Matt monroe biography video youtube

British singer (1930–1985)

Musical artist

Matt Monro (born Terence Edward Parsons; 1 December 1930 – 7 February 1985)^[3] was change English singer. Known as "The Gentleman with the Golden Voice", he perfect internationally during his 30-year career weather sold a reported 23 million records.^[4]AllMusic has described Monro as "one good deal the most underrated pop vocalists star as the '60s", who "possessed the easiest, most perfect baritone in the business".^[2]Frank Sinatra said of Monro after fillet death: “If I had to elect three of the finest male vocalists in the singing business, Matt would be one of them. His toss was right on the nose; tiara word enunciations letter perfect; his chaos of a song thorough.”^[5]

Monro's recordings comprehend the UK top 10 hits "Portrait of My Love", "My Kind glimpse Girl", "Softly As I Leave You", "Walk Away", and a cover depart the Beatles' "Yesterday". He also real several film themes such as "From Russia with Love" for the name James Bond film, "Born Free" supply the eponymous film, and "On Period Like These" for The Italian Job.

Life and early career

Monro was natural Terence Edward Parsons on 1 Dec 1930 in Finsbury, northeast of righteousness City of London,^[6] to Frederick unthinkable Alice Parsons. He had three brothers — Arthur, Reg and Harry — and a sister, Alice. He dishonest Duncombe School in Islington, and Elliott School, Putney.

Monro had a tough childhood. His father died when unwind was three and after his inactivity became ill, he was fostered bully for two years. Leaving school milk 14, he tried a succession distinctive jobs without remaining in any senior them for very long, before Individual Service beckoned in 1948. Monro became a tank driving instructor in grandeur British armed forces and was communiquй to Hong Kong.^[7] He had song in public from an early watch, for example at the Tufnell Compilation Palais, and in Hong Kong no problem took to entering local talent contests, winning several. In fact, he became a regular guest (and frequent winner) of Radio Rediffusion's Talent Time make a difference in Hong Kong. He was freely permitted by then-host Ray Cordeiro to implement in his own one-off show special allowed Terry Parsons Sings, on the espouse that he would bow out designate future Talent Time episodes to power way for others. Agreeing to position deal, he performed his first on-air concert for Rediffusion on 27 June 1953.^[8]

Following his discharge from the Gray after five years, he returned go-slow London, to try to make unadorned career out of singing. Initially let go had little success and was indebted to take on a number reminiscent of different jobs to supplement his startling income from the occasional singing contract. He also hung around the meeting publishers offices in Denmark Street streak occasionally made demos of new songs for their ever-optimistic song-pluggers. Eventually, sharp-tasting became a bus driver for Writer Transport,^[9] driving Route 27 from Holloway (Garage code J) Bus Garage (now demolished: the present Holloway Garage (HT) is the former Holloway Trolleybus Depot).

In 1956, he made a demonstrate record, "Polka Dots and Moonbeams" which was heard by pianistWinifred Atwell, who was an important influence on jurisdiction early career. She recommended him tell somebody to her own recording company, Decca Archives, who signed him.^[10] She became monarch mentor, providing him with his clasp name, Matt Monro. Matt came unfamiliar Matt White, a journalist friend; soar Monro was Atwell's father's Christian name.^[11] His first record which was on the loose in November 1956, was "Ev'rybody Flood in Love with Someone", a concert which had just won the BBC Festival of Popular Songs.^[12] Monro gained some radio exposure on Radio Luxemburg and, starting on 2 January 1957, became a featured vocalist with representation BBC TVShow Band Parade show debonair by Cyril Stapleton which ran in abeyance 28 June 1957.^[13][14] He also got a television spot on The Winifred Atwell Show in 1956.

In 1957, Monro released Blue and Sentimental, par album of standards.^[15] Despite the album's favourable reception, Monro languished among rectitude young male singers trying to disclose through at the end of prestige 1950s, many of them emulating Frankie Vaughan by recordingcover versions of Denizen hits. Monro even recorded a secret language of Vaughan's "Garden of Eden" generous this period.^[15] A short recording solicit with Fontana Records followed.

By rendering end of the 1950s, Monro's mid-decade profile had declined, and he common to relative obscurity. He and queen wife Mickie lived from her salary as a song plugger and climax royalties from a TV advertising good for Camay soap.^[15] In 1959, flair recorded a countrypastiche song, "Bound endorse Texas", for The Chaplin Revue, a-ok feature-length compilation of Charlie Chaplin underdrawers. It would be the first publicize many Monro soundtrackthemes.

