John McCormack: References

Biographical References: Books and Articles
Interviews and Articles by John McCormack
Miscellaneous Magazine and Newspaper Articles [Authors
known]
References Regarding the John McCormack - James Joyce Connection:
Discographical References

Biographical References: Books and Articles
Sadly, all of the following are out of print, but many are commonly found in
better university libraries. The books by Lily McCormack, Gordon Ledbetter, and
L.A.G. Strong are in many ways the best starting points for the general reader
who is interested in the broad outlines of McCormack's life, career, and musical
importance. The early biography by Pierre Key, particularly in the form of the
second edition, is also enlightening, although the casual reader would do well
to read the introduction by John Scarry before diving into the
quasi-autobiographical depths of this long book.
- Dolan, Peter F., "John McCormack, Mastersinger: A Short Account of his
American Career," The Sword of Light, Spring, 1974.
[An
authoritative sketch of McCormack's career in the United States, 1910-1930.]
- Foxall, Raymond, John McCormack , New York: Alba House,
1963.
[A derivative retelling, in some ways unsympathetic or unduly harsh,
of the main points in McCormack's life and career that adds very little to
what may be read in earlier biographies.]
- French, Florence, "First Authentic Story of John McCormack's Life and
Career", Musical Leader, June 14, 1917.
[A lengthy magazine
article based upon an interview of McCormack by Florence French, editor of the
magazine, who had introduced him to Charles Wagner (in January 1911).
Published on the tenor's 33rd birthday, in conjunction with Wagner's publicity
efforts on behalf of McCormack's concert career, this article was the
precursor and model for the Key biography of the next year.]
- Hume, Ruth & Paul, The King of Song - The Story of John
McCormack. New York/London: Hawthorn Books, 1964 [185 pp.].
[A
juvenile biography designed for the young adolescent reader with line drawings
based on some well-known photos.]
- Key, Pierre V.R., John McCormack - His Own Life Story.
Boston: Small, Maynard & Co., 1918. New York: Vienna House, 1973 [433
pp.].
[The earliest biography in book form, based on extensive interviews
conducted in the summer of 1918, with many autobiographical quotations. The
second edition was edited by and has an extensive introductory essay by John
Scarry.]
- Ledbetter, Gordon R., The Great Irish Tenor, London:
Duckworth, 1977.
[A series of biographical sketches and evaluative essays,
with many pictures. Not intended to be a full scale biography, but very
satisfactory in its balance of biographical and critical information.]
- McCormack, Lily, I Hear You Calling Me. Milwaukee: Bruce,
1949. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press, 1975.
[A charming memoir by the
tenor's wife, with many anecdotes and quotations from his unpublished memoirs,
but also some confusion of factual sequence and dates.
- O'Brien, Gearoid, John McCormack and Athlone. Athlone: Old
Athlone Society, 1992.
[An account of McCormack's early years in his home
town, based on original research and interviews, by an historian of the
region.
- Shea, Brother Richard, In the Palm of His Hand. Notre
Dame, Indiana: Dujarie Press, 1962. [95 pp.]
[A juvenile biography with an
emphasis on the importance of McCormack's Roman Catholic faith throughout his
life.]
- Smith, Gus, John McCormack - A Voice to Remember. Jubilee
Edition, 1945-1995. Dublin: Madison, 1995.<
[A sympathetic retelling of
the outline of McCormack's life and career, that includes interesting chapters
on his children and grandchildren.]
- Strong, L.A.C., John McCormack - The Story of a Singer,
New York: Macmillan, 1941, 1949
[The second full scale authorized
biography, written in collaboration with McCormack after the tenor's
retirement from the stage but before the outbreak of the war. The 1949 edition
contains an added epilogue by Strong which is of great interest.]
- Ward, John, "McCormack on Brighton Pier", The Record
Collector, 1992, XXXVII, no. 1, 62-69.
[An important account of
McCormack's early career in England in the fall of 1906 and spring of 1907,
the period leading up to his debut at Covent Garden.
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Interviews and Articles by John McCormack
(Complete references pending.)
- "The Days of My Youth,"
- "A Famous Singer's Stories,"
- "The Illusion of Success,"
- "A Little Tribute for a Big Friend," Capuchin Annual, 1945-46,
pp. 235-236. [re Vincent O'Brien]
- "John McCormack's Favorite Records,"
- "McCormack's garden of Songs," Musical America (?), May 14, 1927
- "John McCormack: Singing for the Red Cross," The Red Cross
Magazine, Vol. 13 No. 8, August, 1918.
An Interview by Heywood Broun.
- "Radio is not going to kill the Music business ...," [newspaper interview]
reference?
- "Why I Shall Retire at Fifty,"
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Miscellaneous Magazine and Newspaper Articles [Authors known]
(Complete References pending)
- Acton, Carol, "The Case of the Vanishing Tenor," The Sunday Press,
June 17, 1984.
[The author ponders the paucity of Irish tenors today.]
- Ahearne, Brian, "The McCormack Centenary," Ireland's Own, June
22, 1984, pp. 16-17.
