PETER DAWSON

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 10, Issue 6, 2 August 1946, Page 4

PETER DAWSON

COMING TO WHAKATANE There is probably no living artist who can sing a robust song, a song of the sea, or open air—a song of life like Peter Dawson. Born in Adelaide of Scottish parentage, he was a choir boy there until his voice broke, when it turned into a bassbaritone, instead of a tenor as the critics predicted. He was taken into his father’s business and became an iron worker. The talent for singing which began to show itself, received little encouragement and he had to do all his practicing before and after working hours. When he was 17, he attended an open singing contest in Balarat and was awarded First Prize and a Gold Medal for a bass solo. Later he sang the baritone part in Gounod’s “Redemption” in Adelaide, and this was the turning point of his career.

After much discussion, his father admitted that there might be a future for him as a singer, and agreed that he should be sent to England to study. This he did, firstly with Frank L. Bamford of Glasgow, and later with the great Sir Charles Santley. After 3 years hard work, Sir Charles, proud of his pupil obtained an engagement for young Peter Dawson to tour the West of England with Madame Albani’s concert party, and following this tour, he met with a series of outstanding successes at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden.

The same year he paid a visit to his native land with Amy Castles and her famous company and he seems to have been touring ever since. He sang his way round the Empire, but in between all these concert tours, he was steadily rising to the top in the recording world and altogether has made over 3000 different recordings of which no fewer than 12,000,000 have been sold.

Apart from his magnificent voice, Peter Dawson has a wonderful charm of manner “breezy as the plains of his native Australia” and has that extraordinary gift of anecdote which places him in the front rank of raconteurs. He is a great favourite with the Royal Family, who have heard him sing frequently,. and have personally complimented him on his wonderful voice and artistry. The advance announcements of Peter Dawson’s visit to New Zealand have caused unprecedented interest, a fact which ensures big and enthusiastic audiences everywhere—a fitting tribute to one of the great-

est personalities in the world of en tertainment.