Welcome!
This site is dedicated to finding information on the Gwent Male Glee
Singers. You may have a story about
them, a memory, a fact or even be related, as I am.
If anything about the Glee Singers applies to you, or you recognise
a face or a name, please contact me
via e-mail: GleeSingers@an-aim-ation.co.uk
Note: I am unsure how to collate the information I have, so I appologise if things jump around a little.
The Glee
Singers were based around Newport, Monmouthshire (Gwent or South Wales
these days), and
performed two tours of America, including a performance at the White House. The second tour of the States was
in 1912/13, and a record was produced of their singing. I have managed to obtain a digital copy of the recording,
with many thanks to Tyrone from 78 Discography and everyone at the Syracuse University Belfer Audio Archive.
The details of the record are:
performed two tours of America, including a performance at the White House. The second tour of the States was
in 1912/13, and a record was produced of their singing. I have managed to obtain a digital copy of the recording,
with many thanks to Tyrone from 78 Discography and everyone at the Syracuse University Belfer Audio Archive.
The details of the record are:
Columbia 78rpm Record
Label: A-1273
MX: 38456 and 38457
Track 1: In Absence (composer Buck)
Track 2: March of Men of Harlech (composer Courd)
I'm currently
working on restoring the audio tracks, but it's a new experience to me
and may take some time. You can here a clip of each track below, in the
currently restored state (may take some time to load).
I can also
give a list of the members at the time when this recording and tour took
place (thanks to free ship
records from Ellis Island). The singers travelled from Liverpool, England to New York, USA on the RMS Cedric. They all travelled in second class accomodation, and arrived in New York on October 26th 1912. The Gwent Glee Singers members at that time were as follows:
records from Ellis Island). The singers travelled from Liverpool, England to New York, USA on the RMS Cedric. They all travelled in second class accomodation, and arrived in New York on October 26th 1912. The Gwent Glee Singers members at that time were as follows:
- William George (31yr) - Newport, Wales
- William Davies (26yr) - Pontypridd, Wales
- Thomas William (30yr) - Risca, Wales
- Ernest Orlidge (32yr) - Newport, Wales
- Stanley Brewer (25yr) - Newport, Wales
- Henry Edwards (28yr) - Newport, Wales
- George F. Davies (40yr) - Newport, Wales
- Arthur A. Smith (17yr) - Newport, Wales
- George Lane (23yr) - Newport, Wales
- John Mc Donald (27yr) - Newport, Wales
- James Harries (28yr) - Newport, Wales
- William Jno Thomas (31yr) - Newport, Wales
- Henry Parry (29yr) - Newport, Wales
- William H. Roberts (27yr) - Newport, Wales
- Benjamin Gibbs (23yr) - Blackwood, Wales
- Reginald Thos. Weight (32yr) - Newport, Wales
- Francis Sargent (33yr) - Newport, Wales
- William Sargent (45yr) - Newport, Wales
- Herbert Jones (26yr) - Newport, Wales
- Walter Martin (32yr) - Newport, Wales
- Dewi Michael (35yr) - Cardiff, Wales
As the
ships manifest by the USA was so well kept, I can even post descriptions
of each member, which I will
endeavor to do as soon as possible. The other fact from the manifest is that the singers were headed to:
H.A.Blackwell, #1402 Broadway, New York. in room #522. It is listed as the Concert Bureau.
endeavor to do as soon as possible. The other fact from the manifest is that the singers were headed to:
H.A.Blackwell, #1402 Broadway, New York. in room #522. It is listed as the Concert Bureau.
There is
a Newspaper article from The New York Times, October 6th 1912, that mentions
the Glee Singers arrival to perform with violinist Cristeta Goni. Click on the thumbnail to see
a larger image.
the Glee Singers arrival to perform with violinist Cristeta Goni. Click on the thumbnail to see
a larger image.
Below is
a picture of the Glee Singers, if you hover over the faces you can see
the names of the members I
currently know (Hover works in IE, if in Firefox just click the face). You can also click the face to see any
information I know about the gentleman. The original picture was owned by Ethel Sargent (Sergeant), and
restored by myself. The date is unknown.
currently know (Hover works in IE, if in Firefox just click the face). You can also click the face to see any
information I know about the gentleman. The original picture was owned by Ethel Sargent (Sergeant), and
restored by myself. The date is unknown.
