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Josef Locke's birth name was Joseph McLaughlin, and he was born in Derry, Ireland, on March 23, 1917.
Answer: True
Explanation: Josef Locke was born Joseph McLaughlin on March 23, 1917, in Derry, Ireland.
Josef Locke came from a large family, with his father working as a butcher and cattle dealer in Derry.
Answer: True
Explanation: Josef Locke was born into a family of nine children, and his father worked as a butcher and cattle dealer in Derry, Ireland.
Josef Locke commenced his singing career at age seven, performing in local pubs in Derry.
Answer: False
Explanation: Josef Locke began singing at age seven in local churches in Derry, not in pubs.
What was Josef Locke's birth name and primary profession?
Answer: Joseph McLaughlin, an Irish tenor singer.
Explanation: Josef Locke's birth name was Joseph McLaughlin, and he was an Irish tenor singer.
Where was Josef Locke born?
Answer: Derry, Ireland
Explanation: Josef Locke was born in Derry, Ireland.
Josef Locke earned the nickname "The Singing Bobby" from his early career performing opera within military bands.
Answer: False
Explanation: Josef Locke's nickname "The Singing Bobby" originated from his service in the police force, not from performing opera in military bands.
Prior to his singing career, Josef Locke served in the Irish Guards, subsequently joining the Palestine Police Force before returning to Ireland to enlist in the Royal Ulster Constabulary.
Answer: True
Explanation: The source confirms that Josef Locke served in the Irish Guards, the Palestine Police Force, and the Royal Ulster Constabulary before his singing career.
John McCormack advised Josef Locke to pursue a career in opera, believing his voice was suited for that style.
Answer: False
Explanation: John McCormack advised Josef Locke that his voice was better suited to a lighter repertoire, rather than the operatic style Locke initially considered.
Impresario Jack Hylton shortened Joseph McLaughlin's name to Josef Locke because the original name was too difficult to pronounce.
Answer: False
Explanation: Impresario Jack Hylton shortened Joseph McLaughlin's name to Josef Locke for billing purposes, as the full name was considered too long, not due to pronunciation difficulty.
What nickname was Josef Locke widely known by, referencing his past occupation?
Answer: The Singing Bobby
Explanation: Josef Locke was widely known by the nickname "The Singing Bobby," which referenced his past occupation in the police force.
What advice did John McCormack give to Joseph McLaughlin regarding his singing career?
Answer: Develop a lighter repertoire, as opera was not his forte.
Explanation: John McCormack advised Joseph McLaughlin that his voice was better suited to a lighter repertoire rather than opera, and encouraged him to seek professional representation.
What role did impresario Jack Hylton play in Josef Locke's career?
Answer: He shortened Locke's name for billing and helped secure representation.
Explanation: Impresario Jack Hylton acted as Josef Locke's agent, booking performances and shortening his name for billing.
Josef Locke, born Joseph McLaughlin, achieved fame primarily as a tenor singer during the 1940s and 1950s.
Answer: True
Explanation: The source indicates Josef Locke was an Irish tenor who found significant success in the 1940s and 1950s.
Josef Locke's career significantly advanced in 1946 following his feature in the summer show "Starry Way" at the Blackpool Opera House.
Answer: True
Explanation: The engagement in the 1946 summer show "Starry Way" at the Blackpool Opera House was a key step in Josef Locke's rise to prominence.
Josef Locke performed summer seasons in various English seaside resorts and completed nineteen seasons at Blackpool's Opera House.
Answer: False
Explanation: While Josef Locke performed summer seasons in English seaside resorts, he appeared in ten Blackpool seasons, not nineteen as he later claimed.
Josef Locke made his radio broadcast debut in 1949 and appeared on television programs including "Top of the Town" and "The Frankie Howerd Show."
Answer: True
Explanation: Josef Locke's radio broadcast debut was in 1949, and he appeared on television shows such as "Top of the Town" and "The Frankie Howerd Show."
Josef Locke signed with the Decca record label and released his initial recordings, featuring popular songs like "Danny Boy."
Answer: False
Explanation: Josef Locke signed with the Columbia label in 1947, and his first recordings were Italian songs such as 'Santa Lucia' and 'Come Back to Sorrento,' not 'Danny Boy' with Decca.
