Veteran music hall singer dies

A veteran variety singer, Cavan O'Connor, whose Irish tenor voice charmed millions in a career of over 50 years, died in London…

A veteran variety singer, Cavan O'Connor, whose Irish tenor voice charmed millions in a career of over 50 years, died in London on Saturday. He was 97.

O'Connor first took to the stage in the 1920s and became a household name as "The Strolling Vagabond". He featured in hundreds of radio broadcasts and records.

He was still touring the world well into his 70s, when he claimed to be Britain's oldest music hall singer. He topped the bill at London's Hackney Empire as recently as 1988.

O'Connor was best known for his theme songs I'm Only A Strolling Vagabond and I'll Take You Home Again, Kathleen, but recorded more than 500 discs under at least 27 names.

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Although he made his name as an Irish tenor, he was born in Nottingham and spent little time in Ireland. His parents, were Irish.