Pocahontas - Edward M. Favor (1906)
"Pocahontas"
Edward M. Favor
Victor 4683
1906
Music by Gus Edwards
Words by Vincent Bryan
Edward M. Favor was born on August 29, 1856.
Some sources report that the tenor was born Edward M. Le Fevre but the Favor family bible establishes that he was named Edward Addison Favor. It is also the source of his birth date: August 29, 1856. This bible is now in the possession of Louise Favor Bellows. She received it from her grandmother, Mary Jane Stinson Favor, who was married to Alfred Cushman Favor and, upon his death in 1901, to Alfred's brother, Samuel W. Favor.
Edward's father was Franklin C. Favor, born in 1826.
His mother was Lydia Lowe Favor, born in 1828.
Edward's parents had several children. Around 1888 Edward performed on stage with brothers Sam Favor and Alf Favor. The Favors came from New England Protestant stock, so it is surprising that Edward made a name for himself as an Irish-American comic. If he had any Irish blood, it would have have been from his mother.
He was successful in the early 1890s as a Broadway comedian during the long run of E. E. Rice's 1492 at Wallack's Theater. Around 1893 he recorded "The King's Song" (Columbia cylinder 6544), a popular number from this hit musical.
From another show of this period, Ship Ahoy, he cut "The Commodore Song" (North American 772). The record opens with this announcement: "Edison Record 772, The Commodore Song from Ship Ahoy as sung by the original commodore Mr. Edward M. Favor, now of Rice's 1492 Company." These are probably the first "creator" records, or records featuring songs from musical shows as sung by an original cast member.
He was principal comedian with Klaw and Erlanger, the Shuberts, and other prominent managers.
The team of Favor and his wife, known professionally as Edith Sinclair (presumably her maiden name), were in vaudeville and musical comedies. Surviving promotional literature establishes that they worked on stage together by 1887 in "A Box of Cash," a musical comedy by Frank Dumont, as members of the Edith Sinclair Comedy Company.
The March 1909 issue of Edison Phonograph Monthly, announcing the release of "Casting Bread Upon the Waters" (Amberol 119), identifies the performers on that recording as Edward M. Favor, Edith Sinclair, and Steve Porter. It states, "Until Mr. Favor entered the comic opera field he and Mrs. Favor were widely known in vaudeville as Favor and Sinclair."
By the late 1890s, Favor was among the most popular recording artists. He made records at a dollar a "round" between periods of filling vaudeville dates, working for virtually all companies. Billy Murray told Jim Walsh that he had seen Favor, in 1897, sing into eight cylinder phonographs at the headquarters of Bacigalupi Brothers, Edison wholesale distributors for the Western states. Favor, who was then appearing at the Orpheum Theater, made an indelible impression on Murray.
Edward M. Favor
Victor 4683
1906
Music by Gus Edwards
Words by Vincent Bryan
Edward M. Favor was born on August 29, 1856.
Some sources report that the tenor was born Edward M. Le Fevre but the Favor family bible establishes that he was named Edward Addison Favor. It is also the source of his birth date: August 29, 1856. This bible is now in the possession of Louise Favor Bellows. She received it from her grandmother, Mary Jane Stinson Favor, who was married to Alfred Cushman Favor and, upon his death in 1901, to Alfred's brother, Samuel W. Favor.
Edward's father was Franklin C. Favor, born in 1826.
His mother was Lydia Lowe Favor, born in 1828.
Edward's parents had several children. Around 1888 Edward performed on stage with brothers Sam Favor and Alf Favor. The Favors came from New England Protestant stock, so it is surprising that Edward made a name for himself as an Irish-American comic. If he had any Irish blood, it would have have been from his mother.
He was successful in the early 1890s as a Broadway comedian during the long run of E. E. Rice's 1492 at Wallack's Theater. Around 1893 he recorded "The King's Song" (Columbia cylinder 6544), a popular number from this hit musical.
From another show of this period, Ship Ahoy, he cut "The Commodore Song" (North American 772). The record opens with this announcement: "Edison Record 772, The Commodore Song from Ship Ahoy as sung by the original commodore Mr. Edward M. Favor, now of Rice's 1492 Company." These are probably the first "creator" records, or records featuring songs from musical shows as sung by an original cast member.
He was principal comedian with Klaw and Erlanger, the Shuberts, and other prominent managers.
The team of Favor and his wife, known professionally as Edith Sinclair (presumably her maiden name), were in vaudeville and musical comedies. Surviving promotional literature establishes that they worked on stage together by 1887 in "A Box of Cash," a musical comedy by Frank Dumont, as members of the Edith Sinclair Comedy Company.
The March 1909 issue of Edison Phonograph Monthly, announcing the release of "Casting Bread Upon the Waters" (Amberol 119), identifies the performers on that recording as Edward M. Favor, Edith Sinclair, and Steve Porter. It states, "Until Mr. Favor entered the comic opera field he and Mrs. Favor were widely known in vaudeville as Favor and Sinclair."
By the late 1890s, Favor was among the most popular recording artists. He made records at a dollar a "round" between periods of filling vaudeville dates, working for virtually all companies. Billy Murray told Jim Walsh that he had seen Favor, in 1897, sing into eight cylinder phonographs at the headquarters of Bacigalupi Brothers, Edison wholesale distributors for the Western states. Favor, who was then appearing at the Orpheum Theater, made an indelible impression on Murray.