Genealogy Chat

We have a family "story", that a rellie was a "famous" singer around about 1915ish. I know who this singer was but have no idea where to start looking for any connection, as I do not have any credible info.

His name was Peter Dawson, that is the only info I have. Suggestions please as to where to start?

Kathlyn

Yes,I have heard him, He made records, there must be a music buff somewhere maybe BBC archives. I had old 12" records

Peter Dawson was Australian......try googling for masses of info

Reg

For other uses, see Peter Dawson (disambiguation).
Peter Dawson (31 January 1882 - 27 September 1961) was an Australian bass-baritone who gained worldwide renown and popularity through his recitals and recordings of concert song, in a career spanning nearly sixty years.

Although his repertoire included a great deal of popular and light music, Dawson possessed a remarkable and perfect vocal technique with an attractive dark timbre, an ideal balance of diction and vocal placing, a strong but integrated vocal attack without intrusive aspirates, and a near-perfect ability to manage ornaments and roulades. These qualities probably derived from his studies with Sir Charles Santley. If his interpretations were not profound, they were nonetheless masterful, and in his chosen field of English concert repertoire of the vigorous, seagoing kind he was unequalled.

In 1984 he was chosen by the Guinness Book of Recorded Sound as one of the top ten singers of all time, alongside such luminaries as Elvis Presley and Enrico Caruso.

Contents [hide]
1 Dawson’s early career
2 The concert platform
3 Dawson and the Gramophone
4 Repertoire
5 Sources
6 External links

And if you go to Amazom you can hear some of his songs, including the definitive version of Waltzing Matilda!

Many thanks for all that info. We do have an Australian branch that originated from "our" lot, so who knows.

Kathlyn