Redferne Hollinshead

Redferne (Percy) Hollinshead was born in Eye, Suffolk, England, 1885. His father, a Baptist minister, moved the family to Canada when Redferne was six. After a few years in Ontario the Hollinsheads settled in Hartney, Hollinshead first sang solos in Winnipeg's Central Congregational Church and on provincial tours with the Winnipeg Citizens Band. In 1906 Hollinshead was engaged as soloist by Bloor St Presbyterian Church, Toronto. After a stay in London for study with Giovanni Clerici he returned to Toronto to teach at the Hambourg Conservatory and sing at Timothy Eaton Memorial Church. He also studied with Giuseppe Carboni, his colleague at the Hambourg Cons after 1915. He was a member of the first Adanac Quartet. Hollinshead settled in New York in 1917 and succeeded the renowned Dan Beddoe as tenor soloist at Broadway's Grace Church in 1922. He retained the position until his death. In later years he sang frequently on radio, both in the USA and Canada. In 1927 he toured Canada. Hollinshead made a few cylinders for Edison ca 1912 and also recorded after 1926 as first tenor of the American Singers, a male quartet. Hollinshead died in New York on October 6th, 1937.

© The Canadian Encyclopedia
Picture source