Hallie Parrish Hinges (January 30, 1868 – January 25, 1950) was an American singer nicknamed "The Oregon Nightingale". She performed for many notable people, including presidents

Benjamin Harrison Benjamin Harrison (August 20, 1833March 13, 1901) was an American lawyer and politician who served as the 23rd president of the United States from 1889 to 1893. He was a member of the Harrison family of Virginia–a grandson of the ninth pr ...

William McKinley William McKinley (January 29, 1843September 14, 1901) was the 25th president of the United States, serving from 1897 until his assassination in 1901. As a politician he led a realignment that made his Republican Party largely dominant in ...

, and

Theodore Roosevelt Theodore Roosevelt Jr. ( ; October 27, 1858 – January 6, 1919), often referred to as Teddy or by his initials, T. R., was an American politician, statesman, soldier, conservationist, naturalist, historian, and writer who served as the 26t ...

Biography

Hinges was born on January 30, 1868. Her grandfather was Oregon pioneer missionary Josiah L. Parrish. She studied under Z. M. Parvin at Willamette College, graduating at 18. In 1891, she sang for Benjamin Harrison. In 1900, she sang for

William Jennings Bryan William Jennings Bryan (March 19, 1860 – July 26, 1925) was an American lawyer, orator and politician. Beginning in 1896, he emerged as a dominant force in the History of the Democratic Party (United States), Democratic Party, running ...

. On May 21, 1903, at Willson Park, she sang

The Star-Spangled Banner "The Star-Spangled Banner" is the national anthem of the United States. The lyrics come from the "Defence of Fort M'Henry", a poem written on September 14, 1814, by 35-year-old lawyer and amateur poet Francis Scott Key after witnessing the b ...

for Theodore Roosevelt. Roosevelt reportedly told Governor

George Earle Chamberlain George Earle Chamberlain Sr. (January 1, 1854 – July 9, 1928) was an American attorney, politician, and public official in Oregon. A native of Mississippi and member of the Democratic Party, Chamberlain's political achievements included appoin ...

, "She has one of the most beautiful voices I have ever heard. Have her sing again." Hinges sang "The Flag Without a Stain", and Roosevelt supposedly responded by saying: "Truly, she is the Oregon Nightingale." Hinges sang regularly at weddings and funerals, as well as political events, including the opening and closing of the

Oregon Legislature The Oregon Legislative Assembly is the state legislature for the U.S. state of Oregon. The Legislative Assembly is bicameral, consisting of an upper and lower house: the Senate, whose 30 members are elected to serve four-year terms; and the Ho ...

and the inauguration of the

Governor of Oregon The governor of Oregon is the head of government of Oregon and serves as the commander-in-chief of the state's military forces. The title of governor was also applied to the office of Oregon's chief executive during the provisional and U.S. ter ...

. She was a soloist at the

Oregon State Fair The Oregon State Fair is the official state fair of the U.S. state of Oregon. It takes place every August–September at the Oregon State Fairgrounds located in north Salem, Oregon, Salem, the state capital, as it has almost every year since 1862. ...

, and she also sang at the

Reed Opera House The Reed Opera House and McCornack Block Addition, more commonly known as The Reed Opera House or The Reed, is a historic building in downtown Salem, Oregon, United States. Since its grand opening on September 27, 1870, the Reed Opera House has se ...

and the Grand Theater. At the first musical performance in Oregon to be broadcast over the radio, from the Portland Oregonian Tower, Hallie was a prominent performer. She performed at private events as well, such as the opening of the

Multnomah Athletic Club The Multnomah Athletic Club is a Social club, private social and Sports club, athletic club in Portland, Oregon, United States. Located in the Goose Hollow, Portland, Oregon, Goose Hollow neighborhood, it was originally founded in 1891 as the M ...

. Hinges married three times. Her 1894 marriage to Charles H. Hinges produced two children: Karl Hinges and Hallie Hinges Nelson. Her marriage to C. B. Durdall was dissolved in 1920, and she reverted to her previous married name Hinges. She died on January 25, 1950, and is buried in

Lee Mission Cemetery Lee Mission Cemetery is a pioneer cemetery in Salem, Oregon, United States. History Lee Mission Cemetery was established in 1842 with the burial of Lucy Thompson Lee, the second wife of Rev. Jason Lee. The cemetery's gate has the date 1838, which ...

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Hinges, Hallie Parrish 1950 deaths 1868 births Musicians from Salem, Oregon Singers from Oregon 20th-century American singers 19th-century American singers 19th-century American women singers Willamette University alumni 20th-century American women