Chauncey
Olcott
1858-1932
Minstrel,
Singer, Composer, Theatre, Opera
Chauncey Olcott's career began with the
min strel
companies that were popular in the 1870s. Eventually because
of his lyrical voice he began doing opera and operattas. In
1890 he went to London where he made stage appearances and
studied voice for three years. While he was an international
personality it was with his Irish songs that he became quite
famous. He wrote "My Wild Irish Rose" and collaborated
on many other famous Irish songs including "Mother Machree"
and "When Irish Eyes Are Smiling." He wrote complete
musical scores for many plays, which almost always had an
Irish theme. He was a huge celebrity in his lifetime and at
his funeral pallbearers included the Mayor of New York City,
Governor of New York, Alfred E. Smith and another song and
dance man named George M. Cohan.
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