Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1923-10-13

blu8l0Bs
With $50 in his pocket he set out fof
planning to pay bis way by
singing. I n NASHVILLE every concert h. |
gave was flat failure. His $50 was
gone but meanwhile he had learned |
about Fieke University in NASHVILLE. He
presented himself there, sang BE
yond the Gates Of Paradise" song he
now sings as an encore after practical |
ly all OF his programmes. to the wo.
man who questioned him there, ami
was given q months probation as a
student. to find out whether he was
at the university.
No one showed any particular inter-
est or favortism. but he was given hi.
chance. He waited on table for board \
and lodging and sang whenever the
required IL, in return fer
tuition in literature and music. He was
accepted as a student and remained at |
Fiske for four years. Then he went 70 |
Louisville, where he became a waiter
at rich mans club. and was heard |
there by III. H. Putnam of Boston.
A band OF Fiske University singers |
brought Hayes to Boston with them |
to take part in a spectacle, 1.-The World |
in Boston," given in the Mechan c., |
Hall In 1911. When the other singers |
left Boston Hayes remained.
An addition was arranged for
him, when he sang before Arthur Foot,
Morris Parker and Arthur Hubbard.
After this test Mr.. Putnam tolu
Hay es that he would pay for his sing
ing lessons.
E~-s-, i
SYMPHONY HALL DEBUT.
Hayes became a pupil of Arthur
HUBBARD, and worked at the Republi-
can Club as a messenger while study
ing. He gained employment in the
once of the late d. H. Sutherland and
Drought his mother from the South
the next year. 1t was while he was
technically on leave of absence as mes
senger from Sutherfand's Office that he
gave MS first concert. attended by 900
OF the officers and clerks of his com.
1917.
II cannot tell to save my life," Mr..
Heyes mas said, describing that event
now 1 felt that night. The only
tnlng / remember is that as the usher
opened the door to me and saw that
vast audience, the stage absolutely
damned, aisies. everything, and I was
told 5OO people were turned away
felt like nothing.
Il didn't realize the effect of any.
thing I did. was so enveloped. taken
away with the magnitude of the whole
thing that when saw the reports the
next day in the papers I could hardly
believe them to be true. for felt
had actually failed miserably.
Il have never forgotten. That was
my first real shove-off From that time
things have gone very, very we'll. II
might be called the end of the first
epoch"
FIRST EUROPEAN TOUR,
Nevertheless. it was not wholly
smooth running.
In 1920 Hayes went to Europe. At
first In London. he had poor luck. The
critics had not expected serious things
OF q colored singer and it was n time
Defore they would take him as an art.
list OF substantial aims. Hayes had In
'ested all bis available funds In his
trip and his concerts. He fd,ed not
only failure but absolute need.
Everything depended on the success
or q last concert for which he had en-
gagged Wigmore Hall.
On this he had wagered everything,
even shortening bis food supply and
giving up every luxury, and MORALLY
In fear Of a deficit when the concert
wss over. AS final blow, there was
q cosl shortage---a matter which New
Englanders will understand-because
the Welsh tcoab miners. and city au
thortties had ordered that public balls
should be closed. What would become
Of Hayes concert?
He was sitting brooding over all this
In his hotel room, fairly sick with
ohyslcal train and worry, when the
telephone rang. He feared he was be-
Ing dunned, but picked up the receiver
1t was summons. Command" 10
sing for the King and Queen.
rms put heart into the singer. To
add to this encouragement, Lloyd
George succeeded in ending the coal
miners strike, so that the concert took
place as per schedule in Wigmore Hall
That night Hayes finally persuaded
the London critics of his worth and
his musical position was well secured
in the capital, although at that time
no one knew Of the command to sing
to royalty.
Arriving at Buckingham Palace.
where he was to appear for exactly
80 minutes before the King and Queen
Mr.. Hayes and his accompanied. {.
colored boy named Lawrence Brown
mad an amusing experiences in being
instructed, according to the Official cus
tom and precaution. in their behavior
before the royal pair Questions were
TO be answered, Eyes, Your Majesty"
and mo. Your Majesty" and Would
IL please Your Majesty and wher.
Majesty entered they were to bow as
low as possible from the waist down,
like the English soldiers \"
AT $3.50 to the minute Their Males
ties were announced. Hayes and com.
pany began bowling like mad. What n
the British monarch DO? He glanced
at them In worried manner and said
That isn't necessary"
The half hour went into two hours
Hayes says that the King seemed more
interested in what he had to say i'm
conversation than in his singingl He
told the King then rs he has told II
since to others. OF his desire to express
the serious music and illustrate the