Frank Cornelius La Forge (1877-1953), pianist, accompanist, teacher, composer and arranger was born in Rockford, Illinois to Cornelius and Gracie Taylor La Forge on October 22, 1877 (some sources say 1879). La Forge studied in Vienna with Leschetizky and later studied composition with Labor and Navaratil. He was known as an exceptional accompanist, touring with such notables as Mme. Gadski, Mme. Sembrich and Frances Alda. As a voice teacher he worked with Marian Anderson, Lawrence Tibbett and Richard Crooks among others and was sought after for his skilled advice.
La Forge had a studio on his father-in-law’s summer estate on the Saint Croix River, where opera proteges Lily Pons and Gladys Swarthout not only honed their vocal skills but also vacationed during the 1920s. In 1930, La Forge built his own home where he held many concerts.
Frank La Forge arranged and composed many songs. Among them To a Messenger, I Came with a Song, By the Lake, Like the Rosebud and Valse de Concert, to name a few. La Forge died in New York City while performing at the Musicians’ Club annual dinner and concert on May 5, 1953.
9 thoughts on “Kaminos”
Was Nicholas related to Alexander Saslavsky who married Celeste Izolee Todd?
Anyone have a contact email for Yair Klinger or link to score for Ha-Bayta?
wish to have homeland concert video played on the big screen throughout North America.
can organize here in Santa Barbara California.
contacts for this needed and any ideas or suggestions welcomed.
Nat farber is my great grandpa 😊
Are there any movies or photos of max kletter? His wife’s sister was my stepmother, so I’m interested in seeing them and sharing them with his wife’s daughter.
The article says Sheb recorded his last song just 4 days before he died, but does not tell us the name of it. I be curious what it was. I’d like to hear it.
Would anyone happen to know where I can find a copy of the sheet music for a Gil Aldema Choral (SATB) arrangement for Naomi Shemer’s “Sheleg Al Iri”. (Snow on my Village)?
Joseph Smith
Kol Ram Community Choir, NYC
שלום שמעון!
לא שכחתי אותך. עזבתי את ישראל בפברואר 1998 כדי להביא את בני האוטיסט לקבל את העזרה המקצועית שלא הייתה קיימת אז בישראל. זה סיפור מאוד עצוב וטרגי, אבל אני הייתי היחיד עם ביצים שהביא אותו והייתי הורה יחיד בשבילו במשך חמישה חודשים. הוא היה אז בן 9. כעת הוא בן 36 ומתפקד באופן עצמאי. נתתי לו הזדמנות לעתיד נורמלי. בטח, אבות כולם חרא, אומרים הפמינציות, אבל כולם צריכים לעבוד כמטרות במטווחי רובה!
משה קונג
(Maurice King)
Thank you for this wonderful remembrance of Herman Zalis. My late father, Henry Wahrman, was one of his students. Note the correct spelling of his name for future reference. Thank you again for sharing this.
Tirza Wahrman (Mitlak)