Jack Barkin

Barkin, Jack

Jack (Jacob) Barkin. Tenor, b Uman, Ukraine, 23 Apr 1914, naturalized Canadian ca 1930, d Fort Lauderdale, Florida, 15 Jan 1996. He studied voice with his father, Abraham, and subsequently at the Toronto Conservatory of Music, the Eastman School of Music, and in Philadelphia. He was coached during the mid-1950s by Fausto Cleva of the Metropolitan Opera, but declined an offer to join the company. For many years he was a cantor in synagogues in Washington, DC, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Toronto (Holy Blossom Temple 1967-9), and Detroit. He sang in concert with the Israel Philharmonic. He moved to Florida ca 1980 and continued to appear as guest cantor in the USA for special religious services through the 1980s. His voice may be heard on the LPs Sholom Secunda's Family Chanukah Festival (20th Century Fox, 1964), Jacob Barkin in Concert (Musique Internationale, 1973), and Cantorial Masterpieces and Jewish Folk Songs (Tivka Records).

See also Leo Barkin (his brother), and Sara Barkin (his sister).