The song "Hear My Song, Violetta," released in 1947, became Josef Locke's signature tune and originated from a 1936 German tango.
Answer: True
Explanation: The song "Hear My Song, Violetta," released in 1947, became Josef Locke's signature tune and originated from a 1936 German tango titled *Hör' mein Lied, Violetta*.
The popular tune that inspired "Hear My Song, Violetta" was based on Giacomo Puccini's opera "Tosca."
Answer: False
Explanation: The tune that inspired "Hear My Song, Violetta" was based on Giuseppe Verdi's opera "La Traviata," not Puccini's "Tosca."
Josef Locke's repertoire included Irish ballads such as "Galway Bay" and "The Rose of Slievenamon," alongside operetta pieces like "The Drinking Song" from "The Student Prince."
Answer: True
Explanation: Josef Locke's repertoire featured popular Irish ballads like "Galway Bay" and "The Rose of Slievenamon," as well as operetta selections such as "The Drinking Song" from "The Student Prince."
In which year did Josef Locke make his debut radio broadcast?
Answer: 1949
Explanation: Josef Locke made his debut radio broadcast in 1949.
Which of the following was not among the television programs Josef Locke featured in?
Answer: The Ed Sullivan Show
Explanation: The source material lists "Rooftop Rendezvous," "Top of the Town," and "The Frankie Howerd Show" as television programs Josef Locke featured in. "The Ed Sullivan Show" is not mentioned.
What was the origin of the song that inspired Josef Locke's hit "Hear My Song, Violetta"?
Answer: A German tango from 1936
Explanation: The song that inspired "Hear My Song, Violetta" originated from a 1936 German tango titled *Hör' mein Lied, Violetta*.
How many Royal Variety Performances did Josef Locke participate in during his career?
Answer: Five
Explanation: Josef Locke participated in five Royal Variety Performances during his career.
Josef Locke achieved significant success primarily during which decades?
Answer: 1940s and 1950s
Explanation: Josef Locke achieved significant success primarily during the 1940s and 1950s.
Josef Locke's career gained significant momentum following his appearance in which 1946 summer show?
Answer: Starry Way
Explanation: Josef Locke's career gained significant momentum following his appearance in the 1946 summer show "Starry Way".
Which song became indelibly associated with Josef Locke and was released in 1947?
Answer: Hear My Song, Violetta
Explanation: The song "Hear My Song, Violetta," released in 1947, became indelibly associated with Josef Locke.
The tune that inspired Josef Locke's hit "Hear My Song, Violetta" was originally a tango based on which classical work?
Answer: Verdi's La Traviata
Explanation: The tune that inspired "Hear My Song, Violetta" was based on Giuseppe Verdi's opera "La Traviata."
Which of the following is NOT listed as a popular Irish ballad in Josef Locke's repertoire?
Answer: Danny Boy
Explanation: The source lists "I'll Take You Home Again, Kathleen," "Dear Old Donegal," "Galway Bay," "The Isle of Innisfree," and "The Rose of Slievenamon" as popular Irish ballads in Josef Locke's repertoire. "Danny Boy" is not explicitly mentioned in this context.
Besides Irish ballads, Josef Locke also performed excerpts from which genre of music?
Answer: Operettas
Explanation: Besides Irish ballads, Josef Locke also performed excerpts from operettas and popular favorites.
Josef Locke fled the United Kingdom in 1958 to avoid substantial demands from British tax authorities for unpaid taxes.
Answer: True
Explanation: In 1958, Josef Locke departed the UK for Ireland due to significant demands from British tax authorities concerning unpaid taxes.
Josef Locke maintained a frugal lifestyle and meticulous tax record-keeping, thereby avoiding any issues with tax authorities.
Answer: False
Explanation: Josef Locke was known as an inveterate gambler and tax avoider, which led to significant problems with the Inland Revenue.
What event caused Josef Locke to leave the United Kingdom in 1958?
Answer: Demands from British tax authorities for unpaid taxes.
Explanation: Josef Locke left the United Kingdom in 1958 to avoid substantial demands from British tax authorities for unpaid taxes.
What personal habit is mentioned in the source as contributing to Josef Locke's legal troubles with UK tax authorities?
Answer: An inveterate gambling habit
Explanation: An inveterate gambling habit is mentioned as contributing to Josef Locke's legal troubles with UK tax authorities.
