Alma Gluck (May 11, 1884 â€" October 27, 1938) was a Romanian-born
American soprano.Gluck was born as Reba Feinsohn to a Jewish family in
Iași, Romania, the daughter of Zara and Leon Feinsohn. Gluck moved to
the United States at a young age. Although her initial success came at
the Metropolitan Opera in New York City, Gluck later concertized
widely in America and became an early recording artist. Although
various sources claim that her recording of "Carry Me Back to Old
Virginny" for the Victor Talking Machine Co. was the first celebrity
recording by a classical musician to sell one million copies, Victor
ledgers do not support the claimâ€"nor did Gluck ever make such a
claim herself. It was awarded a gold disc, only the seventh to be
granted at that time. Gluck was a founder of the American Woman's
Association.Her daughter Marcia Davenport was the child of her first
marriage (to Bernard Glick, an insurance man). Gluck later married
violinist Efrem Zimbalist and had two children, Efrem Zimbalist, Jr.
(1918â€"2014) and Maria. Gluck evidently adopted her professional
surname as a variation of her first husband's surname ("Glick").Gluck
retired to New Hartford, Connecticut, to raise her family in 1925.
Although by background an assimilated and nonpracticing Jew who
continued to consider herself ethnically Jewish, she found herself
attracted, along with her husband Efrem, to Anglican Christianity, and
they regularly attended the Episcopal Church in New Hartford. Efrem
Jr. and Maria were both christened there, and the couple placed Efrem
in an Episcopal boarding school in New Hampshire. Efrem Jr. later
became active in evangelical circles and was one of the founders of
Trinity Broadcasting Network. Gluck recorded several Christian hymns
in duet with Louise Homer, among them "Rock of Ages", "Whispering
Hope", "One Sweetly Solemn Thought", and "Jesus, Lover of My Soul".
American soprano.Gluck was born as Reba Feinsohn to a Jewish family in
Iași, Romania, the daughter of Zara and Leon Feinsohn. Gluck moved to
the United States at a young age. Although her initial success came at
the Metropolitan Opera in New York City, Gluck later concertized
widely in America and became an early recording artist. Although
various sources claim that her recording of "Carry Me Back to Old
Virginny" for the Victor Talking Machine Co. was the first celebrity
recording by a classical musician to sell one million copies, Victor
ledgers do not support the claimâ€"nor did Gluck ever make such a
claim herself. It was awarded a gold disc, only the seventh to be
granted at that time. Gluck was a founder of the American Woman's
Association.Her daughter Marcia Davenport was the child of her first
marriage (to Bernard Glick, an insurance man). Gluck later married
violinist Efrem Zimbalist and had two children, Efrem Zimbalist, Jr.
(1918â€"2014) and Maria. Gluck evidently adopted her professional
surname as a variation of her first husband's surname ("Glick").Gluck
retired to New Hartford, Connecticut, to raise her family in 1925.
Although by background an assimilated and nonpracticing Jew who
continued to consider herself ethnically Jewish, she found herself
attracted, along with her husband Efrem, to Anglican Christianity, and
they regularly attended the Episcopal Church in New Hartford. Efrem
Jr. and Maria were both christened there, and the couple placed Efrem
in an Episcopal boarding school in New Hampshire. Efrem Jr. later
became active in evangelical circles and was one of the founders of
Trinity Broadcasting Network. Gluck recorded several Christian hymns
in duet with Louise Homer, among them "Rock of Ages", "Whispering
Hope", "One Sweetly Solemn Thought", and "Jesus, Lover of My Soul".
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