{{Short description|British tenor (1931–2025)}} {{for|the British Olympic athlete|John Boulter (athlete)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} '''John Michael Boulter''' (3 August 1931 – 1 December 2025) was a British tenor best known for his appearances as a soloist in the BBC's long-running variety series ''The Black and White Minstrel Show''. Along with bass Tony Mercer and baritone Dai Francis, Boulter was one of the show's three front men.
== Early life == Boulter was born on 3 August 1931 in Gillingham, Kent,<ref name="Boulter">{{cite web |title=John Boulter obituary: Black and White Minstrel Show soloist |url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/obituaries/article/john-boulter-obituary-black-and-white-minstrel-show-soloist-fnvhl6khb |publisher=The Times |access-date=17 December 2025 |date=17 December 2025}}</ref> and was educated at Gillingham Grammar School and later at Number One School of Technical Training in the Royal Air Force. From there he entered the Royal Academy of Music where he won gold, silver and bronze medals for his singing and was awarded an associateship of the academy in recognition of his work. He was an "apprentice Airframe Fitter" in the RAF before becoming a professional singer.
== Career == In 1960, Boulter appeared in a South African production of ''Lock Up Your Daughters'' after he had joined the George Mitchell Minstrels during the 1950s.<ref>[https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/1405656/George-Mitchell.html "George Mitchell"], ''Telegraph'' obituary.</ref> He went on to appear in the stage and television versions of ''The Black and White Minstrel Show'' and on recordings made by the troupe. He also appeared in the 1969 spin-off series, ''Music Music Music'', in which the minstrels appeared without their blackface make-up following accusations of racism against the show.
Boulter appeared as the male lead, "Freddie Flowerdew", in the musical production of ''Ask Dad'' in the ''Jeeves and Wooster'' episode, "Introduction on Broadway".
In 1973, Boulter played Mother Goose at the Cliffs Pavilion's panto.
== Personal life and death == In 1954, Boulter married the opera singer Lorna S. Clair. They had four children; Jason, Aidan, Philippa and Francesca. He later married the West End musical star Anna Dawson.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.musical-theatre.net/html/unsungheroines/annadawson.html |title=Musical Theatre - Unsung Heroines |access-date=2010-05-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130721085731/http://www.musical-theatre.net/html/unsungheroines/annadawson.html |archive-date=2013-07-21 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The couple retired to New Zealand. His daughters, Philippa ("Phil") and Francesca ("Frankie"), were both singers and members of the synthpop group DATA.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/artist/371654-Frankie-Boulter|title=Frankie Boulter|website=Discogs|access-date=2 April 2018}}</ref>
Boulter died on 1 December 2025 at the age of 94.<ref name="Boulter" />
==Recordings== Source:<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/artist/596023-John-Boulter|title=John Boulter|website=Discogs|access-date=2 April 2018}}</ref>
===As featured performer with the George Mitchell Minstrels=== *''On Stage With The George Mitchell Minstrels'' (1962) *''Here Come The Minstrels'' (1966) *''Those Magnificent Minstrels'' (1969)
===Solo=== *''John Boulter Sings'' (1965) *''The World's Great Love Songs'' (1968) *''Abide With Me'' (1969) *''John Boulter Sings The Words That Tell Of Life And Love'' (1976) *''On Wings Of Song'' (1977)
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * {{IMDb name|0099579}} * {{discogs artist|John Boulter}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Boulter, John}} Category:1931 births Category:2025 deaths Category:English tenors Category:British expatriates in New Zealand Category:People from Gillingham, Kent