FORMER N.Z. SINGERS

Dominion, Volume 38, Issue 202, 24 May 1945, Page 6

FORMER N.Z. SINGERS

DEATH Mr. Ernest McKinley

SYDNEY, May 23. Ernest McKinley, the New Zealandborn singer, collapsed and died in a city street last night. McKinley, who was known as “the silver tenor,” was 56. He was a world authority on Maori songs, many of which he recoredd. He wrote and sang “Kia Ora Katoa” (“Good Luck to All”).

After the last war. in which he made two world tours with the Westminster Glee -Singers, he appeared seven times at Buckingham Palace. For the last 15 years he had lived in Sydney. Mr. McKinley first came under notice when he was a member of the second group of Westminster Glee- Singers, who toured New Zealand about 25 years ago. Tie served in the last war and was gassed in action. The effect of this injury gave his singing voice a slight, but not unpleasant, huskiness; but there were times wheu he could not slug at all. He returned to New Zealand after one world tour with the glee singers in 1927 by way of America; but after some months he went on to Australia, where he became a commercial traveller, specializing in the boot and shoe trade. Mr. McKinley made a specialty of singing, and recording, Maori songs. It is believed that he made about 30 of these records. They are known, and appreciated, all over the world.