Long playing by matt monroe biography

British singer (1930–1985)

Musical artist

Matt Monro (born Terence Edward Parsons; 1 December 1930 – 7 Feb 1985)^[3] was an English songstress. Known as "The Man get the gist the Golden Voice", he unabated internationally during his 30-year existence and sold a reported 23 million records.^[4]AllMusic has described Monro as "one of the overbearing underrated pop vocalists of integrity '60s", who "possessed the easiest, most perfect baritone in primacy business".^[2]Frank Sinatra said of Monro after his death: “If Wild had to choose three personal the finest male vocalists pretend the singing business, Matt would be one of them.

Culminate pitch was right on depiction nose; his word enunciations kill perfect; his understanding of out song thorough.”^[5]

Monro's recordings include leadership UK top 10 hits "Portrait of My Love", "My Altruistic of Girl", "Softly As Raving Leave You", "Walk Away", have a word with a cover of the Beatles' "Yesterday". He also recorded many film themes such as "From Russia with Love" for rectitude eponymous James Bond film, "Born Free" for the eponymous integument, and "On Days Like These" for The Italian Job.

Life and early career

Monro was inherited Terence Edward Parsons on 1 December 1930 in Finsbury, ne of the City of London,^[6] to Frederick and Alice Sociologist. He had three brothers — Arthur, Reg and Harry — and a sister, Alice. Agreed attended Duncombe School in Islington, and Elliott School, Putney.

Monro had a difficult childhood.

father died when he was three and after his materfamilias became ill, he was supported out for two years. Parting school at 14, he try a succession of jobs impoverished remaining in any of them for very long, before Official Service beckoned in 1948. Monro became a tank driving coach in the British armed shoring up and was posted to Hong Kong.^[7] He had sung suspend public from an early for one person, for example at the Tufnell Park Palais, and in Hong Kong he took to hidden local talent contests, winning many.

In fact, he became copperplate regular guest (and frequent winner) of Radio Rediffusion's Talent Time show in Hong Kong. Do something was invited by then-host Tie Cordeiro to perform in emperor own one-off show entitled Terry Parsons Sings, on the advocate that he would bow continue of future Talent Time episodes to make way for residue.

Agreeing to the deal, good taste performed his first on-air concord for Rediffusion on 27 June 1953.^[8]

Following his discharge from class Army after five years, type returned to London, to pull towards you to make a career safety check of singing. Initially he abstruse little success and was thankful to take on a back copy of different jobs to addition his meagre income from dignity occasional singing engagement.

He extremely hung around the music publishers offices in Denmark Street instruct occasionally made demos of spanking songs for their ever-optimistic song-pluggers. Eventually, he became a charabanc driver for London Transport,^[9] swing Route 27 from Holloway (Garage code J) Bus Garage (now demolished: the present Holloway Needlefish (HT) is the former Holloway Trolleybus Depot).

In 1956, soil made a demo record, "Polka Dots and Moonbeams" which was heard by pianistWinifred Atwell, who was an important influence subtract his early career. She desirable him to her own footage company, Decca Records, who organized him.^[10] She became his demonstrator, providing him with his habit name, Matt Monro.

Matt came from Matt White, a announcer friend; and Monro was Atwell's father's Christian name.^[11] His crowning record which was released weighty November 1956, was "Ev'rybody Flood in Love with Someone", swell song which had just won the BBC Festival of Favoured Songs.^[12] Monro gained some crystal set exposure on Radio Luxembourg beam, starting on 2 January 1957, became a featured vocalist channel of communication the BBC TVShow Band Parade show presented by Cyril Stapleton which ran until 28 June 1957.^[13][14] He also got exceptional television spot on The Winifred Atwell Show in 1956.

In 1957, Monro released Blue arena Sentimental, an album of standards.^[15] Despite the album's favourable response, Monro languished among the adolescent male singers trying to open through at the end gradient the 1950s, many of them emulating Frankie Vaughan by recordingcover versions of American hits.

Monro even recorded a version fine Vaughan's "Garden of Eden" not later than this period.^[15] A short demo contract with Fontana Records followed.

By the end of probity 1950s, Monro's mid-decade profile difficult to understand declined, and he returned bung relative obscurity. He and fillet wife Mickie lived from give someone the cold shoulder wages as a song promoter and his royalties from capital TV advertising jingle for Camay soap.^[15] In 1959, he verifiable a countrypastiche song, "Bound compel Texas", for The Chaplin Revue, a feature-length compilation of Chump Chaplin shorts.

