Famous for Radio Broadcasts : Celebrated Irish Tenor Morton Downey Dies

Morton Downey, an Irish tenor who became a household favorite with his radio broadcasts in the 1930s, died at his home Friday at the age of 84.

Most often associated with the songs “Carolina Moon” and “When Irish Eyes Are Smiling,” Downey had lived in retirement in Florida, where he owned one of the nation’s better known classic car collections.

Downey claimed to have sung “When Irish Eyes Are Smiling” 10,000 times and to have sung in every state but Idaho.

He was one of the last surviving friends of Rose Kennedy, mother of President John F. Kennedy. Rose Kennedy has a winter home at Palm Beach.

Born in Wallingford, Conn., Downey achieved international fame as an Irish tenor and was billed in Ireland as “The Irish Thrush.”

He toured the European circuit in the 1920s and had a network radio show in the United States in the 1930s.

Downey earned as much as $250,000 a year during the height of his singing career and later became an entrepreneur in the business world. Among his business interests was part ownership of the Stork Club’s cosmetic market.

He had five children by his first wife, the late Barbara Bennett. His second wife was Peggy Schulze.