Frank Patterson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Frank Patterson
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Bronze life-size piece by Jerry McKenna titled "The Golden Tenor Statue". Unveiled in Mick Delahunty Square Clonmel, June 2002.
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| Background information | |
| Born | 5 October 1938 Clonmel, County Tipperary, Ireland |
| Died | 10 June 2000 (aged 61) New York City, U.S. |
| Genres | Operetta, popular, Irish drawing room, church music |
| Occupation(s) | Singer |
| Labels | RCA Victor, Valley Entertainment, Rego Irish |
| Associated acts | Bernadette Greevy, John S. Beckett, Janine Micheau |
Frank Patterson (born October 5, 1938 – died June 10, 2000) was a famous Irish singer. He was known as a tenor, which is a male singer with a high voice. People often called him "Ireland's Golden Tenor". He followed in the footsteps of other great Irish singers like John McCormack.
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Early Life in Ireland
Frank Patterson was born in Clonmel, a town in County Tipperary, Ireland. As a boy, he loved to sing. He performed with his local church choir. He also took part in a fun old tradition called the "Wrenboys". This is where people sing and play music on St. Stephen's Day.
A local expert named Tommy O'Brien encouraged Frank after he sang in a school play. Frank also sang with the St. Mary's Choral Society. He even performed in a show called The Pirates of Penzance with his parents!
Frank was good at sports too. He played hurling, tennis, and golf. He left school early to work at his mother's family printing business. In 1961, Frank moved to Dublin. There, he studied acting and singing. In 1964, he won several awards in a big music competition called the Feis Ceoil.
A Singing Career Begins
Frank Patterson gave many classical concerts across Ireland. He won scholarships to study music in London, Paris, and the Netherlands. While in Paris, he sang on a radio show. This performance caught the attention of the Philips Record Company. Soon, he signed a contract and released his first record, My Dear Native Land.
He worked with famous conductors and orchestras. These included the London Symphony Orchestra. Frank became known for singing classical music. He also had a long-running TV show in Ireland called For Your Pleasure.
Moving to the United States
In the early 1980s, Frank moved to the United States. He settled in Westchester County, New York. At this time, there was a growing interest in Irish culture. Frank began to sing more traditional Irish songs. He added hymns, ballads, and popular tunes to his performances. He became very popular in America, especially with people who had Irish roots.
In March 1988, he hosted a big St. Patrick's Day music and dance show. It was held at the famous Radio City Music Hall in New York. Frank also sang outdoors on the steps of the United States Capitol in Washington. About 60,000 people came to listen! He also performed for smaller groups, like a concert for Boys Town.
Frank Patterson performed in many sold-out concerts. He sang at London's Royal Albert Hall and New York's Carnegie Hall. He also performed for two US presidents at the White House. He sang for Ronald Reagan in 1982 and Bill Clinton in 1995.
He recorded over thirty albums in six different languages. He won many awards for his music, including silver, gold, and platinum discs. He was the first Irish singer to have his own show at Radio City Music Hall. In the 1990s, "Celtic" music became very popular. Many of Frank's older recordings were re-released for American audiences. In 1998, he starred in a TV special called Ireland in Song. His last album even sold more copies than an album by the famous singer Pavarotti.
Frank received special honors for his music. He got honorary doctorates from Salve Regina University in 1990 and Manhattan College in 1996.
Frank Patterson in Films
Frank Patterson also appeared in several movies.
- In 1987, he was in The Dead. This movie was based on a story by James Joyce. Frank played a character named Bartell D'Arcy who sings "The Lass of Aughrim".
- In 1990, you can hear his voice twice in the film Millers Crossing. He sings both Danny Boy and Goodnight Sweetheart.
- In 1996, he appeared in Neil Jordan's movie Michael Collins. He played a "tenor in restaurant" and sang "Macushla".
- A recording of him singing "Dan Tucker" was also used in Martin Scorsese's movie Gangs of New York (2002).
Faith and Helping Others
Frank Patterson was a very religious Catholic. In 1979, he sang at a special Mass in Dublin. This Mass was led by Pope John Paul II and almost a million people attended. In 1984, the Pope gave him a special award called the Knighthood of St. Gregory. He was also a Knight of Malta and a Knight Commander of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem.
Frank used his music to help others. In the early 1970s, he gave a concert to raise money for the Glencree Centre for Peace and Reconciliation. This center works to bring peace to Ireland. He continued to donate to the center from his performances.
Faith of Our Fathers Album
Frank Patterson was one of many artists who worked on the album Faith of Our Fathers. This album included the Monks of Glenstal Abbey and the Dublin Philharmonic Orchestra. It was very popular and was the top album on the Irish Albums Chart for two months in 1996.
Later Life and Legacy
Frank Patterson passed away on June 10, 2000, at the age of 61. He had been battling a brain tumor. His last performance was on June 4, 2000, in Massachusetts.
After his death, many people shared tributes to him. These included the President of Ireland Mary McAleese and Taoiseach Bertie Ahern. They praised his beautiful voice. Frank was survived by his wife, Eily O'Grady, who was a concert pianist. Their son, Eanan, is a violinist and often performed with his father.
In December 2005, Lisa Marie Presley visited Frank Patterson's grave in Ireland. She placed flowers there as a tribute from the Presley family. They admired his singing, especially his versions of songs that Elvis Presley also performed.
"You'll come and find the place where I am lying,
And kneel and say an Ave there for me;
And I shall hear, though soft you tread above me,< br /> And all my grave will warmer, sweeter be,
For you will bend and tell me that you love me,
And I shall sleep in peace until you come to me."
In 2002, a filmmaker named Johnny Watts created a series of programs called The Tribute in Song. These programs featured Frank Patterson's music. They were made to remember those who died in Manhattan on 9/11. The series also became a touching tribute to Frank Patterson himself.
In June 2002, a bronze statue of Frank Patterson was unveiled in his hometown of Clonmel. The statue is life-size and is called "The Golden Tenor Statue". It was created by sculptor Jerry McKenna from Texas.
