Colin O'More

Colin O'More (January 20, 1890 – September 21, 1956) was a popular concert singer, music educator, and pioneer executive in broadcasting. "Till the Clouds Roll By," a duet with Anna Wheaton, was one of the first singles to hit #1 on the American music charts.[5]

Colin O'More
James Harrod in the mid-1910s
Born
James Harrod Hornberger

(1890-01-20)January 20, 1890[1][2]
Heber Springs, Arkansas, United States[1][2]
DiedSeptember 21, 1956(1956-09-21) (aged 66)[3]
Lakeland, Florida, United States[4]
Occupation(s)singer, music educator, and broadcasting executive[4]
Years active1900s–1950s

Early life and education

O'More was born James Harrod Hornberger on January 20, 1890 in Heber Springs, Arkansas.[1][2] He was the second of five children who survived infancy of William Jefferson (1860-1926) and Elva (Spinks) Hornberger (1871-1910). He began his musical career while a student at the Cincinnati College of Music.[4] He also studied abroad with Jean de Reszke, Edmond Clément, Lucien Fugère, Sir Henry Wood, and others.[6][7]

Career

By 1910, he was known by just his given birthname.[8] As James Harrod he made several recordings on the Columbia label including "Till the Clouds Roll By", a duet with Anna Wheaton from the musical Oh, Boy!.[9] The song spent six weeks at #1 on the American music charts in 1917.[5]

Beginning in 1918, he started recording under the name Colin O'More on the Vocalion label.[7][10]

He also worked as a vocal coach for many years in New York City. O'More served in various executive capacities at CBS Radio Network and was a pioneering executive in television at NBC.[4]

Starting around 1943, he became a professor of music at Florida Southern College, where he taught for the remainder of his life.[4]

Personal

O'More married Madeleine E. Mitten in New Jersey in 1916. After that marriage ended he married Catherine Louise Steinbock, to whom he was married until his death. There was no issue of either marriage.

Death

O'More died on September 21, 1956,[3] in Lakeland, Florida.[4]

References
  1. "World War I Draft Registration Card for James Harrod Hornberger". United States: The Generations Network. June 5, 1917. Retrieved January 12, 2023 – via ancestry.com.
  2. "World War II Draft Registration Card for Colin O'More". United States: The Generations Network. April 27, 1942. Retrieved January 12, 2023 – via ancestry.com.
  3. "Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007 for Colin Omore". United States: The Generations Network. Retrieved January 12, 2023 – via ancestry.com.
  4. "FSC Music Professor Dies at 66". The Tampa Tribune. Tampa, Florida. September 22, 1956. p. 2. Retrieved January 12, 2023 – via newspapers.com. As a concert singer he performed with several nationally known symphony orchestras and internationally known musicians.
  5. Joel Whitburn's Pop Memories 1890–1954: The History of American Popular Music. Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin: Record Research, Inc. 1991. p. 446.
  6. "Interlachen (Florida Southern College)". Lakeland, Florida. 1954. Retrieved January 12, 2023 – via ancestry.com.
  7. Warren, Frank H. (October 26, 1922). "Two male vocalists find favor with yesterday's concert-goers". The Evening World. New York, New York. p. 31. Retrieved January 12, 2023 – via newspapers.com. Mr. O'More, who was once known as James Harrod, has studied in Paris with De Reszke and his work showed it.
  8. "James Harrod", United States census, 1910; Cincinnati, Hamilton County, Ohio; roll T624_1193, page 4A, line 48, enumeration district 200, Family History film 1375206. Retrieved on 12 Jan 2023.
  9. "James Harrod". Discogs. Retrieved January 12, 2023.
  10. "Colin O'More". Discogs. Retrieved January 12, 2023.


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