Richard J. Jose. Never in the annals of minstrelsy has any singer met with more phenomenal success than that achieved by the subject of this sketch.
Mr. Jose came to this country as a boy, and shortly after secured a position as blacksmith in Reno, Nev., where he remained several years. Mr. Jose while at work was always singing, and his phenomenal voice, a pure contra tenor, attracted marked attention.
His first professional appearance was with Charley Reed’s Minstrels in San Francisco, March 2, 1886. He remained with Reed until the season ended, April 10, following. A few weeks later he joined Birch and Cotton’s Minstrels for a brief road trip.
In September, 1886, he joined Lew Dockstader’s permanent minstrel company in New York; here he remained about three years. George Thatcher’s Minstrels and Tuxedo Company had his services for two years.
Mr. Jose next engaged with the “Old Homestead,” and continued for eight years with that time-honored favorite; after which he again returned to his first love and joined Wm. H. West’s Minstrels, with whom he was a feature for three years. His last appearance in minstrelsy was with his own company about 1901 or 1902.
Subsequently he has devoted his talents successfully to vaudeville and dramatic work.
Mr. Jose makes a feature of singing the old minstrel ballads. In December, 1909, he produced a play written around one of these old favorites, entitled “Silver Threads Among the Gold.”
Richard J. Jose was born in Cornwall, England, June 5, 1869.
William H. Thompson began his minstrel career in Chicago with “Kelly and Leon’s” Minstrels in 1889.
The following year he was with Cleveland’s Minstrels, and from 1890 to 1893 he was with Primrose and West’s Minstrels. He then formed an alliance with Fred Oakland, and for four years Oakland and Thompson performed in the principal music halls of London and the provinces, in a great singing act.