鈥檚 most prestigious concert halls, and now that he is a veteran of the opera scene, he hopes to see opera shed its reputation of a high-brow art form only accessible to the elite.

joins host Frank Stasio in studio to perform the aria 鈥淰esti La Giubba鈥� from the opera 鈥淧agliacci.鈥� The at the Raleigh Memorial Auditorium at the Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts Friday, Jan. 24 and Sunday Jan. 26.