The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1928-02-28
PINCH SINGERSl
WIN ACCLAIM

Il
Static noisemakers appear to
have gone on strike but no
| iniunctiOns against broadcast
music can be prepared to prevent
programs from coming to loud
speakers I'm the regular way. At
least none was tried last night
and the little noise that might
have been found here and there
failed to prevent entertainment Of
all kinds from all sections flow
ing freely along the WaVelengths
with such usual annOyances as
station interference and fading
and the. irrepressible code.
Loud speakers drew their most
substantial sustenance last evening
from three substitutes--not listed
on the regular program but rushed
into breaches made by the failure
to appear Of performers engaged
for the purpose and the most i'm
portant Of these was Vaughn de
Leath!
For quite q while we've been
waiting an opportunity to acknowl-
edge the worth of this very fine
radio artist-and now the time has
come, it finds US at a loss as to
how to do it. There are few
people entertaining the multitudes
-or who ever have entertained
them-whose contributions were of
q more versatile character, more
wholesome and honey and yet
more complete demonstrations of
the fine art OF singing with about
as finely trained a voice as we
hear. Nine. de Leath is a jolly,
companionable persons, full of en-
thusiasm and the despair Of her
accompanies and orchestras, who
never can tell what she will do
next.
Possessed OF rich contralto voice
Of unusual range and pure tone
quality, she sings arias from opera
or oratorio, ballads, folk songs,
negro spirituals, children's ditties
or the commonly termed blues
songs, with equal facility and
abandon. Perhaps It is that last
word abandon-that explains the
whole of her great artistry. She
abandons herself completely to
whatever type Of music she finds
available, and, interprets its mean
ing truly.
TAKES PLACE OF
POPULAR STAR
Last evening Nine. De Leath was
rushed to the rescue Of the Cen
eral Motors program through the
detection Of Grace Hayes. musical
comedy star. She not only sang
most Of the songs Miss Hayes. was
scheduled to provide, but three or
four Of her own that were not on
the program. She made her audi.
ences laugh and weep or thrill to
the depths OF their several souls
with the manner in which she made
the poetry Of music sing to them.
Thus she provided the backbone
Of the best General Motors program
we've heard-a program that was
consistent and that brought such
fine artists as Phradie Wells,
formerly Of the Metropolitan opera;
John Donald Parker and Robert
Newell Mcintosh well to the front,
The orchestras and band served
as usual-but with more vim and
finish.
The first substitution Of the eve.
ming came in the Roxy hour and
was involuntary on the part OF
Roxy. for Beatrice Belkin was star
Of the performance because she
made herself so with her coloratura
singing in a fresh, youthful, spring
like voice. Miss Belkin's voice il
becoming better and better the
more she sings. Gladys Rice was
likewise among those present in the
Roxy doings-as she can be de
pended upon to be wherever she
may be placed.
The third conspicuous substitute
although he came second on the
schedule of events-WaS Redferr
Hollinshead, tenor, in the Gypsies
outburst. Pausing only q moment
to- state that the Gypsy program
was all that anyone desiring gooC
music, well presented could possibly
want, we'd add that Hollinshead's
appearance in place Of Lewis James
| did quite lot to make it so. This
| tenor is member of the now fam
Gus American Singers quartet. HI
has a voice of limpid quality anC
can sing aria, ballad or street sons
with equal facility and to the emf
nent satisfaction of the customers
| He too, completely abandons him
self to the Joy of singing and putt
behind his voice an intelligent un
Outstanding of the poetry of musi'
and the character he is interpreting
The Peoples Home Orchestra pro
vided WRC listeners with a yer!
pleasant program to which Philil
Grayson, baritone, contributed NJ
little to make it so. The other regu
lar programs were satisfactory hear
ing.