author
A London-born music writer who built his career in the United States, he helped generations of readers explore the lives of singers, violinists, pianists, and other major musicians. His books blend lively biography with a broad love of musical history.
Henry Charles Lahee was a writer on music, born in London on July 2, 1856. He later became associated with American musical life and served as secretary of the New England Conservatory of Music from 1891 to 1899.
He is best remembered for accessible reference-style books about performers and music history. His published works include Famous Singers of To-day and Yesterday, Famous Violinists of To-day and Yesterday, Famous Pianists of To-day and Yesterday, The Grand Opera Singers of To-day, and Annals of Music in America.
Lahee's writing is especially appealing for readers who enjoy clear, enthusiastic introductions to musicians and the wider world they worked in. His books helped preserve a picture of musical culture in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and they remain useful to readers interested in performers, opera, and American music history.