A Loving Tribute to June Harrison

In appreciation of June’s amazing talent, we decided to produce this un-mastered compilation of just some of her recorded works. This mixed genre of music includes operatic arias, radio broadcast shows, big band club performances, studio recordings plus a number of home recordings, dating back to 1929.

June started her career very early in her life even before attending school, later performing as a child star onstage at the age of ten. She took part in Vaudeville acts, impersonating Helen Morgan and Mae West, performed in Chicago at the famous Oriental Theater, in stage review shows with Ina Ray Hutton and her Melodears Orchestra, and in a number of Eddie Cantor’s radio broadcast and stage shows. At age eleven, June began singing opera, being sponsored by Mary Garden, a huge opera star in her own right. At this point, we are unable to locate other recordings of June, but are hopeful to find more.

June Harrison

June Harrison

June made professional studio recordings with Columbia Records, singing opera and movie studio soundtracks (Citizen Saint and Land of the Lawless). Her live radio broadcast recordings with the CBS program included You’re in the Act and club dates with the Ted Fiorito Band.

June was extremely gifted and beautiful inside and out which caught the attention of the movie industry. Starting in 1938 at the age of 13, she began acting in movies and did so until she decided to retire from the entertainment business in 1950. She can be seen in nine movies.

  • The Girl of the Golden West (1938) (un-credited)…..(child)
  • Sun Valley Serenade (1941) (un-credited).….Betty Jean (child)
  • Bringing up Father (1946)…..Nora
  • Land of the Lawless (1947)…..Donna Blake
  • Citizen Saint (1947)…..Dorine
  • Jiggs and Maggie in Society (1947)…..Nora Jiggs
  • Jiggs and Maggie in Court (1948)…..Nora
  • Jiggs and Maggie in Jackpot Jitters (1949)…..Nora
  • Jiggs and Maggie in Out West (1950)…..Nora

For history and genealogy buffs alike, it is interesting to know that June Ann Harrison is the great, great granddaughter of President William Henry Harrison, and is also related to Robert E. Lee.

In most of these films, June performed together with well-known stars of the time. More details about the movies can be found here on June’s IMDB.com page.
Listening to June, one can recognize how much hard work and dedication it took to develop such a beautiful, strong voice, becoming such a sensational and accomplished Coloratura Bell Canto Singer. Early on she was able to achieve a remarkable level of perfection. It is in celebration of her spirit that one can hear the joy and love coming through this magnificent voice.
Bridging the different singing worlds of opera and the popular song of the era was no easy task. June managed to do even more by performing as a screen actress, stage performer, dancer and ice skating queen. There are quite a few commercial modeling photos of her from the 1940s, though without details of origin or date.

I can only feel very fortunate to have had such a beautiful and talented mother. I am lucky to have a mom that was such a positive influence in my life, and I wish that she could have had more time.

In tribute to you mom,
-James Campeau

SPECIAL THANKS TO: Lilo Campeau (design & print production), Jana Przebieda, Joya & Lance Dugan, Julie & Tom Pohl, Jack Quinn, June Burlingame Smith, Eva Gustafson, Norbert Gleissner, Lance Bowling, and Royce’s steady steel hand through the scratches.

June Harrison’s Music

OPERA ARIAS (Columbia Recordings – date unknown)
Voices of Spring …4:03
(Fruehlingsstimmen Op. 410 by Johann Strauss Jr.)
Bell Song (Lakme by Delibes)… 2:10
Bell Song (Lakme by Delibes)…3:58
Spargi d’Amoro Pianto …3:00
(Lucia D’ Lammermoor by Donizetti)

SONGS (1945)
Ochi chornye (Black Eyes Russian folk song)…1:28
Yo Te Quiero … 3:22
(Magic in the Moonlight, What a Difference a Day Makes)

MOVIE TRACKS (1947)
St. Francis Cabrini… 2:54
(from the movie Citizen Saint with unknown tenor)
A Gal and A Man Love to Kiss…2:13
(from the movie Land of the Lawless)

CBS RADIO SHOW INTERVIEW (You’re in The Act 1946)
Prisoner of Love…4:05

BIG BAND RADIO BROADCASTS (with Ted Fiorito Band 1947)
Yesterday…1:55
Martha, Ah So Pure…3:06
Managua…3:03
My Heart Stood Still…2:29

HOME RECORDINGS (1945)
Impromptu acapella medley of songs, in the background of some of them you will hear boyfriend and later husband, crooner George Campeau.
…..3:53
…..3:38
…..1:04
…..1:55
…..1:14
…..3:31
…..5:25

DRAMA CLASS RECITAL (1942)
Liberty Speech…3:12
A Young Rat Named Arthur…1:33

DRAMA READING (1941)
Reading with Bud…..1:42

A note of CAUTION to those brave enough to bear hearing the poor quality of the last six tracks on this CD. They were transferred from original 7” aluminum records. Made in 1929, these home recordings have four-year-old June Ann proudly singing and playing the piano for her father.

JUNE AT FOUR YEARS OF AGE (1929)
Twenty Third Psalm…1:27
My Playmate…2:00
Nursery Song…1:40
Desert Song…2:35
I’m Hiding…1:54
Honey…1:20