Richard Jose

Richard Jose

Photo: Nevada Historical Society

Source: o-n-e

Born in Cornwall, England, on 5 June 1862, countertenor, Richard Jose, immigrated to Nevada as a teenager upon the death of his father, a copper miner, in 1876. Not finding the uncle he was in search of, he began singing professionally in 1881 with Thatcher's Minstrels. He first recorded in 1892, a cylinder for the New England Phonograph Company called 'The Blind Boy', then largely disappeared from record until composing the music for baritone vocalist, J. W. Myers', release of 'I Went to See Them March Away' in 1902.

'The Blind Boy'   Richard Jose   Brown wax cylinder 1892

Composition: R. Lee / G. W. Moore

Jose began recording on flat disc w the Victor Talking Machine Company in 1903: 'Silver Threads Among the Gold' (Victor 2556) [DAHR]. Music VF has that topping the charts in February of 1904. 'The Day That You Grew Colder' (Victor 31348) found #3 in 1905, followed by 'When I'm Away from You, Dear' (Victor 4259) at #4 the same year. Jose's last releases for Victor were in 1906, including his highly popular 'When You and I Were Young, Maggie' (Victor 31485), 'Home Sweet Home' (Victor 31515) and 'Nearer My God to Thee' (Victor 4818). He later recorded unissued tracks on 16 September 1909.

'When I'm Away From You, Dear'   Richard Jose

Recorded 11 Oct 1903 in Philadelphia   Deluxe 31154

Composition: Paul Dresser

'Silver Threads Among the Gold'   Richard Jose

Recorded 10 Dec 1904 in Philadelphia   Victor 31342

Music: Hart Pease Danks   Lyrics: Eben Eugene Rexford

'I Cannot Sing the Old Songs'   Richard Jose

Recorded 21 Dec 1905 in Philadelphia   Victor 35465

Composition: Claribel (Charlotte Barnard)

'Home, Sweet Home'   Richard Jose

Recorded 23 Feb 1906 in Philadelphia   Matrix C-3141   Victor 31515

Music: Henry R. Bishop   Lyrics: John Howard Payne

'Nearer My God to Thee'   Richard Jose

Recorded 23 Feb 1906 in Philadelphia   Matrix B-3145   Victor 4818

Music: Lowell Mason   Lyrics: Sarah Flower Adams

In 1915 Jose appeared in the silent film, 'Silver Threads Among the Gold', which songs he lip synced from the wings of Madison Square Garden, marking the Garden's first use as a theater. Jose continued with theatre until 1919, presenting the pastoral play, 'Silver Threads', on tour. Jose eventually took employment with the state of California, rising to Real Estate Commissioner in the thirties. He died on 20 October 1941 in San Francisco.