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John Henry 'Johnny' Lyon (1909 - 19??) 'sensational male soprano' |
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Male Soprano. Stage name was John Carvalho and sang the role of Ruggiero in Handel's opera Alcina at the St. Pancras Town Hall, London England on 19th & 20 March 1957. Joan Sutherland took leading role of Alcina and Monica Sinclair that of Bradamante. Lyon was a personal friend of Walter Jekyll, also a musician, writer & philosopher.
[written a decade ago: the name Carvalho was the family name of his paternal grandmother.]
These are the references I have found which give a clear idea of Johnny Lyon's life in Jamaica--
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Daily Gleaner, January 17, 1925
LUCEA PARISH CHURCH. (From a Correspondent.) The Christmas cantata, "The Holy Infant" which the choir of the Lucea Parish Church with the help of friends had been preparing for, under the special guidance of the wife of the Acting Rector, Mrs. C. H. Reynolds, came off very successfully on December 28th, at 3.30 p.m. There was quite a large congregation. The first solo sung by Mr. John Lyon son of Mr. Harry Lyon, was splendidly rendered; this most unusual soprano voice showed off to great effect and it was a revelation to many that one so young could render so effectively such a difficult piece. In March he got the result of the exams he had taken at Rusea's the previous December -
CAMBRIDGE LOCAL EXAMINATIONS DECEMBER, 1924 BOYS JUNIOR LOCAL EXAMINATION Candidates under 16 years of age who have satisfied the examiners: J. H. Lyon, Rusea's School, Lucea |
Lucea Parish Church
Daily Gleaner, July 21, 1925
A high class Sacred concert was given in the Town Hall here [Lucea] yesterday afternoon. The concert was arranged for by Mr. I. A. Chapman, Choirmaster of the Baptist Church. A party of singers from Falmouth . . . came to help Mr. Chapman and contributed largely to the programme. . . . . Master John Lyon won the high appreciation of the audience with his well rendered solo "Nearer My God to Thee". |
Daily Gleaner, Thursday, December 27, 1928
. . . Gifted Dramatic Family . . .
The Lyon family are deservedly popular Jamaican entertainers. Two are well known. Mr. Gerardo de Leon, brilliant female impersonator and adept at physical culture, and Mr. Johnny Lyon, exquisite soprano.
There is a third — Miss Margaret Lyon, who has shown distinct talent as an exhibition dancer, although this was some time ago.
. . . Gifted Dramatic Family . . .
The Lyon family are deservedly popular Jamaican entertainers. Two are well known. Mr. Gerardo de Leon, brilliant female impersonator and adept at physical culture, and Mr. Johnny Lyon, exquisite soprano.
There is a third — Miss Margaret Lyon, who has shown distinct talent as an exhibition dancer, although this was some time ago.
after the first year
Verity, Spooner and Morand were top entertainers of the day . . . .
young Lyon was already on stage with the best.
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Christmas 1946
The Musical Times, Vol. 98, No. 1371, May, 1957
Opera and Concert Notices
Opera and Concert Notices
Leslie Thompson
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Leslie Thompson, an Autobiography
Leslie Thompson, Jeffrey P. Green - 1985 Chapter 7 page 154 . . . . a singer, by the name of Johnny Lyon. He had a remarkable voice, for he was a male soprano. I met him in Jamaica in the 1920s, at a Christmas morning concert at Ward's. Wonderful. He came out of the blue. He came to England, and he would practise in my flat, for our piano was good, of course. . . . I recall him practising and how his voice was so remarkable. page 156 . . . in the '50s I used to see Johnny Lyon, who worked in Holborn and would pop in when he had a moment. [At that period Johnny Lyon helped Leslie Thompson keep in contact with his son, Tony, who had become a drug addict and was living on the streets in London. Thompson wrote: 'Generally Johnny Lyon managed to find him when he surfaced from the depths of London.' After being on and off drugs for various periods, Tony died of a drug over-dose.] |
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Daily Gleaner, February 4, 1973
AFTER MORE THAN A DECADE of living in England, it was good to see Jamaican singer, Johnny Lyon, once more at home. Mr. Lyon says he is just as devoted to his art but does not make public appearances and give solo concerts any longer although he is still involved with stage and theatre in London, among other things. He will be here until next Tuesday. |
So far I have been unable to find out anything more about Johnny Lyon's career in the UK, nor have I found any obituary.
