# Charles Jordan (baritone)

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Canadian opera singer

**Charles Jordan** (3 April 1915 – 27 June 1986) was a Canadian [baritone](/source/Baritone)[1] and [voice teacher](/source/Voice_teacher). As a performer he was mainly active on Canadian radio.

## Early life and education

Jordan was born into a Jewish family in [Montreal](/source/Montreal). He first studied singing with Adrienne Bourassa in Montreal during the 1930s, and later was a pupil of Albert Whitehead at the [Toronto Conservatory of Music](/source/Toronto_Conservatory_of_Music) from 1941 to 1943.

## Career

Jordan made his professional debut singing French chassons on [CKAC](/source/CKAC) in 1937.[2] He performed regularly on CKAC and with various [Canadian Broadcasting Corporation](/source/Canadian_Broadcasting_Corporation) orchestras in Montreal through 1940. From 1941 to 1943 he recorded several [oratorios](/source/Oratorio) and [operas](/source/Opera) by Purcell and Handel for the CBC, including Polyphemus in *[Acis and Galatea](/source/Acis_and_Galatea_(Handel))*. He also sang on the show *Air Band* in 1943.[3]

From 1944 to 1950 Jordan worked as a radio singer for both the CBC in Toronto, and for the American radio programs *Sweetwood Serenade* (NBC) and *Sunday Night Serenade* (MBS) in New York City.

After 1950, Jordan divided his time between performing and teaching singing in Toronto. Several well-known actors studied singing with him, including [Susan Clark](/source/Susan_Clark), [Lorne Greene](/source/Lorne_Greene), and [William Shatner](/source/William_Shatner).[4] He also made several albums during the 1950s of Canadian classical music and Canadian folk songs, including *Folk Songs of Canada*, based on [Edith Fowke](/source/Edith_Fowke)'s book of the same name. It was recorded with singer Joyce Sullivan and released on the Hallmark label.[5] Critics praised the quality of the singing, but pointed out the lack of authenticity involved in having classically trained singing for folk songs.[6]

He is the father of Canadian singer-songwriter [Marc Jordan](/source/Marc_Jordan).[7]

Jordan died 27 June 1986 in [Toronto](/source/Toronto).[2]

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** [*Canadian Geographical Journal*](https://books.google.com/books?id=Ihw6AAAAMAAJ). Vol. 38–39. Royal Canadian Geographical Society. 1949. p. lxvii.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-cjn_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-cjn_2-1) ["Ten Jewish Giants"](http://newspapers.lib.sfu.ca/cjn2-18319/page-11). *The Canadian Jewish news*, October 2, 1986, page 11

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Inc.1943_3-0)** ["Show reviews"](https://books.google.com/books?id=xAwEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PT11). *Billboard*. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. 17 July 1943. p. 11. [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [0006-2510](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/0006-2510).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Inc.1999_4-0)** Larry LeBlanc (11 December 1999). ["Marc Jordan makes Blue Note debut"](https://books.google.com/books?id=iAgEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PT42). *Billboard*. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. p. 42. [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [0006-2510](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/0006-2510).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-SissonsBrisay1957_5-0)** Charles Bruce Sissons; Richard De Brisay (1957). [*The Canadian Forum*](https://books.google.com/books?id=POKeAiogWJAC). Vol. 37. Survival Foundation. p. 132.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-GuignéResearch2008_6-0)** Anna Kearney Guigné; Memorial University of Newfoundland. Institute of Social and Economic Research (2008). [*Folksongs and folk revival: the cultural politics of Kenneth Peacock's Songs of the Newfoundland outports*](https://books.google.com/books?id=ulsSAQAAIAAJ). ISER, Institute of Social and Economic Research. p. 138. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-1-894725-06-4](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-894725-06-4).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["Charles Jordan"](https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/charles-jordan-emc/). *[The Canadian Encyclopedia](/source/The_Canadian_Encyclopedia)*.

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Charles Jordan (baritone)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Jordan_(baritone)) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Jordan_(baritone)?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.