John McCormack (14 June 1884 - 16 September 1945), was a world-famous Irish… Read Full Bio ↴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, the fourth of eleven children of Andrew and Hannah Watson on 14 June 1884, and was 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 McCormack made his first important operatic appearance at Covent Garden in Mascagni's 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.
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 was the first artist to record It's a Long Way to Tipperary, in 1914. 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.
To many people the highlight of McCormack's Irish career was his singing of César Franck's Panis Angelicus to the thousands who thronged Dublin's Phoenix Park for the 1932 Eucharistic Congress.
He was much honoured and decorated for his services to the world of music. His greatest honour came in 1928, when 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 officially recognised within only the Catholic Church ever.
McCormack retired in 1944, and died the following year at his home in Glena, Booterstown, Dublin.
John Francis McCormack was born in Athlone, Ireland, the fourth of eleven children of Andrew and Hannah Watson on 14 June 1884, and was 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 McCormack made his first important operatic appearance at Covent Garden in Mascagni's 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.
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 was the first artist to record It's a Long Way to Tipperary, in 1914. 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.
To many people the highlight of McCormack's Irish career was his singing of César Franck's Panis Angelicus to the thousands who thronged Dublin's Phoenix Park for the 1932 Eucharistic Congress.
He was much honoured and decorated for his services to the world of music. His greatest honour came in 1928, when 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 officially recognised within only the Catholic Church ever.
McCormack retired in 1944, and died the following year at his home in Glena, Booterstown, Dublin.
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Legends of Another Era: John Mccormack; Bigger Than the Beatles in the Early 1900's
John Mccormack Lyrics
A Little Bit of Heaven There's a dear old land of leprechauns And wondrous wishing …
Ave Maria Ave Maria, Hear my cry O guide my path, Where no harm, no…
Believe me if all those endearing young charms Believe me if all those endearing young charms: to my…
Bless This House Bless this house, O Lord we pray, Make it safe by…
Drink To Me Only DRINK to me only with thine eyes, And I will pledge…
I Hear You Calling Me I hear you calling me You called me when The moon had…
I'll Walk Beside You 'll walk beside you through the world today While dreams and…
It's A Long Way To Tipperary Up to mighty London came An Irish lad one day, All…
Jeannie With the Light Brown Hair I dream of Jeannie with the light brown hair Borne, like…
Kathleen Mavourneen The horn of the hunter is heard on the hill. The…
Keep the Home Fires Burning They were summoned from the hillside They were called in fro…
Mother Machree There's a spot in my heart, Which no colleen may own. There'…
Send Me Away With A Smile Little girl don't cry I must say goodbye Don't you hear the…
She Moved Thro' the Fair My young love said to me, My mother won't mind And my…
Terence's Farewell to Kathleen So, my Kathleen, you're going to leave me All alone by…
The Garden Where the Praties Grow Have you ever been in love me boys, Or have you…
The Kerry Dance Oh the days of the Kerry dancing Oh the ring of…
The Star of the County Down Near Banbridge Town in the County Down One morning last July…
The Sunshine of Your Smile Dear face that holds so sweet a smile for me Were…
When Irish Eyes Are Smiling There's a tear in your eye, And I'm wondering why, For it…