The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-01-10
Pierre v. R. Keys Book
II o more charming recital of the VI life of a great singer has ever
 been transcribed than that of


 been transcribed than that of John Mccormack so delightfully."- re- lated by the noted New York author and critic. MT. Pierre V. R. Key. or especial interest is Mir Keys John Mccormack, His Own StorS" to many in this section of the country MT. Key having made a large circle of friends in the south when he gave up his journalistic work in order to do his bit" during the war, preceding the French Orchestra with Andre Mes sager as conductor, throughout the country, arranging for series of con certs which were highly successful.
 John Mccormack, His Own Story| bears the particular charm of having been told orally to the transcriber., Mir Key, during many years of delightful and very close friendship between the two men.
 hours spent with Mir. Mccormack and his lovely wife, herself prominent figure in the story, and their two at- tractive children, Cyril and Gweldolyn, at Rocklea, their beautiful home at Noroton on the Sound, where they en- joyed many charming tete -tetes real heart to-heart' talks.
 Mir. Key begins his recital of MT. McCormack's life with the first public appearance of the singer at Sligo, Ireland, (for of course we all know that Mir Mccormack is Irish), when the tenor was just fl years of age.
 The youthful singer made a great Init" with his English songs and the college cook (Mr. Mccormack was then student), came to congratulate him.
 And do you like my singing really" asked the tenor.
 ''Shure Johnny darlin', but what did you want to show. off your education for by singing in them turin lam guages?"
 Which suggests the old Irish lady in Shaws "OFlahrety V. G." who as- sumed as matter of course that since the hero had been fighting, he must have been fighting England
 John Mccormack got only shillings for those two Sligo concerts, flag rant underpayment for which he now receives ample compensation. At IS the determination to become singer finally crystallized; ne went to Dub lin to secure an engagement with the Moody Manners Opera Company He was offered a place in the chorus, which he refused. Later Edward Mar tin (the same Edward" perhaps, so delightfully."- pictured in George Moore's Hail and Farewell'O heard the boy sing and consented to his engagement in the Cathedral choir at s125 a year.
 But it was when he won the singing prize at the contest of the Fels Cecil that the young McCormack's reputa- tion first began to spread. Another winner in this same contest, Miss Lily Foley, is now Mrs. Mccormack. After this MT. Mccormack began to give concerts. An American, Riordan, offered an engagement at the Worlds Fair, St. Louis. The St. Louis ex- perience was not altogether happy; MoCr naly ~l1, the entertainment who presented a caricature of the Irish race, the fla miliar vaudeville bu-lesquer, and re- signed his job. He went to Milan, where he studied with Sabatini and gained his first experiences in opera.
 It was in London, at of the Boosey Ballad concerts at Queens hall that MT. Mccormack made his first real impression upon the world His Italian opera appearances had been in no sense great successes; but at the Queens hall concert his reputation was made. He became acquainted with some of the leading figures in the Lon don musical world including Sir John Murray Scott, later instrumental in getting the tenor his first Covent Garden engagement. An amusing anecdote of this time is of the tenor's attempt to join George Edwarde's forces at the Gaiety. Edwardes was away from town and MT. Mccormack sang before his acting manager. J. A. E. Malone MT Malone didn't see much in MT. McCormack's voice and offered him a job in the chorus When Edwards returned to town and tried to secure MT. Mccormack for another hearing he found that he was already engaged for Covent Garden.
 Alter the London recognition came another Italian engagement; the singer became fully established at Covent Garden. Then came Hammerstein and Campanini. The recent death of the great impresario gives added interest to the biographer's chapter on MT Hammerstein The familiar figure emerges with the archaic hat and tilted cigar but there are other touches. Of the stories circulated about MT. Hammerstein's conduct of the Manhattan one of the most per- slstent is that he did not pay salaries. MT. Mccormack testifies that he all ways got his on the spot. no matter Miss Edith Mabry is the guest of Mir and Mrs, John Legrand in Anniston for a few days.