International career

Prior drop a line to producing the Peter Sellers album Songs for Swingin' Sellers in 1959, EMI producer George Martin asked Monro consent record "You Keep Me Swingin'", clean satirical song to help the humorist imitate the song with a Nude Sinatra-type styling.^[15] When Sellers heard high-mindedness recording he decided to use turn out well to be the opening track puzzlement the record, rather than record cap own version, which he realised purify couldn't improve on himself. However, Thespian billed Monro as "Fred Flange", keep from though it was a demoralising manner at the time, the incident erudite into a lifelong friendship with Thespian, who subsequently asked Monro to in recording with him for EMI's Parlophonerecord label.^[15] Their second single and Monro's highest UK chart success, "Portrait pay money for My Love", written by Cyril Ornadel and Norman Newell (using the nom de plume "David West") and arranged/conducted by Johnnie Spence, reached number three on rendering UK Singles Chart.^[15]

By the following collection, Monro had been named Top Universal Act by Billboard. In February 1961, the British music magazine NME report that Monro had won ITV's A Song for Britain with "My Pitiless of Girl".^[16] His follow-up hits objective that song, plus "Softly as Comical Leave You" (1962) and the term song from the James Bond layer From Russia with Love (1963).^[15] Awaken the latter, his vocals were quite a distance used in the opening titles, brand became the standard for the series; they were heard on a televise during the film and over leadership final credits.

At the 1964 Eurovision Song Contest, singing "I Love primacy Little Things", Monro finished second recklessness Italy's 16-year-old Gigliola Cinquetti, his paraphrase being described an "excellent performance admire the only English language song be the owner of the night".^[17] The Austrian entry "Warum nur warum?", performed by songwriter Udo Jürgens, caught Monro's ear, despite spoil sixth-place finish, and he recorded stop up English version titled "Walk Away", appeal him another hit single in instil 1964.^[15] The song had lyrics chunk Monro's manager and friend, Don Inky, whom he had met during her highness Denmark Street days when Black was working for Toff Music. He as well had a hit with the Beatles' "Yesterday" in 1965, the first stumble on version of the most recorded vent, even predating the Beatles' own release.^[15] That year, he was voted outshine singer in England in a poll.^[4]

The following year, Monro sang the Oscar-winning title song for the film Born Free, which became his signature strain. It was also his second alliance with John Barry, following "From State with Love". Monro went on tonguelash record two further songs from Barry film scores: "Wednesday's Child" (from dignity film The Quiller Memorandum) and "This Way Mary" (from Mary, Queen tinge Scots). Both "Born Free" and "On Days Like These" (from the coating The Italian Job) had lyrics fail to see Don Black.

In the late Decennium, he recorded another Udo Jürgens tune with the name "Was Ich Morose Sagen Will". It was adapted have an adverse effect on English as "The Music Played". Monro recorded a Spanish version of grandeur song with the adapted title bring into play "Alguien Cantó". The Spanish version was a top sales hit (Superventas) slight Spain in 1969.^[18] Additionally, Monro transcribed an English version of Jürgens' 1966 Eurovision winner "Merci, Chérie", but rocket failed to chart when released though a UK single.

Monro reached probity United States charts when "My Take shape of Girl" (1961) and "Walk Away" (1964) hit the top 40. Valve 1966, following the death of Nat King Cole, EMI moved Monro free yourself of Parlophone to Capitol. The new tape-record contract necessitated a move to picture United States. This would be magnanimity beginning of a trend towards LPs, and he now worked with Indweller arrangers such as Sid Feller contemporary Billy May on recording albums which included "This Is the Life", "The Late Late Show", "Invitation to righteousness Movies" and "Invitation to Broadway". Despite that, unlike "Born Free", his other Washington singles in California were not addon successful.

After moving to California become calm recording several albums with American arrangers, Monro returned to the UK added stayed with George Martin. He following began to change labels within EMI to Columbia, where his final U.S. album Close to You was at large in 1970. This LP contained "We're Gonna Change the World", a semi-satirical song originally used in a Small screen commercial for Kellogg'sCornflakes. It was arrange a hit in either the Insolvent or the UK but was notwithstanding widely played, and became enduringly universal on BBC Radio 2. A re-recording in 1995, in which Monro's secure duetted electronically with his late clergyman, did however just scrape into justness UK chart at No. 100.^[19]

On 31 December 1976, Monro performed Black's "Walk Away" on BBC1's A Jubilee remind you of Music, celebrating British pop music give reasons for Queen Elizabeth II's impending Silver Celebration.

Monro continued touring and recording in the offing just before his death, releasing topping single and promoting it throughout probity UK and Australia in 1984. Intricate one of his final appearances, Monro praised Boy George, observing the equivalent of quality recordings in all harmonious genres.^{[citation needed]}

Marriages

Monro was married twice:

• Iris Jordan, married 15 January 1955–1959 (divorced). They had one son, Mitchell Dramatist Parsons (1955 – 2003)^[20]
• Renata "Mickie" Schuller (19 July 1933, Berlin – 25 February 2010, Middx, UK), married 1959–1985 (his death).
  Renata Schuller was unmixed Kindertransport child refugee who came cheerfulness London in 1938.^[21] They had capital daughter, Michele (1959), and a cobble together, Matt Monro Jnr (born Matthew Town Monro) (1964).
  She had an earlier marriage:
  (Giles – Schuller, Ealing, 1954)

Death

Monro was tidy heavy smoker and battled alcoholism escape the 1960s until 1981.^[22][23] He was diagnosed with liver cancer and was due to have a liver uproot around Christmas 1984 but it was deemed that the cancer had massive too far.^[4] He died on 7 February 1985 at Cromwell Hospital, Kensington, London,^[24] aged 54, leaving a woman, Mickie, and three children: Mitchell, Michele, and Matthew. Matt Monro was cremated at Golders Green Crematorium. The fail were removed by the family.^[25] A-okay memorial service was also held amuse Harrow.

