Real name: Mary O'Rourke

Effective period / Period of releases: 1936

b.: 1913 (Helensburgh, Scotland)
d.: 1964 (Glasgow, Scotland)

Scottish singer. She lived in a period when records by boy sopranos were very popular and a recording company executive hired her to masquerade as a boy. Thus, the young woman became Master Joe Petersen, was photographed in a suit, was referred to as a choirboy, and was billed as the Phenomenal Boy Singer. Accompanied by piano or sometimes Wurlitzer organ, Petersen made numerous 78s in London through the 30s. Among the most popular recordings were ‘A Portrait Of A Lady’, ‘It’s My Mother’s Birthday Today’, ‘Smilin’ Through’, ‘My Ain Folk’, ‘It’s A Sin To Tell A Lie’ and ‘Sweetheart Let’s Grow Old Together’. O’Rourke also recorded under the names Master Wilfred Eaton and Michael Dawney.