Bassett Family Association Database

Glenn Willard Bassett

Male 1909 - 1973  (63 years)


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  • Name Glenn Willard Bassett 
    Born 7 Jun 1909 
    Gender Male 
    Died 5 May 1973 
    Notes 
    • Glenn was a singer (tenor), choir director and voice teacher in Santa Ana, California until his death in 1973. He was also President of the Los Angeles Conservatory of Music for nearly two decades until it was merged into Cal Arts by the Disney organization.

      Oregon Journal, Wednesday, August 30, 1922
      Newerg Youth Has A Voice Of Rare Quality

      Discovery of a Newberg, OR., boy with a voice of wider range than any other voice in the world, with the single exception of ?Bobbie? Murray, the Tacoma phenomenon, was announced today by Dr. H.E.K. Whitney, director of the Whitney Boy chorus.
      Glenn Willard Bassett, 13 years old, son of Mrs. Olive D. Bassett of Newberg, is the professor?s ?find?. He is able to reach D and even B flat above high C. ?Bobbie? Murray, when discovered by the music scouts, was able to reach E above high C, so there is practically no difference between the two.
      Willard, who goes generally by the name of Billy, was practically without training until nine months ago, when he joined the Whitney Boy chorus in Newberg. Even then he was just ?one of the boys.?

      NOTE FIN QUALITY

      Professor Whitney did not hear him in solo work until a few weeks ago. Then one night three Newberg boys sang, each a verse of a song, with the entire chorus joining at the end. The perfect quality of Willard?s voice was noticed at this time.
      And one day Billy said to the professor: ?Why, I can sing as high as ?Bobbie? Murray.?
      Last Saturday at Newburg he was given a trial. His voice rose to unbelievable heights. Professor Whitney, astonished, brought Willard to Portland with him and gave him a hearing at Ellers Music house, Sunday. It was then he attained the E flat above high C.
      Now the problem is to give Billy the proper training, and Professor Whitney is seeking a godfather or godmother for him. Enough time has been wasted, he pointed out today, and it will soon be time for the boy?s voice to begin to change. Billy is quite excited at learning of his own possibilities.

      HE IS AMBITIOUS

      ?You bet I want to work,? he said.
      He is the seventh in a family of nine children, seven girls and two boys. His father, who was an Oregon lumberman, is dead. He will be in the eighth grade in school this fall.
      ?our mother has taken some training at Eugene and Corvallis, and is quite an accomplished vocalist,? said Miss Florence Bassett, Willard?s sister, of Portland, who is chaperoning him during these exciting days. ?All of us able to carry a tune, but there have been no unusual singers or musicians in the family.?
    Person ID I20629  1A William Bassett of Plymouth
    Last Modified 14 Jun 2018 

    Father Glenn Otis Bassett,   b. 22 Apr 1873, Thurston, Oregon Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 16 Nov 1916, Newburg, Oregon Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 43 years) 
    Mother Lizzie Olive Davis,   b. 17 Dec 1872, Washington Court House, Pennsylvania Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 7 Jun 1948  (Age 75 years) 
    Married 13 Apr 1892 
    Family ID F06219  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family 1 Rosalie Morrish,   d. Abt 1970 
    Married 20 Jun 1929  Fort Collins, Colorado Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Children 
    +1. Glenn Arthur Bassett,   b. 19 Dec 1930, Fort Collins, Colorado Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 26 Oct 2016  (Age 85 years)
    +2. Albert Willard Bassett,   b. 30 Dec 1935,   d. 22 Jan 1997  (Age 61 years)  [Natural]
    Family ID F08095  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family 2 Hazel Curtis,   b. Abt 1908, East Tawas, Michigan Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 14 Jul 1994  (Age ~ 86 years) 
    Married 2 Jan 1944 
    Children 
    +1. Ralph Edward Bassett,   b. Private  [Private]
    Family ID F08096  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart