Danny Malone

John York Millar Johnston (15 July 1909 – 21 August 1951), known professionally as Danny Malone, was an Irish tenor.

Malone had considerable success in the 1930s after a successful audition with the BBC, selling thousands of gramophone records while also touring extensively throughout the United Kingdom, the United States and Australia.

Malone also appeared in a number of films including Rose of Tralee, Stepping Toes and Bonnie Prince Charlie.

Early life Malone was born to William Henry and Isabella Johnston in Ballyclare, near Belfast, County Antrim on 15 July 1909. He was one of eight children and his family struggled in poverty. Growing up, he was forced to forgo some of his education to work selling newspapers for three years to support his family.

Malone's debut was a success and his profile quickly rose earning him the nickname "Fame in a Night Tenor" with his voice drawing comparisons to fellow Irish tenor John McCormack. Malone completed approximately 500 broadcasts with the BBC Empire Service including a special St Patrick's Day performance.

Despite appearing in the 1948 movie Bonnie Prince Charlie which starred David Niven, Malone's career appeared to slow during the 1940s, not helped by being conscripted in 1942 to work as a bevin boy in the underground coal mines of Doncaster for two years during World War II.

In an interview in 1951, Malone revealed he had battled alcoholism and again struggled while living rough in Brisbane with no job and no money. Malone said he had sought assistance from The Salvation Army after he followed their brass band back to their temple after watching them play. His work with the Theatre Royal led to Malone performing in regional Queensland cities which were particularly receptive of his powerful voice. Following a performance at the Rockhampton School of Arts on 21 June 1951, the city's local newspaper The Morning Bulletin reported: "It is seldom that a singer of Irish-American tenor, Danny Malone, is heard in Rockhampton. His singing of Irish songs, his intonation and beautiful delivery and technique resulted in him being recalled again and again."

In July 1951, Malone embarked on a vaudeville tour of regional Queensland where he performed as the headline act in places such as Townsville, Charters Towers, Cloncurry, Bowen and Mackay. Malone's appearance in Mackay on 15 August 1951 at the end of a three-show run at the Olympic Theatre would be his last performance.

Personal life and death In 1934, Malone married Hazel Emily Knight from Chiswick in London. After having a son together, Knight divorced Malone in 1943 on the grounds he committed adultery when they toured Australia together in 1937.

Malone married his second wife, Blanche Huxley (known as Jean) from the Queensland gold mining town of Charters Towers in Southend-on-Sea in 1938. Malone's body was removed at Raglan and transported back to Rockhampton for a post-mortem examination which was conducted by Norman Talbot.

A testimonial show was held at the Tivoli Theatre in Rockhampton on 26 August 1951 to not only honour Malone but to also uphold the theatrical principle of "the show must go on."