Jenkins - Opera singer
by Therese and Gerry Lewis
Hi Mary Lou
You asked: "The current Jones family also say Mary Ann is related to an
Opera Soprano .....Jenkins. Has anyone knowledge of this songbird.
Do you mean Florence Foster Jenkins? [born 1868, died 1944]
My wife has a CD called "The Glory (????) of the Human Voice" with
transcriptions from 78rpm records of this famous singer. The insert
gives a frank account of this extraordinary soprano.
"She emphatically declined to appear in New York oftener than once a
year (a private ceremonial for the select few at the Ritz-Carlton) and
rarely anywhere else except such favored centers as Washington and
Newport [Rhode Island, not Monmouthshire!]"
If you would like to read the rest of the story [nothing about her
family background unfortunately] and listen to her remarkable voice, the
CD is produced by RCA Victor Gold Seal and has the number GD 61175.
Happy Listening!!!
Gerry Lewis