- Ahearne, Brian, "A Collector's Mania," [reference not known, pp. 261-262.].
- Byrne, Miles, "John McCormack Came 'Back to Erin.'" Illustrated,
October 13, 1945, pp. 22-23 [UK periodical].
- Carbery, ?, "Carbery's Comments," Cork Weekly Examiner, June 20, 1974.
[article upon occasion of McCormack's 90th birthday].
- Cassin, Frederic, "John McCormack - An Early Superstar, Ovation,
June, 1984, pp. 23-25.
- Dunne, John J., "A Great Tenor ...", The Irish Catholic, XCVII,
No. 6, June 7, 1984.
- Geldorf, Lynn, "Echoes of a Golden Voice, RTE Guide, June 8, 1984.
Interview with Cyril McCormack.
- Goulding, Eugene, "John McCormack," The Word, September, 1955.
- Harris, Dale, "John McCormack - The Incarnation of Song," Ovation,
June, 1984, pp. 18-22.
- Henahan, Donal, "Why John McCormack Was a Cultural Idol of His Time," New
York Times, Sunday June 17, 1984.
- Kiely, Benedict, "John McCormack - Golden Voice of an Age," Weekend
- A Supplement to The Irish Times, June 16, 1977.
- Kildare, Paul, "John McCormack." The Word, June, 1984, pp. 10-13
[Catholic periodical, Roscommon, Ireland].
- Ledbetter, Gordon, "100 Years of John McCormack," The Irish Times,
June 14, 1984.
- Ledbetter, Gordon,
- Ledbetter, Gordon,
- Maguire, James, "A Sound from the Past," The Irish Times, June
14, 1984.
- Manning, Frederick, "John McCormack," Irish Edition, February,
1990. [Part 1 of 2. An article based on an address to The Society of the Friendly
Sons of St. Patrick.]
- Manning, Frederick, "John McCormack - The Man Inside the Legend," Irish
Edition, March, 1990. [Part 2 of the above.]
- McCormack, Declan, "John Count McCormack, 1884-1945," Irish Independent,
June 16, 1984.
- O'Brien, Gearoid, "The Early Career of John McCormack," Westmeath Independent
[newspaper], Sesquicentennial Issue, 1996.
- O'Hara, Padraic, "John McCormack's Mayo Connection," Ireland's own,
December 21, 1984.
- O'Hara, Padraic, "The Western Connections," Exhibition Brochure for McCormack
Centenary Exhibition, Ballina, 1984.
- Patterson, Frank, "The Making of a Magical Voice," The Irish Times,
June 14, 1984. [1 page]
- Pleasants, Henry, "A Master's Voice," [Reference Unknown, issue: 9-15 June,
1984] [1 page].
- Rhodes, Antoinette W., "Keen on McCormack," Opera News, Vol. 49,
No. 2, August 1984. [Interview with Liam Breen.]
- Robinson, Francis, "John McCormack, A Memoir by Francis Robinson," Opera
News, December 3, 1960. [3 pp.]
- Roman, Robert C., "Remembering McCormack on His Centennial," Irish Echo,
June 16, 1984.
- Scarry, John, "Irish Minstrel," Opera News,, Vol. 49 No. 3 (August
1984). [
- Scherer, Barrymore, "Centenary of a Golden Voice From Ireland," The
New York Times, June 10, 1984.
-
- Steenson, Ken, "McCormack." The Irish Post, June 2, 1984, centerspread
with pictures.
- Sullivan, Kay, "The Magnificent McCormack." Columbia, September,
1958, pp. 17-19 [
- Thompson, Robert Charles, "McCormack - A Notable Centenary," [Reference
Unknown] [2 pages].
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References Regarding the John McCormack - James Joyce Connection:
- Brown, Carole, and Leo Knuth, "More Wakean Memories of McCormack: A
Centenary Tribute," A Wake Newslitter (University of Essex),
Occasional Paper No. 4, September, 1984
- Brown, Carole, and Leo Knuth, The Tenor and the Vehicle: A Study of
the John McCormack / James Joyce Connection. Colchester: Wake Newslitter
Press, 1982. [75 pp. inclusive of text, appendices, notes, and bibliography]
- Scarry, John, Shem and Shaun: John McCormack in the Works of James
Joyce, Unpublished Ph.D. dissertation, New York University, 1969.
- Scarry, John, "James Joyce and John McCormack," Revue Belge de
Philologie et d'histoire (Brussells), Vol. LII, No. 3, 1974, 523-536.
- Scarry, John, "The First Tenor" in James Joyce's 'A Mother,' "
Eire/Ireland (St. Paul, Minnesota), Vol. VII, No. 4, pp. 67-69.
- Scarry, John, "Finnegan's Wake III, i: A Portrait of John
McCormack," Irish University Review (Dublin), Vol. III, No. 2, 1973,
155-162.
- Scarry, John, "Mozart, Beethoven, and John McCormack in Finnegan's
Wake III, ii," Etudes Irlandaises (Universite de Lille III),
Special Number 1982: James Joyce Centenary Issue, pp.101-109.
