John Boulter
Encyclopedia
John Boulter is a British tenor
best known for his appearances as a soloist in the BBC's long-running variety series The Black and White Minstrel Show
. Along with bass Tony Mercer and baritone Dai Francis
, Boulter was one of the show's three front men.
Boulter was born in Gillingham
, Kent, and was educated at Gillingham Grammar School and later at Number One School of Technical Training in the Royal Air Force. From there he entered the Royal Academy of Music where he won Gold, Silver and Bronze Medals for his singing, and was awarded an Associateship of the Academy in recognition of his work. He was an "apprentice Airframe Fitter" in the RAF before becoming a professional singer. In 1960 he appeared in a South African production of Lock Up Your Daughters
, and joined George Mitchell
's Minstrels during the 1950s. He went on to appear in the stage and television versions of The Black and White Minstrel Show and on recordings made by the troupe. He also appeared in the 1969 spin-off series, Music Music Music, in which the minstrels appeared without their blackface make-up, following accusations of racism against the show.
In 1954 he married opera singer Loma St. Clair, with whom he had four children. Later, Boulter married West End musical star Anna Dawson
. The couple retired to New Zealand. Their daughters, Phillipa Boulter and Francesca Boulter, are both singers.
Tenor
The tenor is a type of male singing voice and is the highest male voice within the modal register. The typical tenor voice lies between C3, the C one octave below middle C, to the A above middle C in choral music, and up to high C in solo work. The low extreme for tenors is roughly B2...
best known for his appearances as a soloist in the BBC's long-running variety series The Black and White Minstrel Show
The Black and White Minstrel Show
The Black and White Minstrel Show was a British light entertainment show that ran on BBC television from 1958-1978 and was a popular stage show. It was a weekly light entertainment and variety show presenting traditional American minstrel and Country songs, as well as show and music hall numbers,...
. Along with bass Tony Mercer and baritone Dai Francis
Dai Francis (singer)
Dai Francis , was a Welsh singer, best known for his performances with the Black and White Minstrels.Francis was born in Swansea, the son of a music hall entertainer. Dai himself began performing at the age of ten, "blacking up" to sing Dixieland-style numbers...
, Boulter was one of the show's three front men.
Boulter was born in Gillingham
Gillingham, Kent
Gillingham is a town in the unitary authority of Medway in South East England. It is part of the ceremonial county of Kent. The town includes the settlements of Brompton, Hempstead, Rainham, Rainham Mark and Twydall....
, Kent, and was educated at Gillingham Grammar School and later at Number One School of Technical Training in the Royal Air Force. From there he entered the Royal Academy of Music where he won Gold, Silver and Bronze Medals for his singing, and was awarded an Associateship of the Academy in recognition of his work. He was an "apprentice Airframe Fitter" in the RAF before becoming a professional singer. In 1960 he appeared in a South African production of Lock Up Your Daughters
Lock Up Your Daughters
Lock Up Your Daughters is a musical based on an 18th century comedy, Rape Upon Rape, by Henry Fielding and adapted by Bernard Miles. The lyrics were written by Lionel Bart and the music by Laurie Johnson...
, and joined George Mitchell
George Mitchell
George Mitchell may refer to:*George J. Mitchell , former Senator from Maine, special envoy to the Middle East for the Obama administration, former Senate majority leader and former chairman of Disney...
's Minstrels during the 1950s. He went on to appear in the stage and television versions of The Black and White Minstrel Show and on recordings made by the troupe. He also appeared in the 1969 spin-off series, Music Music Music, in which the minstrels appeared without their blackface make-up, following accusations of racism against the show.
In 1954 he married opera singer Loma St. Clair, with whom he had four children. Later, Boulter married West End musical star Anna Dawson
Anna Dawson
Anna Dawson is an English actress and singer.Dawson starred in several West End musicals. She featured in episodes of Dixon of Dock Green during the 1960s, The Benny Hill Show during the 1980s, and played Hyacinth's sister Violet in the final series of the sitcom Keeping Up Appearances, though her...
. The couple retired to New Zealand. Their daughters, Phillipa Boulter and Francesca Boulter, are both singers.