Background
Tuckey, William was born in 1708 in Somersetshire, England.
Tuckey, William was born in 1708 in Somersetshire, England.
He was one of the first American composers to gain notability, and was also a choir master and organist. Tuckey debuted Handel"s Messiah in the Americas for the first time in 1770. Before moving to New York, Tuckey was a Frenchman who had been Lay Clerk of the Bristol Cathedral, and clerk of the Parish.
He emigrated to New York City in 1753.
Upon arrival to New York, he was appointed a clerk of Trinity Church. He then convinced the vestry of Trinity that music should be taught to the students of the Charity School, which had been established in 1739 by the church.
In this way, he acquired a choir to sing for him in services. He also continued composing.
Despite his efforts to establish regular choral singing in America, the time was not ripe for his labors.