- Scarry, John, " 'Joan Mockcomic' and 'Jean Souslevin' in Joyce's
Finnegan's Wake, Etudes Anglaises, Vol. XXVII, No. 2, 1974,
pp. 180-184.
- Scarry, John, "A Singer and Some New Songs in Finegans Wake,
Neophilologus, LX (1976), 153-159
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Discographical References
- Bennett, John R., Voices of the Past, Volume I: HMV English Catalog.
Lingfield, Surrey: Oakwood Press, n.d.
- Bennett, John R. and Eric Hughes, Voices of the Past, Volume IV: The
International Red Label Catalog, Part I, Lingfield, Surrey: Oakwood Press,
n.d.
- Bennett, John R. and Eric Hughes, Voices of the Past, Volume VI: The
International Red Label Catalog, Part 2, Lingfield, Surrey: Oakwood Press,
n.d.
- Clough, Francis F. and C.J. Cuming, The World's Encyclopedia of Recorded
Music, Westport, Connecticut: Greenwood Press, 1966 (Reprint).
- Darrell, R.D., The Gramophone Shop Encyclopedia of Recorded Music, First
Edition, New York: Gramophone Shop, Inc., 1936
- Dennis, James F.E., "Emmy Destinn Discography," The Record Collector, XX:
29-47, 1971.
- Dennis, James F.E., "Fonotipia Information," The Record Collector, XVIII:
44-45, 1968.
- Fagan, Ted, "Pre-LP Recordings of RCA at 33 1/3 rpm Through 1931 to 1934,"
The Association for Recorded Sound Collections Journal, XIII: 20-42, 1981
(Part I); XIV: 41-61, 1982 (Part 2); XV: 25-68, 1983 (Part 3).
- Fawcett-Johnston, Brian, "John Count McCormack: Complete Pre-1910
Discography," The Record Collector,XXIX,Nos.1-3, 4-6 (June 1984, August 1984).
- Frow, George L., The Edison Disc Phonographs and the Diamond Discs - A
History with Illustrations, Sevenoaks, Kent: Frow, n.d.
- Gelatt, Roland, The Fabulous Phonograph, 1877 - 1977, New York: Macmillan,
1977.
- Greaves, Sam, "Letter Re the McCormack Odeons," The Record Collector, XI:
189, 1957.
- Keveny, J., "Records Research: The John McCormack Edison Bell Cylinders,"
News-letter of the John McCormack Society of America.
- Kutsch, K.J. and Leo Riemens, A Concise Biographical Dictionary of
Singers. From the Beginnings of Recorded Sound to the Present, translated,
expanded, and annotated by Harry Earl Jones, New York: Chilton, [1962], 1969.
- Leslie, George Clark, The Gramophone Shop Encyclopedia of Recorded Music,
Second edition, New York: Simon and Schuster, 1942.
- Moore, Jerrold Northrop, A Matter of Records - Fred Gaisberg and the
Golden Era of the Gramophone, New York: Taplinger, 1976.
- Moran, William R., "John McCormack Correction," The Record Collector, XIV:
95, 1961.
- Morby, Paul, "The McCormack Cylinders," The Record Collector, XVIII:
37-42, 1968.
- Moses, Julian Morton, The Collectors' Guide to American Recordings, 1895 -
1925, New York: Dover, 1977 (Second Edition).
- Perkins, John F., Alan Kelly, and John Ward, "The Berliner (Gramophone
Company) Catalog," The Record Collector, XXi: 270-283, 1974.
- Read, Oliver and Walter L. Welch, From Tin Foil to Stereo - Evolution of
the Phonograph, New York: Bobbs-Merrill, 1959.
- Reid, Robert H., The Gramophone Encyclopedia of Recorded Music, Third
Edition, New York: Crown, 1948.
- Richards, John B., "Louise Kirkby-Lunn Discography," The Record Collector.
XIX: 140-159, 1970.
- Roden, Philip F., A John McCormack Discography, (Appendix to I Hear You
Calling Me by Lily McCormack), Westport, Connecticut: Greenwood Press, 1975
(Reprint of 1949 edition).
- Roden, Philip F. and Robert L. Webster. "The McCormack Odeons," The Record
Collector, XI: 5-18, 1957.
- Roe, Leonard F.X. MacDermott, John McCormack - The Complete Discography,
London: Charles Jackson, 1956.
- Roe, Leonard F.X. MacDermott, The Jonn McCormack Discography, Lingfield,
Surrey: Oakwood Press, 1972.
- Rous, Samuel Holland, The Victrola Book of the Opera - Fifth Edition,
Camden, New Jersey: Victor Talking Machine Company, 1919.
- Sears, Richard S., V - DISCS: A History and Discography, Westport,
Connecticut: Greenwood Press, 1980.
- Ward, John, "The Gramophone and Typewriter Company Matrix Series (1898
1907),"The Record Collector, XV: 72-80, 1962,
- Ward, John, Alan Kelly, and John Perkins, "The Search for John O'Reilly, A
Collectors' Mystery," The Record Collector, XXI: 283-286, 1974.
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