On 10 July 1936, the Lykens Standard featured on its front page, a photograph of George D. Hernandez, along with the headline, NEGRO TENOR TO SING IN WICONISCO CHURCH, SUNDAY.
The article gave the following information about Mr. Hernandez:
Professor George Hernandez, negro tenor and lecturer will be presented to the church goers of Wiconisco on Sunday morning when he will appear in the Wiconisco Methodist Church at the morning service,. Professor Hernandez recently sang in the Lykens Methodist Sunday School as the feature of a home missions program and was exceedingly well received. Rev. Fran Rineer, pastor of the Wiconisco church, feels in offering this musical treat to his congregation he brings to the community one of the most talented negro tenors of today.
Mr. Hernandez is perhaps one of the best known negro tenors outside of Roland Hayes. Like the internationally known Hayes, he too was trained by the Hubbard Studios of Boston. He continued his musical education at the Institute of Musical Art in New York City, and under the tutelage of such men as David Bispham and Walter Damarosh.
He was born in Savannah, Georgia, educated in the Savannah schools and graduated from Georgia State College.
After his graduation in Georgia and his musical training, Mr. Hernandez spent two years of research in Africa studying the contribution of the African negroes to the origin of the Negro Spiritual. Mr. Hernandez has made a definite contribution to this field on American Folk Song.
The program which Mr. Hernandez will participate in on Sunday morning, will be one of a musical nature, including: Negro Spirituals, American Folk Songs, and Indian lyrics.
Mr. Hernandez comes here highly recommended. He sang at the Memorial service for the recovery of the King of England in Frederickton, New Brunswick, in 1929. He is highly recommended for his recitals before the Boston Rotary Club, and many metropolitan ministers appear on his credentials as recommending his singing. He was guest artist on the Mason-Hamlin hour broadcast over the Boston Station for a season.
Beyond a doubt Prof. Hernandez is one of the best interpreters of the negro music of today. Like Paul Robeson, he sings from the heart the melodies of his people.
He has been featured locally in Lykens, Williamstown, Pottsville, Tower City and Minersville, where he enjoys the invitation for return engagements. He has packed Harrisburg churches at recent recitals there.
It is expected that a large group of music lovers will be on hand to hear Prof. Hernandez in his recital.
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Photo and news article from Newspapers.com.
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