John McCormack
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- This article concerns the Irish tenor. For the U.S. political leader, see John William McCormack.
Irish_Stamp_John_McCormack.jpg
John McCormack (14 June, 1884 - 16 September, 1945), was a world-famous Irish tenor in the fields of opera and popular music, and renowned for his flawless diction and superb breath control.
John Francis McCormack was born in Athlone, Ireland. John Francis McCormack was born the fourth of eleven children of Andrew and Hannah Watson on 14 June 1884, baptised in St. Mary's Church, Athlone on 23 June 1884. His father was employed in Athlone Woollen Mills. John received his early education from the Marist Brothers in Athlone, and later attended Summerhill College, Sligo. In 1903 he won the coveted gold medal in the Dublin Feis Ceoil and it was this event which set him on his climb to success. John married Lily Foley in 1906 and the couple had two children Cyril and Gwen. Fundraising enabled his voice to be trained under Sabbatini in Italy. In 1907 John Count McCormack made his first important operatic appearance at Covent Garden in Cavalleria Rusticana. By 1912 he began to turn his attention to the concert stage, where his voice quality and charisma ensured that he became the greatest lyric tenor of his day.
A man who was much honoured and decorated for his services to the world of music. His greatest honour was bestowed upon him in 1928 when he was rewarded for his work for Catholic charities by being made a Count of the Papal Court. He made numerous recordings, the first on phonograph cylinder in 1904. His most commercially successful series of records were those for the Victor Talking Machine Company in the 1910s and 1920s. He also regularly broadcast on the radio and appeared in a number of sound films.
In 1917 he became a naturalized citizen of the United States.
In 1928 he received the title "Count" from Pope Pius XI in recognition of his work for Catholic charities. Although he often came to be referred to as "Count" John McCormack in his professional life, this title was only ever officially recognised within the Catholic Church. As an American citizen, he was prevented by American law from assuming any title bestowed by foreign governments or organisations.
To many people the highlight of McCormack's Irish career was his singing of Panis Angelicus to the thousands who thronged Dublin's Phoenix Park for the 1932 Eucharistic Congress.
McCormack retired in 1944, and died the following year at his home in Glena, Booterstown, Dublin.
External links
- The John McCormack Society (http://www.mccormacksociety.co.uk/)
- McCormack on Tenorland.com (http://tenorland.com/mccormack.html)
- John McCormack Page on Jump.net (http://www.jump.net/~pwworth/) with discographyga:John McCormack