The record-union., 1898-03-28
HARRY GILLIG'S RARE VOICE,
IT WILL SOON BE HEARD ON
THE STAGE.
He Is About to Tour the Country
With a Company of Noted
Artists.

Sacramento has given to the world
not few of its lyric stars. and. accord
| ing to reports in the Eastern papers.
another native of the Capital City is
about to branch out as a vocalist. This
time it is Harry Gillig, the husband Of
| Amy Crocker.
| Mr. Gilligs fine tenor voice has al
ways been a subject Of remark among
his friends, and several noted artists
have advised him to turn his attention
to opera. But Harry has been too good
| to himself to go to SO much trouble,
and has been putting in many years in
making long Journeys in his yacht, sur
rounded by congenial companions, and
in seeing the wonders Of the world
At last, however, these have begun to
lose their attraction for him. and ne mas
really settled down to a siege of voice
culture in Paris, preparatory to making
q tour of the United States with the
New York Lambs Club Of minstrels
The gang viii set out in June next,
and are under engagement to appear iE
seven Of the largest cities of the Union
| The company will include all the promi-
nent American composers, singers and
comedians in the country, and these
artists will receive the smallest salaries
that have ever been paid by the profess
sion, each one having signed a contract
| with the manager to give his services
for the seven performances for the sum
! of one dollar.
Here is what prominent journal has
to say of Mr.. Gillig:
Harry Gillig will make one Of a
quadruple quartet, when the public will
have an opportunity of hearing his su-
perb voice, which should have been
given to the world long ere this His
friends, enthusiastic as to this wonder
full gift, have always contended that
had he not spent the years in travel he
would long ago have directed his best
efforts toward delighting vast audi
ences. His voice, which is pure tenor
of marvellous richness and mellowness,
| has had little or no cultivation.
During his days at Harvard he re-
ceived five lessons from Professor
Adams, who accepted the modest little
stipend of $40 in exchange for a few
minutes of his time. But the professor
was so charmed with young Gillig's
voice that he offered to fit him for the
operate stage, only asking in return
that he would promise him certain
percentage of the proceeds accruing
from his first years engagement.
Patti also averred that the young
man had a brilliant future before him
on the lyric stage, and urged him to
give up everything to that end. Some
years ago, when Adelina Patti was
making one of her farewell tours of this
State, Mr.. Gillig, with several Of his
| friends, happened to be in Los Angeles
urh Sha arriv fn no
hotel one evening, the young man sere-
naded her, and SO huge was her enjoy
ment of the performance that she joined
them in their choruses, and finally in
vited them into her apartments and in
sisted upon the young tenor singing
song after song to her while she listen
ed in eCStatic silence.
Harry Gillig is the son of John Gill
lig, and was born in Sacramento some
forty yeGS5 ago. He is a member of the
Bohemian Club, and in 1889 married
Amy Crocker Since his marriage he
and his wife, with Frank Unger as
| travelling companion have spent the
years in globe-trotting. He traversed
| the length and width of India, endeav
oring to find the Logi, or wise men, that
he might see their wonderful exhibi-
tions of the black art. Although he
never found them, he picked up many
of the tricks of the fakirs, and, seated
cross-legged upon the floor, he can give
as pretty and clever a performance as
one could wish to see.
Mr.. Gillig is also a well-known club
man in New York, and is tremendously
liked, being the most popular commo-
dore that the Larchmont Yacht Club
has ever had. 1t is almost safe to pre-
diet that, unless the spots on the sun
develop into another world and knock
the poor old earth into smithereens, it
will not be many years before Mr.. Gill
lig's friends will have an opportunity
of seeing him in grand opera"