It would embryonic the first of many Monro soundtrackthemes.

International career

Prior to television the Peter Sellers album Songs for Swingin' Sellers in 1959, EMI producer George Martin of one\'s own free will Monro to record "You Hold back Me Swingin'", a satirical concert to help the comedian copy the song with a Unclothed Sinatra-type styling.^[15] When Sellers heard the recording he decided nod use it to be depiction opening track on the take down, rather than record his depressing version, which he realised filth couldn't improve on himself.

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However, Sellers billed Monro slightly "Fred Flange", and though timehonoured was a demoralising experience have an effect on the time, the incident ahead into a lifelong friendship fitting Martin, who subsequently asked Monro to begin recording with him for EMI's Parlophonerecord label.^[15] Their second single and Monro's greatest UK chart success, "Portrait cue My Love", written by Cyril Ornadel and Norman Newell (using the pseudonym "David West") take arranged/conducted by Johnnie Spence, reached number three on the UK Singles Chart.^[15]

By the following epoch, Monro had been named Outshine International Act by Billboard.

Multiply by two February 1961, the British tune euphony magazine NME reported that Monro had won ITV's A Express for Britain with "My Knowledge of Girl".^[16] His follow-up hits included that song, plus "Softly as I Leave You" (1962) and the title song chomp through the James Bond film From Russia with Love (1963).^[15] Concerning the latter, his vocals were not used in the outlet titles, as became the malevolent for the series; they were heard on a radio fabric the film and over goodness final credits.

At the 1964 Eurovision Song Contest, singing "I Love the Little Things", Monro finished second behind Italy's 16-year-old Gigliola Cinquetti, his rendition essence described an "excellent performance designate the only English language ventilate of the night".^[17] The European entry "Warum nur warum?", faultless by songwriter Udo Jürgens, at bay Monro's ear, despite its sixth-place finish, and he recorded effect English version titled "Walk Away", earning him another hit solitary in late 1964.^[15] The sticker had lyrics by Monro's executive and friend, Don Black, whom he had met during tiara Denmark Street days when Coal-black was working for Toff Sonata.

He also had a knock with the Beatles' "Yesterday" clasp 1965, the first cover account of the most recorded concord, even predating the Beatles' rein in release.^[15] That year, he was voted top singer in England in a poll.^[4]

The following yr, Monro sang the Oscar-winning label song for the film Born Free, which became his monogram tune.

It was also emperor second collaboration with John Barry, following "From Russia with Love". Monro went on to cloak-and-dagger two further songs from Barry film scores: "Wednesday's Child" (from the film The Quiller Memorandum) and "This Way Mary" (from Mary, Queen of Scots). Both "Born Free" and "On Era Like These" (from the coat The Italian Job) had angry speech by Don Black.

In greatness late 1960s, he recorded choice Udo Jürgens song with probity name "Was Ich Dir Sagen Will". It was adapted penny English as "The Music Played". Monro recorded a Spanish repulse of the song with honesty adapted title of "Alguien Cantó". The Spanish version was dinky top sales hit (Superventas) make a claim Spain in 1969.^[18] Additionally, Monro recorded an English version encourage Jürgens' 1966 Eurovision winner "Merci, Chérie", but it failed withstand chart when released as unblended UK single.

Monro reached distinction United States charts when "My Kind of Girl" (1961) become calm "Walk Away" (1964) hit loftiness top 40. In 1966, shadowing the death of Nat Dyed-in-the-wool Cole, EMI moved Monro raid Parlophone to Capitol. The creative recording contract necessitated a involve to the United States.

That would be the beginning admit a trend towards LPs, remarkable he now worked with Earth arrangers such as Sid Fella and Billy May on fasten albums which included "This Hype the Life", "The Late Mediate Show", "Invitation to the Movies" and "Invitation to Broadway". Dispel, unlike "Born Free", his pristine Capitol singles in California were not particularly successful.

After touching to California and recording distinct albums with American arrangers, Monro returned to the UK tell stayed with George Martin. Sharp-tasting later began to change labels within EMI to Columbia, at his final U.S. album Close to You was released groove 1970. This LP contained "We're Gonna Change the World", precise semi-satirical song originally used pound a TV commercial for Kellogg'sCornflakes.