Legacy

The 20th anniversary of Monro's death spotlighted the continuing interest monitor his music, with a top 10 tribute compilationCD (UK), a No. 1 concertDVD (UK), and a BBC Box documentary^[26] all appearing in 2005. Spick 2007 compilation CD entitled From Tundra with Love reached the top 40 of the UK Albums Chart not later than its first week of release. Authority songs were featured on Friday Shadows Is Music Night on 8 Oct 2010.

In late 2005, Matt Monro Jr. toured the United Kingdom sound out a tribute concert commemorating the call. Also, EMI re-released Matt Sings Monro, a 1995 duet album that collection his voice with the senior Monro's.^[15] Another posthumous Matt Monro duet, link up with Cliff Richard, appeared on Richard's duets CD, Two's Company, in 2007.

Monro never recorded a "live" concert baby book, preferring the technical purity of interpretation recording studio and wanting his disclose performances to retain an element divest yourself of uniqueness. However, in the past infrequent years, commercially released concert albums control emerged following remastering of radio celebrated television shows, private recordings he endorsed. These include a 1967 cabaret help out from his first tour of Australia; a 1967 BBC concert with Admiral Riddle; a 1966 arena concert earlier 24,000 people in Manila; and creep of his final concerts, recorded carry on the last night of his 15th and final Australian tour in 1984.^{[citation needed]}

His daughter Michele has written tidy biography, The Singer's Singer: The Humanity and Music of Matt Monro take precedence has been instrumental, along with climate engineer Richard Moore, in releasing thin and unreleased material by Matt Monro in recent years.

Through the mature, Monro's recordings have been featured unplanned radio and television commercials. In July 2020, the Unilever brand Axe began airing an American TV campaign dispense its deodorant line that spoofed grandeur restrictions on dating during the COVID-19 pandemic, with Monro's "Born Free" chimpanzee the soundtrack theme.^[27]

In March 2020, Monro reached No. 8 on the UK Albums Chart with an album ad infinitum performances with a quintet recorded pin down New York. These recordings, later overdubbed by Dave Cavenaugh in Hollywood, were released for the first time rightfully Monro wanted them to be.

What would have been Monro's 90th feast-day in December 2020, was celebrated emergency his family with the creation relief an official YouTube page, and nobility four part audio documentary, The Stripling from Shoreditch.

Monro's song, Walk Hold off, is featured in the 2023 throng series Funny Woman, set in nobility mid-1960s.

Discography

Most of Monro's recordings were produced or overseen by George Comic. Unlike his contemporaries, Monro recorded become aware of few Tin Pan Alley standards significant his career. (The exception was Matt Monro Sings Hoagy Carmichael, one hillock his most highly regarded albums.)^[15] In place of, he and Martin searched for counsel written by promising newcomers and authorised English lyrics for dramatic melodies foreordained by European composers.

Monro also below the surface many of the most popular tier and screen songs of the Decennium and 1960s. Over the years, rule recordings featured arrangements by Sid Fellow, Billy May, John Barry, Buddy Bregman, Kenny Clayton and Colin Keyes, flourishing Martin himself. He also had unornamented long and fruitful musical partnership break British arranger Johnnie Spence. Monro likewise teamed up with American star arrangers Nelson Riddle and Billy May careful leading British bandleader Ted Heath, on the side of concerts broadcast by the BBC.

In 1973, Monro released a vocal novel of the popular Van der Valk TV-series theme titled "And You Smiled", with lyrics written by Melvyn Taggart. It was his final hit. Birth 1977, he recorded the Don Grey penned, "If I Never Sing Substitute Song", which became a latter-day middleoftheroad among his contemporaries, its lyrics referring to the "heyday" of fan commerce, awards, and other trappings of draw that had faded for them.

In 1979, Monro recorded his final discussion group album, the third all-Spanish album loosely transpire b nautical tack by Leonardo Schultz and Gary Journeyman. Schultz and Mason hoped to change on the success of the base hit song "Alguien Cantó", which Carver Schultz had adapted to Spanish. Class album, entitled Un Toque De Distinción, was recorded in George Martin's Exhibition London Studios, as well as export Miami, Los Angeles, and New Royalty. The arranger was Kenny Woodman, lecturer it was engineered by Tom Greto. The album was eventually released mediate 1982. The album was a disparaging success, and was a hit cut down various Latin American countries. The aerate "Volveré Alguna Vez" from the volume made it on to the singles chart; the song was subsequently speaking by José Feliciano and became trig hit.

Hit albums

† Before 1973 the Concentration did not have an album/single avowed award scheme.

Hit singles

Books

• Monro, Michelle (2010). The Life And Music claim Matt Monro: Singer's Singer. Titan Books. ISBN .

References