Katherine Neal Simmons facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Katherine Neal Simmons
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Katherine Neal Simmons, from a 1916 publication.
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| Born | August 1884 Sherman, Texas
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| Died | 1940 |
| Other names | Katherine Neal-Simmons, Katherine Love |
| Occupation | Singer |
Katherine Neal Simmons Love (born August 1884 – died 1940) was a talented American singer. She was a soprano, meaning she sang in a high voice. Katherine was also a member of the Choctaw people. She was famous for singing songs with Native American themes. She often wore a special costume with beads and fringe during her performances.
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Early Life and Musical Start
Katherine Neal was born in 1884 in Sherman, Texas. Her parents were James Thomas Neal and Mary Elizabeth Fuller Neal. Katherine's mother was a member of the Choctaw Nation. This was officially recorded on the Dawes Rolls.
Katherine went to Mary Nash College. She loved music and studied it further. She attended the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music. She also took music lessons in Paris, France, and Chicago.
Singing Career and Performances
Katherine Simmons was a professional soprano singer. She sang as a church soloist. She also toured as a concert singer. Her concerts often included arias, which are songs from operas. She also sang "tribal Indian songs."
During her performances, she wore a special costume. This outfit included beads, a fringed shawl, braids, and a headband. She sang songs by composers like Charles Wakefield Cadman and Thurlow Lieurance. These composers wrote music with Native American themes.
Touring and Meeting the President
Katherine was active in the MacDowell Clubs in Portland, Oregon. These clubs supported music and arts. She went on a concert tour in 1921 and 1922. She visited cities in the eastern United States and Canada.
During her tour, she met President Warren G. Harding and his wife. This meeting happened at the White House. Katherine also had a large garden with 250 rose bushes. She was the secretary of the Portland Rose Society.
Later Work and Teaching
By 1926, Katherine had moved from Portland to New York City. She became a regional director for the National Delphian Society. This group was a network of women's music clubs. She also taught voice lessons to students.
Personal Life
Katherine Neal was married two times. Her first husband was a lawyer named John Curtis Simmons. They married in 1905. He passed away by 1920. Her second husband was Joseph Kirk Love. He survived her when she died in 1940.
