Media History Digital Library (1944)

Qjomqa V/bdion T "AMES MELTON is a real son of the South. He was born January 2, 1904 in Moultrie, Georgia. When the future opera star was wear¬ ing his first pair of long pants his family moved to Citra, a town in Florida. Melton senior was in the lumber business and the lad, then eight or nine, often accompanied him when he pros¬ pected for timber. Listening to the labor gang's songs as they "stripped" logs, developed young Melton's interest in singing. When the family moved to Ocala, Florida, where he attended the University of Florida, he began his voice studies. He left Florida to enter the University of Georgia where he played the saxophone in the college dance band. He next sought education at Vanderbilt Col¬ lege, Nashville, Tennessee. Here he studied under Gaetano De Luca, famous opera singer and coach, who recognized that Melton had great possibilities. To help pay for his les¬ sons, he played his sax in a local jazz band. When he finished school, Melton decided on New York and musical comedy to start his singing career. He persuaded a number of Nashville businessmen to subscribe to a fund which would enable him to continue his studies there. He repaid them within a year. Arriving in New York in 1927, Melton im¬ mediately decided that a job with Roxy's Gang on the radio was just the place for him. Within a week, he wa s a member of the fa¬ mous Gang, singing regularly on their pro¬ grams over NBC networks. It marked the be¬ ginning of his radio career. The famous Revelers Quartet next offered him a job which he accepted, touring Europe with them for several years. This foursome of singers became one of the outstanding groups in the recording field. Melton made his concert debut in New York’s Town Hall in 1930 and since has made many concert tours across the country, includ¬ ing one with composer-pianist George Gersh¬ win in 1934, during which he sang twentyeight concerts in the same number of days. In 1935 Melton went to Hollywood and re¬ mained until 1937 appearing in three pictures for Warner Brothers. Since then he has devoted himself exclusively to concert and opera, until signed by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer early in 1944 as one of the many stars in Ziegfeld Follies. His debut in grand opera came in 1938 with the Cincinnati Summer Opera singing the role of Pinkerton in Madame Butterfly. His success as the handsome and romantic Pinkerton was the springboard which led to his starring roles with the St. Louis and Chi¬ cago Opera companies in La Traviata, Manon, Mignon, Lucia. Martha, and Faust. In December, 1942, Melton made his debut at the Met in the role of Tamino in Mozart's The Magic Flute. Included in his repertoire of operatic successes are: Don Giovanni, Mignon. Lucia di Lammermoor, and Traviata. Melton married Marjorie Louise McClure, a writer, June 29, 1929. It is on their forty acre Westport, Connecticut, estate that he keeps his famous collection of antique automobiles. He owns about sixty horseless carriages, models dating back to 1898, which he values at over $200,000. Included are electrics, steam¬ ers, and gas cars, all in running condition. He also owns quite a large collection of old pewter and antique glass. Odd hats are another of his prize possessions, of which he has over thirty-five. Six feet, three inches tall, Melton weighs 196 pounds. His favorite sport is football, which he played in college. The Met star is a good cook and specializes in midnight suppers for friends who drop in of an evening. He has no superstitions or ec¬ centricities, thinks a singer should put himself into a song instead of merely vocalizing. LIFELINES Born, James Melton, Moultrie, Georgia, January 2, 1904. Parents James Melton and Rose Thornton Melton, father, lumberman. Educated, Citra, Florida, grade schools. University of Florida in Ocala, University of Georgia and Vanderbilt University in Tennessee. Height, 6 feet, 3 inches. Weight 196 pounds. Hair, dark brown. Eyes, dark brown: Married to Marjorie Louise Mc¬ Clure, writer, on June 29, 1929. Occupa¬ tions, star of opera, radio, concert stage and screen. Recorded for Columbia, Decca, Victor. Stage: Member of Cincinnati Summer Opera company, Chicago Civic Opera and St. Louis Opera company. Leading American tenor with Metropo¬ litan Opera Company for two seasons. Made debut in role of Tamino in Mozart's The Magic Flute, December 7, 1942. Pictures: Stars Over Broadway, 1935 Sing Me a Love Song, 1936; Melody for Two, 1937; Ziegfeld Follies, 1944. [97]