Sims Reeves

John Sims Reeves (21 October 1821 – 25 October 1900), usually called simply Sims Reeves, was the foremost English operatic, oratorio and ballad tenor vocalist of the mid-Victorian era.

Reeves began his singing career in 1838 but continued his vocal studies until 1847. He soon established himself on the opera and concert stage and became known for his interpretation of ballads. He continued singing through the 1880s and later taught and wrote about singing.

Sims Reeves was born in Shooter's Hill, in Greater London, England. His parents were John Reeves, a musician of Yorkshire origin, and his wife, Rosina. He received his earliest musical education from his father, a bass soloist in the Royal Artillery Band, and probably through the bandmaster, George McKenzie. By the age of fourteen he was appointed choirmaster of North Cray church and performed organist's duties. He seems to have studied medicine for a year but changed his mind when he gained his adult voice: it was at first a baritone, training under Thomas Simpson Cooke. He also learnt oboe, bassoon, violin, and violoncello and other instruments. He later studied piano under Johann Baptist Cramer.

He made his earliest appearance at Newcastle in 1838 or 1839 as the Gipsy boy in H. R. Bishop's Guy Mannering, and as Count Rodolfo in La sonnambula (baritone parts). Later he performed at the Grecian Saloon, London, under the name of Johnson. He continued to study voice with Messrs. Hobbs and T. Cooke and appeared under William Charles Macready's management at Drury Lane (1841–1843) in subordinate parts in spoken theatre and in Henry Purcell's King Arthur ("Come if you dare"), Der Freischütz (as Ottokar), and Acis and Galatea in 1842 when Händel's pastoral was mounted on the stage with William Clarkson Stanfield's scenery.

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