John W. Shirley
African American ancestry of Metcalfe Co Kentucky
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This Lineage Last Updated June 2020

Father: George Wheat
Mother: Melia Shirley

children:

John W. Shirley born 3 December 1824 at Bridgeport Franklin Co KY, son of George Wheat and Melia Shirley (source: Death Cert); farmer; living Glovers Creek, Sartain Precinct, Metcalfe Co KY in 1870 census (enumerated as black). Also living in the 1870 household is Matilda Price age 70, identified as his mother-in-law in the 1880 census; living next door in the census is the Merrimon Shirley family (age 26); Enumerated in Metcalf Co KY in 1880 census, age 55; Also in Metcalf KY in 1910 census, age 85 (enumerated as white), They owned their home in the 1910 census; He died on 6 February 1915 at Metcalfe Co KY; Buried at Shirley Cemetery, Summer Shade Metcalfe Co KY, age 90

Kentucky, Death Records, 1852-1963
Name: John W Shirley
Gender: Male
Race: Black
Age: 90
Birth Date: 3 Dec 1824
Birth Place: Near Bridgeport, Kentucky
Death Date: 6 Feb 1915
Death Place: Metcalfe, Kentucky, USA
Father: George Wheat
Mother: Melia Shirley

married Martha A. Price She was born about 1833 Metcalf Co KY (enumerated as mulatto); Daughter of Matilda Price who lives with the family in both the 1870 and 1880 census; Identified as the mother of son George E Shirley in his death certificate

children:

1(i). Mary E. Shirley born about 1858, age 12 in 1870 census (enumerated as mulatto)

1(ii). George E. Shirley born 8 January 1860 at Barren Co KY, age 10 in 1870 census (enumerated as mulatto); living in Sartain Precinct Metcalfe KY in 1910 census. He died on 20 November 1937 at Metcalfe Co KY, age 77

Kentucky Death Certificate
Death Date: 20 Nov 1937
Death Location: Metcalfe
Residence Location: Metcalfe
Age: 77
Gender: Male
Ethnicity: Black
Birth Date: 8 Jan 1860
Birth Location: Barren, Kentucky
Spouse's Name: Setta Shirley
Father's Name: John W Shirley
Father's Birth Location: Metcalfe, Kentucky
Mother's Name: Martha Price
Mother's Birth Location: Metcalfe, Kentucky

married Setta/Lucetta ______ She was born about 1868 in the 1910 census

children:

2(i). Ida Shirley born about 1889, age 21 in 1910 census

2(ii). Arthur Shirley born about 1893, age 17 in 1910 census

2(iii). James C Shirley born about 1895, age 15 in 1910 census

2(iv). Orvie Shirley born about 1896, age 14 in 1910 census

2(v). Thomas B Shirley born about 1897, age 13 in 1910 census

2(vi). Dewey Shirley born about 1899, age 11 in 1910 census

2(vii). Irving Ewing Shirley born 22 July 1900 KY; occupation: chauffeur; living in Indiannapolis in 1930 census age 29 with wife and no children having been married 4 years; He died on 29 Janary 2000 Detroit, Wayne Co, Michigan

married Daisy Bell on 11 January 1925 Marion Co Indiana

children:

3(i). George Irving Shirley born 18 April 1934 in Indianapolis, Indiana; He is a renowned tenor opera singer.[photograph from Wikipedia]

[biography on Wikipedia] At the age of 6, his family relocated to Detroit, Michigan, where he began music lessons. He became active as a vocalist at churches in the area and as a baritone-horn player in a local band.

Shirley entered Wayne State University in Detroit as a music education major, receiving his bachelors degree in 1955. He was drafted into the military the following year and became the first African-American member of the United States Army Chorus. After his discharge in 1959, he continued studying voice with Therny Georgi, then he moved to New York where his professional career began.

He made his debut with a small opera troupe at Woodstock, New York, as Eisenstein in their production of Die Fledermaus. He went to Italy to make his European debut as Rodolfo in the Puccini opera, La bohème.

In 1961, he won the Metropolitan Opera Auditions by performing Nessun dorma, beginning an eleven-year association with the house. While at the Met, he sang a twenty-eight different roles from twenty-six operas, especially those of Mozart, Verdi, Puccini, Strauss and Wagner. From 1961 (in La bohème) to 1977, he also sang at the New York City Opera. In 1977 he sang the title role in the complete recording of Orlando Paladino, by Haydn, and conducted by Dorati, for the Decca label.

Shirley received a Grammy Award in 1968 for singing the role of "Ferrando" in the RCA recording of Mozart's Così fan tutte. He has made numerous other recordings, including one of Debussy's Pelléas et Mélisande, with Pierre Boulez. He is also a member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity of America.

From the 1960s to the present, Shirley has performed on the concert stage, singing recitals and oratorios. He has premiered several works during his career, on both the concert and operatic stages. In recent years, he again became involved with education.

He taught at the University of Maryland College Park from 1980 until he accepted a position at the University of Michigan in 1987. He currently serves there as Director of the Vocal Arts Division, Joseph Edgar Maddy Distinguished University Professor of Music.

married Gladys Lee Ishop in 1956;

children:

4(i). Olwyn Shirley

4(ii). Lyle Shirley

2(viii). Eva Shirley born about 1904, age 6 in 1910 census

2(ix). Vela Shirley born about 1906, age 4 in 1910 census

2(x). Jack Shirley born about 1908, age 2 in 1910 census

2(xi). Cloyd Shirley born about 1910, age 0 in 1910 census

 

 

   


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