Quenton Ashlyn
Quenton Ashlyn, 1905.
Born
Frank Kennedy

(1858-11-19)19 November 1858
London, England
Died5 January 1933(1933-01-05) (aged 74)
Surrey, Epsom
NationalityBritish
Other namesJ. Quenton Ashlyn
OccupationMusic hall singer

J. Quenton Ashlyn (19 November 1858 - 5 January 1933) was the pseudonym of society entertainer Frank Kennedy.

In his autobiography, The Mighty God and a Sinner, Kennedy describes his natural talent for music and that the concert hall and theatre greatly fascinated him.[1] Before his entertainment career he was employed in clerical duties on a Royal Commission, but he became so successful as a society entertainer that he abandoned government service.[2]

He composed humorous songs which achieved popularity and a wide circulation. One of his works that is still popular is 'The Bassoon', which is still played today.[3][4][5] It also has been professionally recorded in 'The Playful Pachyderm: Classic Miniatures for Bassoon and Orchestra', with Laurence Perkins as the bassoonist.[3]

He attended the Torrey-Alexander revival meetings at the Royal Albert Hall, London in 1905, after which he gave up the theatre life and lived as a devout Christian. This was not a rash decision. He grew tired of playing a fool and being laughed at.[2] He was also miserable during his stage years. Giving up the stage as well as giving up drinking, smoking, and billiards greatly improved his mood.[2] His choice was greatly influenced by his Christian mother, who grew up in the London slums.[2] She spoke greatly of her joy, which he never understood until following her lifestyle.[2]

He stayed out the limelight until he died in 1933, at the age of 74, under circumstances not known.[6]

References

  1. ↑ Ashlyn, Quenton (1932). The Mighty God and a Sinner. London: Hunt Barnard and Co.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Before and After Conversion of Mr., Quenton Ashlyn (1905). Stead's Review, May 1905. Melbourne. pp. 466–469.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  3. 1 2 "The Bassoon 'Humorous Song' (Ashlyn/Perkins) - from CDA67453 - Hyperion Records - MP3 and Lossless downloads". www.hyperion-records.co.uk. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
  4. ↑ Video on YouTube
  5. ↑ Video on YouTube
  6. ↑ "ccm :: Ashlyn, Quenton Ashlyn, J Quenton Ashlyn". composers-classical-music.com. Retrieved 25 September 2020.


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