James Campbell McInnes

Infobox Musical artist
Name = James Campbell McInnes


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Background = solo_singer
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Born = 23 January, 1874
Died = 1945
Origin = Ramsbottom, Lancashire, United Kingdom
Instrument = Singing
Voice_type = Baritone
Genre = Classical
Occupation = Singer, teacher
Years_active = 1899 to 1945
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James Campbell McInnes (1874-1945) was a famousfact|date=April 2008 English baritone singer and teacher. He was born to parents Archibald McInnes and Mary Gallagher on the 23rd January 1874, in Ramsbottom, Lancashire.

Career

McInnes was a baritone singer who performed for affluent Victorian families with after dinner recitals at their homes. He made his debut in 1899, and from then on regularly appeared in concerts across England, including Leeds and Worcester. In 1919, he moved to Toronto in Canada, where he taught elocution and singing. His work aided in the development of music in Toronto; an example of which were his "Tuesday Nine O'Clocks", a series of recitals with unfamiliar renditions of little known vocal and chamber music. He also did work at the University of Toronto until his death in 1945.

Family life

McInnes married Angela Mackail, later to become the author Angela Thirkell, and they had two sons, Graham MacInnes (1912-1970) and Colin MacInnes (1914-1976), both of whom went on to become well known authors. They also had a third child, Mary, who lived less than 18 months. James McInnes was known at the time for his heavy drinking and much later on his bisexuality became known. He had a male lover prior to marrying Angela. During their marriage, he was unfaithful by a dalliance with one of the servants. This infidelity led to their divorce in 1917. Angela left with her two sons and married George Thirkell, a Captain in the ANZAC forces. They had one child named Lance. In 1919, they settled in Melbourne, Australia. However, in 1930, Angela left George Thirkell and returned to England with Lance, where she wrote many books and became a well known author until her death in 1960.

Neither Colin nor Graham McInnes had any contact with their father when they were growing up. However, in 1934, Graham began a search for him and travelled along with Colin to meet him in Canada. Graham described this in a book, published in 1967 called "Finding A Father", where he writes of the search for his Father. James Campbell McInnes was apparently delighted to hear from his sons although it came as a huge surprise. Graham moved to Canada soon after their meeting. James Campbell McInnes died some years after their meeting in 1945, he is buried in Bala, Ontario, the hometown of his Canadian lover from the Jackson family.

References

* [http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A150267b.htm Graham Campbell McInnes] , Australian Dictionary of Biography
* [http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A150733b.htm Colin Campbell McInnes] , Australian Dictionary of Biography
* [http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A120218b.htm Angela Margaret Thirkell] , Australian Dictionary of Biography