A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Lockey, Charles

by William H. Husk

LOCKEY, Charles, son of Angel Lockey of Oxford, was admitted a chorister of Magdalen College, April 1, 1828, and remained so until 1836, when he went to Bath to study under Edward Harris. In 1842 he became a pupil of Sir George Smart and lay clerk of St. George's Chapel, Windsor. In 1843 he was appointed vicar choral of St. Paul's Cathedral. In 1846 he was engaged for the Birmingham Festival and allotted the tenor song 'Then shall the righteous,' in the first performance of 'Elijah.' On hearing him rehearse the song, Mendelssohn immediately requested him also to sing 'If with all your hearts,' which had before been assigned to another singer. 'A young English tenor,' says the composer,^[1] 'sang the last air so very beautifully that I was obliged to collect myself to prevent my being overcome, and to enable me to beat time steadily.'—In April 1848 Lockey was appointed a gentlemen of the Chapel Royal. He married May 24, 1853, Miss Martha Williams, contralto singer. In 1859 an affection of the throat deprived him of his voice and compelled his retirement.

[ W. H. H. ]

1. Letter of Aug. 26, 1846.