Josef Locke passed away in Dublin, Ireland, in 1999 at the age of 82.
Answer: False
Explanation: Josef Locke passed away in Clane, County Kildare, Ireland, in 1999 at the age of 82, not in Dublin.
Josef Locke appeared in films produced by Mancunian Films, portraying the role of a detective in "What a Carry On!".
Answer: False
Explanation: Josef Locke appeared in Mancunian Films, but in "What a Carry On!" he played "Sergeant Locke," not a detective.
Following the resolution of his tax issues, Josef Locke resumed his career by touring northern variety clubs and performing summer seasons in Blackpool during 1968 and 1969.
Answer: True
Explanation: After settling his tax matters, Josef Locke relaunched his career with tours in northern variety clubs and summer seasons in Blackpool in 1968 and 1969.
Josef Locke received a tribute on "The Late Late Show," hosted by Gay Byrne in November 1984, which coincided with an award ceremony.
Answer: True
Explanation: In November 1984, Josef Locke was honored with a tribute on "The Late Late Show" hosted by Gay Byrne, which occurred concurrently with an award ceremony he was to attend.
The 1991 film "Hear My Song" was a documentary accurately portraying Josef Locke's life story and career.
Answer: False
Explanation: The 1991 film "Hear My Song" was a fictionalized account based loosely on Josef Locke's life, not a documentary.
In the film "Hear My Song," the actor Ned Beatty portrayed Josef Locke, with Vernon Midgley providing the singing voice.
Answer: True
Explanation: The film "Hear My Song" featured Ned Beatty as Josef Locke, with Vernon Midgley performing the singing voice for the character.
In which film produced by Mancunian Films did Josef Locke portray a character named "Sergeant Locke"?
Answer: What a Carry On!
Explanation: Josef Locke portrayed "Sergeant Locke" in the 1949 Mancunian Films comedy "What a Carry On!".
How did the 1991 film "Hear My Song," based loosely on his life, impact Josef Locke's career?
Answer: It sparked a revival, leading to a CD release and TV appearance.
Explanation: The 1991 film "Hear My Song" sparked a revival in Josef Locke's career, leading to a CD release and an appearance on "This Is Your Life."
Who provided the singing voice for Josef Locke in the 1991 film "Hear My Song"?
Answer: Vernon Midgley
Explanation: Vernon Midgley provided the singing voice for Josef Locke in the 1991 film "Hear My Song."
What song did Josef Locke sing at his final public performance in 1992?
Answer: Goodbye
Explanation: Josef Locke sang "Goodbye" at his final public performance in 1992.
A memorial dedicated to Josef Locke was unveiled in Derry in 2005, designed by Terry Quigley.
Answer: True
Explanation: A memorial honoring Josef Locke was unveiled in Derry in 2005, and it was designed by Terry Quigley.
The bronze memorial in Derry features a simple plaque displaying Josef Locke's name and dates.
Answer: False
Explanation: The bronze memorial in Derry is designed as a spiraling scroll symbolizing a musical stave, adorned with images from Locke's life, rather than a simple plaque.
The biography "Josef Locke: The People's Tenor," published in 2017, aimed to perpetuate the myths surrounding Locke's career.
Answer: False
Explanation: The biography "Josef Locke: The People's Tenor" was published in 2017 with the purpose of correcting the myths that Josef Locke himself had circulated about his career.
When was the bronze memorial honoring Josef Locke unveiled in Derry?
Answer: March 22, 2005
Explanation: The bronze memorial honoring Josef Locke was unveiled in Derry on March 22, 2005.
Who were the notable figures involved in unveiling Josef Locke's memorial in Derry?
Answer: Phil Coulter and John Hume
Explanation: Phil Coulter and John Hume were the notable figures involved in unveiling Josef Locke's memorial in Derry.
What does the spiraling scroll design of Josef Locke's memorial in Derry symbolize?
Answer: The flowing melody of a song
Explanation: The spiraling scroll design of Josef Locke's memorial in Derry symbolizes the flowing melody of a song.
What was the primary purpose of the biography "Josef Locke: The People's Tenor"?
Answer: To correct myths that Locke himself had circulated.
Explanation: The primary purpose of the biography "Josef Locke: The People's Tenor" was to correct the myths that Josef Locke himself had circulated about his career.