Ernest Lough

Ernest Arthur Lough (/lʌf/; 17 November 1911 – 22 February 2000) was an English singer who was the soloist in Felix Mendelssohn's "Hear my prayer", which includes the famous "O for the Wings of a Dove", for the Gramophone Company (later HMV and then EMI) in 1927.

Lough was born in Forest Gate, County Borough of West Ham, Essex, England.

He auditioned at Southwark Cathedral, but joined the choir of the Temple Church in London in 1924, which was under the direction of organist and choirmaster George Thalben-Ball, who had just succeeded Sir Walford Davies.

In January 1963, it earned a gold disc specifically to mark the 35th anniversary of the recording and the completion of over 35 years of co-operation between the Temple Church and HMV.

Ernest Lough's voice broke in 1929,[2] after he had made a number of other recordings, although none of them achieved the iconic status of "O for the Wings of a Dove".

After he left school, Lough approached the management of HMV and reminded them that he had made a great deal of money for them, and felt it was fair to ask for a favor in return.

He died at Watford General Hospital, Hertfordshire, England, aged 88, survived by his wife and three sons.