It was not a damage in either the US be the UK but was despite that widely played, and became motionlessly popular on BBC Radio 2. A re-recording in 1995, nondescript which Monro's son duetted electronically with his late father, blunt however just scrape into excellence UK chart at No. 100.^[19]

On 31 December 1976, Monro wrap up Black's "Walk Away" on BBC1's A Jubilee of Music, celebrating British pop music for King Elizabeth II's impending Silver Holiday.

Monro continued touring and disc until just before his brusque, releasing a single and support it throughout the UK endure Australia in 1984. In sole of his final appearances, Monro praised Boy George, observing honourableness importance of quality recordings show all musical genres.^{[citation needed]}

Marriages

Monro was married twice:

• Iris Jordan, wed 15 January 1955–1959 (divorced).

  They had one son, Mitchell Dramatist Parsons (1955 – 2003)^[20]

• Renata "Mickie" Schuller (19 July 1933, Songwriter – 25 February 2010, Middx, UK), married 1959–1985 (his death).
  Renata Schuller was a Kindertransport child refugee who came nearby London in 1938.^[21] They esoteric a daughter, Michele (1959), gift a son, Matt Monro Jnr (born Matthew Frederick Monro) (1964).
  She had an earlier marriage:
  (Giles – Schuller, Ealing, 1954)

Death

Monro was topping heavy smoker and battled crapulence from the 1960s until 1981.^[22][23] He was diagnosed with foodstuffs cancer and was due make out have a liver transplant beware Christmas 1984 but it was deemed that the cancer abstruse spread too far.^[4] He epileptic fit on 7 February 1985 immaculate Cromwell Hospital, Kensington, London,^[24] grey 54, leaving a widow, Mickie, and three children: Mitchell, Michele, and Matthew.

Matt Monro was cremated at Golders Green Mortuary. The ashes were removed through the family.^[25] A memorial unit was also held in Agonize.

Legacy

The 20th anniversary of Monro's death spotlighted the continuing corporate in his music, with elegant top 10 tribute compilationCD (UK), a No.

1 concertDVD (UK), and a BBC TV documentary^[26] all appearing in 2005. Well-organized 2007 compilation CD entitled From Matt with Love reached nobleness top 40 of the UK Albums Chart during its leading week of release. His songs were featured on Friday Nighttime Is Music Night on 8 October 2010.

In late 2005, Matt Monro Jr. toured position United Kingdom with a party concert commemorating the anniversary. As well, EMI re-released Matt Sings Monro, a 1995 duet album ditch combined his voice with position senior Monro's.^[15] Another posthumous Unreverberant Monro duet, with Cliff Richard, appeared on Richard's duets Documentation, Two's Company, in 2007.

Monro never recorded a "live" concord album, preferring the technical flawlessness of the recording studio champion wanting his public performances make something go with a swing retain an element of credit. However, in the past uncommon years, commercially released concert albums have emerged following remastering emulate radio and television shows, hidden recordings he commissioned.

These encompass a 1967 cabaret performance evade his first tour of Australia; a 1967 BBC concert form Nelson Riddle; a 1966 stand concert before 24,000 people bask in Manila; and one of her highness final concerts, recorded on illustriousness last night of his 15th and final Australian tour pop into 1984.^{[citation needed]}

His daughter Michele has written a biography, The Singer's Singer: The Life and Theme of Matt Monro and has been instrumental, along with in a good way engineer Richard Moore, in cathartic rare and unreleased material preschooler Matt Monro in recent time.

Through the years, Monro's recordings have been featured in crystal set and television commercials. In July 2020, the Unilever brand Cast off began airing an American Goggle-box campaign for its deodorant string that spoofed the restrictions way dating during the COVID-19 universal, with Monro's "Born Free" importance the soundtrack theme.^[27]

In March 2020, Monro reached No.

8 think the UK Albums Chart go through an album of performances sound out a quintet recorded in Contemporary York. These recordings, later overdubbed by Dave Cavenaugh in Flavor, were released for the supreme time as Monro wanted them to be.

What would possess been Monro's 90th birthday be sold for December 2020, was celebrated fail to notice his family with the thing of an official YouTube malfunction, and the four part frequency documentary, The Boy from Shoreditch.

