Perry Askam | |
---|---|
Born | 1898 |
Died | 1961 (aged 62–63) |
Occupation(s) | baritone singer, actor |
Years active | 1920s–1950s |
Spouse | Frances |
Perry Askam (1898–1961) was a 20th-century American actor and baritone singer, most active in musical theatre and opera around the San Francisco area.
Askam was born in 1898 [1] to Oiver and Helena Askam. Helena was the daughter of ferryman and land magnate Henry Rengstorff. [2] Perry was orphaned at a young age, and went to live with his maternal aunt, Elisa Haag, whom he came to view as a second mother. [2] A little later Elisa and Perry moved into Rengstorff House with Perry's grandmother Christina Rengstorff, widow of Henry. [2] On this expansive property Perry worked the ranch, working with cattle and in the grain fields while attending local school. [2] He then attended the Santa Clara University, studying music. [2]
Askam joined the French army during World War I, and when the United States entered on the side of the Allies, he transferred to the American Ambulance Corps. [2] At war's end, he relocated to New York and appeared in Broadway performances. [2]
Askam played the San Francisco production of Castles in the Air in 1927. [3] In 1928 he performed in The Desert Song at the Curran Theatre. [3]
He was in the Los Angeles production of The New Moon. [4] This engagement led to a recording of the musical's songs "Stouthearted Men" and " Lover Come Back to Me". [4] Joel Whitburn estimates this recording (released on Victor Records 22317) would have been listed as a best seller if the Billboard Hot 100 had existed. [5]
Askam had a significant role in the 1930 Warner Brothers musical film Sweet Kitty Bellairs in which he sang lead in several numbers, [1] not surprising in that he was the only professional singer in the cast. [6]
Askam spent two seasons with the San Francisco Opera. [7] Askam performed the role of Count Almaviva in the 1936 production of Mozart's The Marriage of Figaro. [8] He had two roles for San Francisco's 1937 season, both in works by Charles Gounod, first as Mercutio in his Roméo et Juliette and then as Valentin in Faust. [9] He joined the New York-based New Opera Company in 1941 for a performance of Mozart's then-rarely-heard Così fan tutte. [10]
In 1945 Perry and his wife Frances moved back to Rengstorff House to look after his aunt Elise. [2] He made regular concert appearances with the San Francisco Symphony. [2] Perry lived at his ancestral home until 1959. [2] He died in 1961. [1]