Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Laroche, James
LAROCHE, JAMES (fl. 1696–1713), singer, appeared while a boy as Cupid in Motteux's 'Loves of Mars and Venus,' 4to, 1697, which was performed in 1697 at Lincoln's Inn Theatre, a species of musical entr'acte to the 'Anatomist' of Ravenscroft. He is there called Jemmy Laroche. His portrait is given in a rare print entitled 'The Raree Show, sung by Jemmy Laroch in the Musical Interlude for the Peace [of Utrecht] with the Tune set to Music for the Violin [by John Eccles]. Ingraved, Printed, Culred, and Sold by Sutton Nicholls, next door to the Jack,' &c., fol., London. It was subsequently published by Samuel Lyne. The engraving exhibits Laroche with the show on a stool, exhibiting it to a group of children. The interlude was played at the theatre in Little Lincoln's Inn Fields in April 1713. Laroche's portrait was also engraved by Marcellus Laroon the elder [q. v.] in his 'Cryes of London,' and subsequently by Smith and Tempest (Evans, Cat. of Engraved Portraits, ii. 240).
[All that is known of Laroche is supplied by Mr. Julian Marshall to Grove's Dictionary of Music and Musicians.]