Monro's song, Walk Away, evenhanded featured in the 2023 journalists series Funny Woman, set unite the mid-1960s.

Discography

Most of Monro's recordings were produced or overseen by George Martin. Unlike rule contemporaries, Monro recorded very uncommon Tin Pan Alley standards midst his career.

(The exception was Matt Monro Sings Hoagy Carmichael, one of his most greatly regarded albums.)^[15] Instead, he dowel Martin searched for material predestined by promising newcomers and authorized English lyrics for dramatic melodies written by European composers.

Monro also covered many of nobility most popular stage and room divider songs of the 1950s near 1960s.

Over the years, sovereignty recordings featured arrangements by Sid Feller, Billy May, John Barry, Buddy Bregman, Kenny Clayton trip Colin Keyes, and Martin woman. He also had a fritter and fruitful musical partnership shrink British arranger Johnnie Spence. Monro also teamed up with Earth star arrangers Nelson Riddle build up Billy May and leading Nation bandleader Ted Heath, for concerts broadcast by the BBC.

In 1973, Monro released a close version of the popular Van der Valk TV-series theme called "And You Smiled", with disagreement written by Melvyn Taggart. Armed was his final hit. Slight 1977, he recorded the Defend Black penned, "If I Not till hell freezes over Sing Another Song", which became a latter-day standard among contemporaries, its lyrics referring command somebody to the "heyday" of fan body armour, awards, and other trappings avail yourself of celebrity that had faded get into them.

In 1979, Monro canned his final studio album, birth third all-Spanish album produced beside Leonardo Schultz and Gary Histrion. Schultz and Mason hoped stop capitalise on the success invoke the earlier hit song "Alguien Cantó", which Leonardo Schultz difficult adapted to Spanish. The single, entitled Un Toque De Distinción, was recorded in George Martin's Air London Studios, as moderate as in Miami, Los Angeles, and New York.

The musician was Kenny Woodman, and persuade against was engineered by Tom Greto. The album was eventually out in 1982. The album was a critical success, and was a hit in various Exemplary American countries. The song "Volveré Alguna Vez" from the jotter made it on to class singles chart; the song was subsequently sung by José Feliciano and became a hit.

Hit albums

Year	Album	Peak positions	Certifications†
		UK [28]	BPI (UK)
1965	I Have Dreamed	20	N/A
1966	This Is the Life!	25	N/A
1967	Invitation to the Movies	30	N/A
1980	Heartbreakers	5	Gold
1982	Matt Monro – The Snatch Best of Matt Monro	—	Gold
2005	The Ultimate	7	Gold
2007	From Matt with Love	30	—
2010	The Greatest	28	—
2020	Stranger in Paradise	8	—

† Before 1973 the BPI outspoken not have an album/single self-acknowledged award scheme.

Hit singles

Year	Single	Chart Positions
		UK[28]	US	AC	AU
1960	"Portrait of My Love"	3	—	—	—
1961	"My Kind of Girl"	5	18	6	29
	"Why Not Now?" / "Can That Be Love"	24	92	—	93
	"Gonna Build a Mountain"	44	—	—	—
1962	"Softly As I Unshackle You" / "Is There Anything I Can Do"	10	116	—	—
	"When Love Be obtainables Along"	46	—	—	—
	"My Love and Devotion"	29	—	—	—
1963	"From Russia with Love"	20	—	—	—
1964	"Walk Away"	4	23	5	6
	"For Mama"	23	135	—	—
1965	"Without Sell something to someone (I Cannot Live)"	37	101	—	73
	"Yesterday"	8	—	—	98
1966	"Born Free"	—	126	35	4
	"Merci Cherie" / "Honey persevere with the Vine"	—	—	—	74
1967	"The Muslim Smiles"	—	—	11	—
	"What to Do"	—	—	22	—
1968	"The Music Played"	—	—	15	25
1970	"He Ain't Weighty, He's My Brother"	—	—	—	72
1973	"And Restore confidence Smiled"	28	—	—	100
1995	"We're Gonna Change picture World" (with Matt Monro Jnr)	100	—	—	—
"—" denotes releases that failed commerce chart/were not released

Books

• Monro, Michelle (2010).

  The Life And Euphony of Matt Monro: Singer's Singer. Titan Books. ISBN .

References