About me
I am a singer
Always have been
I played the piano and percussion but I soon realised I loved getting out in front to sing and entertain.
Because of my classical influences (through playing in orchestras) it seemed natural to study to be an opera singer.
Six years training at the Guildhall school of music and 10 years on the international opera circuit was fantastic. As a principal baritone at English National Opera I played the role of Pappageno. A comedy character who had lots of dialogue. I loved improvising a few lines every night, making quips about various topical events.
I was beginning to feel restricted in the opera world.
When I got the opportunity to take part in Sandi Tokvig’s Christmas Show, I relished the comedy element.
I still had to sing but I felt free on stage.
I was even Ronnie Corbett’s straight man.
What a joy.
At the height of my opera career, something horrible happened. I lost my voice. It just packed up. Over work, stress, wrong vocal coach, getting married, buying a house and a miscarriage, all took its toll.
My whole persona was about being a singer. It was horrible.
One night after struggling to sing Morales in Carmen at English National Opera, I was on the train and read the obituary of Sir Yehudi Menuhin. He had lost his technique at the height of his career. He had to start over and relearn how to play the violin. I thought, ‘if it could happen to him, why shouldn’t I try to do the same’.
This coincided with me stumbling across the song, From Russia with Love. I found it fitted perfectly in my vocal range and had such great vocal lines, that it was actually therapeutic to sing.
That is when I discovered Matt Monro.
His singing was sublime. I learned as many of his songs as I could and developed a cabaret show dedicated to him. I read his biography and really felt a connection to him.
Because of Matt Monro; I feel can now sing better than when I was at the height of my operatic career.
My singing career has crossed many genres and I have loved them all.
Opera, Music Theatre, Cabaret, Comedy, Sessions, Voice Overs, and radio programs.
An amazing part of my career has been as a session singer. My first job was a Star Wars film recorded at Abbey Road.
The London Symphony Orchestra, London Voices and the great John Williams conducting.
The sound in the room was incredible and will stay with me forever.
I have now sung on over a hundred films and recorded with some of the greats in music. Sir Paul McCartney, Dave Brubeck, Ozzy Osbourne, Coldplay, Sam Smith, to name just a few.
My real love is cabaret. Telling stories with songs and comedy.
I have three shows
A Portrait of Matt Monro
From Broadway to Hollywood and Beyond
The Rat Pack Story
My training as a classical singer has given me a great discipline.
Your job is to get the notes and words off the page and communicate them to the audience.
The star is the music, not you.
My audiences always tell me how wonderful it is to hear my every word.
I sing a song from a position of ‘listen to this song, the lyrics and the melody. This song is a wonderful work of art’.
If I do my job correctly; they will agree.
I have been happily married (so I’m told) to Carys for 25 years and have three wonderful children.
I feel very lucky to still be singing well and still have an enthusiasm for performing.
Thank you Matt Monro for helping me through my tough times and my wife for always believing in me.