ABSTRACT

English/American ballad singer, born in Cornwall. His surname-Cornish, not Spanishis pronounced as one syllable, to rhyme with rose. When his father died, Jose was sent to America to stay with an uncle in Nevada; he was shipwrecked in the crossing, but eventually arrived in Nevada, only to find there was no uncle there. He apprenticed to a blacksmith, but also studied singing. An opportunity to sing with Reed’s Minstrels in San Francisco created a great sensation. He then sang with Lew Dockstader’s company, and in the New York play The Old Homestead during 1887-1895. Victor signed him in 1903, and he made a best-selling disc in October, “Silver Threads among the Gold” (2556). Another popular disc, “Abide with Me”(16660), remained in the catalog until 1923. Jose was the first singer identified on record as a “countertenor.” Soon he was described as the best-paid ballad singer in the world. However, after an on-stage accident in 1905 he made no more records. He was seen, not heard, in the film, Silver Threads among the Gold in 1915. Jose retired from public performance in 1920 and became a civil servant in California; he then returned to sing on radio from 1931 until his death in San Francisco a decade later. [Walsh 1950/3-4-5.]

French bass, born in Grasse. He studied at the Paris Conservatory, and made his operatic debut at Bezières in Favorite in 1891, after which he appeared at Covent Garden during 1893-1900, and Brussels in 1894-1900. Journet made his American debut at the Metropolitan Opera in 1900 and stayed with the company until 1908, when he returned to Europe until 1914. During World War I he was with the Chicago Opera, then he returned to France. He died in Vittel.