[1][2] Born in Riga, Jörn, son of a master shoemaker, discovered his voice at the age of 18 and with it his future profession.

He owes his education to actor Schütte-Harmsen,[3] vocal master Jacobs and his wife Luise Reuss-Belce (Berlin).

In 1898 he joined the association of the Stadttheater in Zurich, and came from there on recommendation of Ludwig Barnay to the Hamburg State Opera (1899).

On March 13, 1900 Jörn stood in for the court opera singer Adolf Philipp at the last hour.

In 1932 he opened a singing studio in New York, but later went back to Denver where he died at the age of 74.