The record-union., 1892-07-25
COUNTER TENOR JOSE.
He Sang for Charley Reed in the
Golden Eagle Hotel.
His Professional Career Began Here
In Sacramento-He Was Black
smith at Reno, Nevada.

Few Of the hundreds of Sacramentans
who heard the wonderful singing of
Richard J. Jose, with the Tuxedo Conn
pany last week, were aware that it was
right here in this city that that phenome
nal vocalist made his start in the pro-
fessional musical world.
But such is the case nevertheless.
Mr.. Jose is a native of Cornwall, Eng
land, and is % years of age. When quite
young he came to this country, anchoring
at Reno. Nevada, where he was taken
into the family of w. j. Luke, a
blacksmith OF that city. Mr.. Jose
was learned the smithy's art, and it
was while he was engaged in drumming
out horseshoes that it was discovered that
he had wonderfully sweet and powerful
counter-tenor voice. 1t was thought at
first that it was simply boy-voice, and
that it would soon break into lower reg
lister. But as time rolled along the young
fellows voice became set and still re-
tanned its fullness and richness, without
breaking particle.
Some eight years ago some professional
people heard hickey" as he wasifamil-
larly called in Reno, and some one of
them told Charlie Reed, the minstrel,
about his voice. Reed was on a tour OF
the State with his company at the time,
and had just landed in Sacramento He
telegraphed for Jose, saying he would
pay his expenses if he would come to
Sacramento and give a sample of what
he could do. Jose was ambitious and
Jumped at the proposition. He left for
Sacramento the next day. He found
Reed at the Golden Eagle Hotel and the
latter, accompanied by several members
of his company, took the young fellow
into the parlor and sat him down at the
piano. Jose sang simple little melody
for them, and it set them into ecstacies.
Reed signed him at once, and Jose sang
in San Francisco few nights later. His
success dated from the first note he
trilled.
After playing the season out with Reed,
Jose Joined the Birch and Cotton COM
bination and then went east to New
York, to join Dockstadter's Minstrels.
Here he made his great hit with the song,
with all her faults" He had a falling
out with Dockstadter, and the latter inn
ported a tenor from England to sing
with all her faults" advertising ex-
tensively that he would back his new
man against Jose tor $4,000. Jose ac-
copied the challenge and date
was set when both should sing. The
audience was to be provided with blanks
and were to cast their votes after the two
singers finished. The house was packed,
but when Jose put in an appearance at the
stage door he was refused admittance.
the object being to make the audience be-
lieve he was afraid to put in an appear
ance. But the young fellow was not to
be denied in that way. He went around
to the front entrance, paid for his admis-
sion and then addressed the audience
explaining what had been done
from the orchestra. The people became
wild and carried him upon the stage.
The singing contest finally came off and
then the votes were counted. The Eng
ishman had two votes and Jose had the
balance of the house. After leaving
Dockstadter Jose joined the "Old Home
stead' company, singing in the church
scene. Then he joined Thatcher and is
with him yet.