I was born in 1868 in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania and I always loved music.
I received lessons as a child and when I became a young lady, my dear father refused to continue paying my lessons, so I moved to Philadelphia where I married Frank Thornton Jenkins. I worked as a teacher and a pianist, but I couldn’t forget my passion about singing.
Once my father deceased in 1909, I inherited a sum of money which allowed me to take up my singing career. I started funding the Verdi Club in Philadelphia, and gave my first recital in 1912. Maybe it was a little late to start, but my natural talent was always there, and audience and critics got naturally surprised, as other singers tried to discredit me, filled with envy and jealousy.
Of course, my wealthy position helped me to do what I wanted, but Fate was also there.
Along my 32-year career I sang masterpieces from Mozart, Verdi, Strauss, Brahms, and from my dearest accompanist, Mr. Cosmé McMoon. And I’m proud to say that I even designed my own gowns for my performances and for my annual recitals in hotel Ritz-Carlton in NYC.
But, as all Divas, I knew that one day I had to retire, what I did definitively in 1944.
For all my fans, I recorded nine arias that you can find in CD from Homophone Records and RCA Victor.
I’m sure that you’ll appreciate my talent and love about music. Thank you for visiting my profile and please, feel free to leave your comments.
Florence Foster Jenkins.
