Renowned tenor John McCormack performed around the world during the first few decades of the twentieth century. He was born in 1884 in Athlone, Ireland, son of a foreman at the Athlone Woollen Mills. He began his formal training with Dr. Vincent O’Brien in Dublin and, in 1903, had his first big musical success as winner of the Dublin Feis Ceoil competition. After receiving operatic training from Maestro Vincenzo Sabatini in Milan, McCormack debuted at London’s Covent Garden in 1907. He went on to perform in such operas as Don Giovanni, La Bohème, and Romeo and Juliet. McCormack debuted at the Manhattan Opera House in 1909, and toured Australia with soprano Nellie Melba in 1911. McCormack rose to prominence in the United States as an operatic performer, recitalist and recording artist. He became an American citizen in 1917. In the 1920s and 1930s, McCormack toured the world performing a unique repertoire combining classical music, ballads, sacred music and sentimental popular songs. McCormack was also a pioneering radio performer as a frequent guest and host of his own program, and his commercial recordings sold in the millions.

McCormack was a devoted Catholic, and in 1928 he was made a papal count by Pope Pius XI. He was known for his charitable efforts, performing for the war efforts in both world wars. In 1930, he starred in the film, Song o’ My Heart, and he also appeared in the 1937 film Wings of the Morning. McCormack retired from performing in 1938 and stopped singing altogether after 1942, when he developed emphysema.

McCormack married Lily Foley in 1906, and they had two children, Cyril and Gwen. He died on September 16, 1945, and is buried in Deansgrange Cemetery on the outskirts of Dublin.

Sources:

Baker, Anne Pimlott. “McCormack, John Francis (1884–1945).” In Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, edited by H. C. G. Matthew and Brian Harrison. Oxford: OUP, 2004. https://doi.org/10.1093/ref:odnb/40983 (accessed August 20, 2009).

Shawe-Taylor, Desmond. "McCormack, John." In Grove Music Online. Oxford Music Online, https://doi.org/10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.article.17305 (accessed August 20, 2009).

Frederick M. Manning (1938-1999) was the son of Frank Manning, who knew John McCormack as a young singer in Athlone and became a friend and early supporter of McCormack’s musical career. Frederick Manning, in turn, became a friend to the McCormack family and a supporter of John McCormack’s musical legacy. Manning was an expert collector and lecturer on the life and work of John McCormack. He was a founding member of the John McCormack Society of America (founded in 1950), the society’s first secretary and an honorary life-long vice-president.

Sources:

“Boston Lyric Opera John McCormack Week, 1985 March 4-10,” program, box 9, folder 33, Frederick M. Manning Collection of John McCormack Materials, IM.M035.1998, John J. Burns Library, Boston College.