Harold Jarvis

Jarvis, Harold

Harold (Augustus) Jarvis. Tenor, b Toronto 27 Dec 1864, d Detroit 1 Apr 1924. He was a son of a singer known professionally as Annie McLear. As a child, Harold, in highland costume, became a public favourite singing Scottish songs. In 1878 he entered the merchant marine service operating between Montreal and England. He studied singing, and won a gold medal, at the RAM in London. He subsequently sang widely in Great Britain, Canada, and the USA before settling in Detroit in 1891 as tenor soloist at the First Presbyterian Church. In 1892 he married the singer Laura Geikie of Toronto and continued his concert activity. In 1908 he recorded for RCA Victor, in 1912 for Columbia, and in 1914 for Edison. His most popular record was 'Beautiful Isle of Somewhere' (1914), Vitaphone 10026. Roll Back the Years lists his recordings.