ABSTRACT
American singer and composer, born in Gainesville, Texas. After serving with U.S. forces in France during World War I as a bugler, he formed a dance band (playing piano), worked in vaudeville, and then became a successful crooner and radio personality. He began recording for Vocalion in 1924, but his first great success did not come until 1927, when he wrote and recorded “My Blue Heaven” (Victor 20964); a copy of which was placed in the Smithsonian Institution as an exemplar of the fine music of the day. A second hit came in the following year, “Voice of the Southland” (Victor 21714). Another best seller was “Ramona,” a vocal solo with pipe organ and instrumental backup (Victor 21334; 1928). Austin also composed (with Roy Bergere) the successful songs “How Come You Do Me Like You Do?” and “When My Sugar Walks Down the Street.” In 1948 Universal Records acquired the rights to the Austin masters and reissued many of the favorites. “Too Late” (Victor 6880; 1957) was his final chart appearance. He died in Palm Springs, California. [Magnusson 1983 is a complete discography; Walsh 1957/2-3.]
Australian soprano, born Florence Wilson in Richmond. After study in Melbourne, she went to England for a debut at Covent Garden as Brünnhilde-a role she sang without peers-on 16 May 1922; her later roles there were Isolde and Aida. Her Victor records include “Yo-ho-he!” from Fliegende Holländer(#7117), an aria from the Brahms Requiem (#9395) and the part of Brünnhilde in the Gotterdämmerung set (#M-60). For the Gramophone Co. she recorded the church scene from Faust with Feodor Chaliapin (#DB899), and “O terra addio” with Miguel Fleta (#DB580). Austral made a total of 102 recordings, encompassing lieder, oratorio, Wagnerian roles, and both dramatic and lyric roles from the Italian/French repertoire. Fred Gaisberg of the Gramophone Co. said that “in the early twenties, Florence Austral was the most important recording soprano we had.” [White 1962.]
