Chauncey Olcott

1858 - 1932

Born in Buffalo, New York in 1858 Chauncey Olcott went on to become one of America's first international stars in song and dance. A beautiful Irish tenor voice, which caused men to cheer and women to swoon, made him a singing sensation and the darling of Broadway. He began his career in minstrel companies but because of his beautiful voice was encouraged to take leading roles in plays, operas and operettas.

As a composer he collaborated in writing many Irish hits, but "My Wild Irish Rose" was his own composition. In 1898 he visited Ireland with his wife Margaret O'Donovan Olcott and while they were walking at Glengaris, County Cork, a young boy gave her a flower. She asked the name of it and he replied, "Sure, it's a Wild Irish Rose." Later when Chauncey asked her for suggestions for a new tune he had written she opened an album where she had kept the rose and said, "There's the title for your new song."

He retired from show business and moved to Monte Carlo. He died on March 18, 1932. He was a huge celebrity during his lifetime, and at his funeral pallbearers included James J. Walker-Mayor of New York City, Alfred E. Smith—Governor of New York, and another composer and song and dance man by the name of George M. Cohan.