The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1911-08-22
MOBILE SINGER
SAID To BE THE
PEEROF CARUSO
SENSATION CAUSED BY Mr.. TAN
NENRAUM's ANNOUNCEMENT
"RAFFERTY" TURNS OUT TO BE
eA5E cHAM5LIN, JR., OF MO-
BILE, WHO is NOW EN- ROUTE
TO NEW YORK.

With a tentative contract to sing a
star part In the new Victor Herbert
opera, THE Enchantress," in his
pocket and heralded as a tenor who.
in many ways, is superior to Caruso,
De Reszke or any Of the other tenors
OF recent years, Gabe Chamblin, Jr,
well known young man of Mobile,
Is on his way to New York, where he
win appear before some of the most
noted operatfc managers in the coun-
try, at their request The trip of Mr..
Chamblin followed the assertion of
Jake Tannenbaum Of the Mobile thea
ter, that Mobile had a tenor whose like
had never been heard on the operatic
stage. and the interest aroused by the
statement resulted in an offer of trans
portation If the Mobile Caruso would
make the journey to the metropolis of
the east and show what he could do.
The story of Mr. Tannenbaunn's an
nouncement is told by Rennald Wolf,
in the New York Telegraph, as fol-
lows:
~As duly recorded earlier in the
week, Herr Jake Tannenbaum, the
grand old impresario of Mobile, Ala,
is in town. Rialtoites have assumed
that his visit here at this time has no
more portent than of his regular
annual pilgrimages. but the fact is
that on this occasion Mr.. Tannen-
baum is here to give opera a little
lift.
AS a fiddler par excellence, a re-
tired musical director and the pro-
prietor of one of the best overnight
stand play houses in America. Mr.
Tannenbaum is an advocate of three
star and ninety-nine per cent, pure
art. Consequently when he boldly an
nouced yesterday that he was here
to md position for the champion
ground and lofty tenor of the world,
his hearers paid strict attention.
According to Mr.. Tannenbaum,
Mobile boasts of exactly such a genius.
His name is Rafferty,, he is 80 years
of age and is a bricklayer by trade. A
short time ago, according to his pa
tron, he became so expert in the art of
laying bricks and collecting the union
wage, therefor that he was promoted
to the stellar position of foreman II
is his voice, however, and not his
handiwork with the trowel and mortar
that makes him worthy of Broadway
attention.
IF Tannenbaum is any Judge, Raj
ferty is find for any musical organi-
zation. He takes high E-flat easily
says Tannenbaurn, with a tone that is
| flute-like in its mellowness. Mr.. Tan
nenbaum has heard Caruso DeReszke
Mccormack and all the great tenors OF
recent years and declares emphatical-
" that, barring his name, Rafferty, is
their superior. He is a local vocal
celebrity, being the pillar Of a Mobile
choir and the lie of the Elks' social
sessions.
AT any rate, Mr.. Tannenbaum
lauded his protege with so much vigo1
that Joseph M. Gates. who was one
Of the audience, Immediately placed
Rafferty, under a tentative contract. II
was agreed that Mr.. Tannenbaum
should telegraph the young man to
come to New York Immediately. If
after hearing the Mobile tenor sing
Gates does not engage him, Tannen-
baum agrees to pay the expenses OF
his transportation and visit. If his
voice should appeal to Mr.. Gates the
later win assign the young man to a
role in his new Victor Herbert opera,
The Enchantress.'