Ken Neate

Australian operatic tenor. Born 28 July 1914 in Cressnock, NSW; died 27 June 1997 in Munich, Germany. Resigned from the N.S.W. Police in 1939 to become a professional singer on the advice of Lotte Lehman, John Brownlee, Peter Dawson and others. Went to the U.S. in 1941 where he came to the notice of Bruno Walter who chose him as understudy for the role of Tamino in the Metropolitan Opera production of "The Magic Flute". Later appeared in Dvorak's "Stabat Mater" at the Montreal Festival and made broadcasts in the U.S. & Canada. Joined the Canadian Air Force during WWII. In 1946 he went to London where he sang at Covent Garden 1946-1950. Toured Australia for the ABC in 1952.