Description
A phenomenally popular entertainer, the great Irish tenor Josef Locke (1917-1999) - born Joseph McLaughlin in Derry - became a superstar of the music hall and variety theatre, following on from the huge success of his 1947 recording of Hear My Song, Violetta. He was described as: "Tall, dapper, roguishly moustachioed, and all of 18 stones, Locke in his prime resembled a cross between Frans Hals' Laughing Cavalier and a happy walrus". His colourful career was interrupted when he had to escape the taxman, but he returned to enjoy a late flowering when the 1992 film Hear My Song, fancifully based on his life, led to him grace the Top Ten pop album charts! Josef Locke chose not to use his fine voice for opera; instead he won the hearts of millions through his distinctive renditions of sentimental ballads, Irish songs and operetta favourites. Retrospective's Hear the Songs of Josef Locke encapsulates his charm with 52 of his most popular recordings, including beloved examples from all the various genres in his repertoire: ballads (I'll Take You Home Again Kathleen, The Rose Of Tralee.), operetta (Goodbye, My Heart And I), Irish songs (Galway Bay, Dear Old Donegal), religious songs (The Holy City, Ave Maria) and Italian songs (Come Back To Sorrento, Santa Lucia). How can you resist?
