Portia White Sings "Think on Me"
Born in Truro, Nova Scotia, in 1911, Portia May White became an international singing sensation in the 1940s with her rich contralto voice. But her career was short-lived due to management difficulties and ill health. Although she never made a commercial recording, some of her practice sessions were recorded backstage.
A selection of those tracks, digitized by the National Archives of Canada, was released by her family on CD in the early 2000s. In this video, White performs her signature song, “Think on Me.”
RELATED ARTICLE
Sign up for any of our newsletters and be eligible to win one of many book prizes available.
Thanks to Section 25 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, Canada became the first country in the world to recognize multiculturalism in its Constitution. With your help, we can continue to share voices from the past that were previously silenced or ignored.
We highlight our nation’s diverse past by telling stories that illuminate the people, places, and events that unite us as Canadians, and by making those stories accessible to everyone through our free online content.
Canada’s History is a registered charity that depends on contributions from readers like you to share inspiring and informative stories with students and citizens of all ages — award-winning stories written by Canada’s top historians, authors, journalists, and history enthusiasts.
Any amount helps, or better yet, start a monthly donation today. Your support makes all the difference. Thank you!
Themes associated with this article
Advertisement