So!  let me give you a brief history of  what events and experiences brought me to that  point in my life where I want to share what I have learned with other people who love to sing.

At about 11, my voice finally broke and when my school music teacher heard the deep groans that came forth from deep in my being, she immediately gave me the part in the school choir of doing the "get a little drunk and you land in jail" bit from the song 'Old Man River', as I was the only kid who could get the low notes.

So! From Shirley Temple - to - Paul Robeson in one quick croak. But at least I was now more in tune with the Crooners of the day, and my dream was still with me…….. Then, at about 15 - Just when I was beginning to get my teeth into 'Mac the Knife' (not literally of course) Rock 'n' Roll hit our planet and Mac was deserted for an electric guitar, three chords, tight jeans and a ‘Kiss Curl’ ( A WHAT ? ) 1and like many other kids who saw the beginning of Rock’n’Roll, I spent the remainder of my teenage years and a big chunk of my youth, whaling my way through the late 50s, 60s and 70s and enjoying every minute of it. But as they say whoever THEY are) you always end up back where you started.; and at the ripe old age of 60, with a whole life-time of the trials and tribulations behind me, primarily looking after everyone else’s needs, I decided it was now time to re-kindle the dream of that eight year old kid and  get back to my singing in a serious way and  now surrounded by three lovely children and eight Grand Children,  perhaps  become the first Grand Pop Idol singing the songs that first set my toes tapping and my heart thumping 50 years before. And this time around - the Trilby fitted perfectly.

I have always sung for my own pleasure and if other people liked to listen, that was a bonus. So I wasn’t seriously looking to become a million dollar recording star; and not even the first Grand Pop Idol to get to the last 50 of the X factor. All I wanted to do was sing, write songs, record them and share them with as many people as possible.

So my goal was to record some of the songs  I listened to as a kid, write some of my own stuff, record them and sell the Albums through whatever outlets were available. If I made a few quid in the process and picked up a couple of Fans along the way, that would be a bonus.

With the Internet quickly becoming the new marketplace of the future and the best bet for an independent singer/songwriter to get his music heard, with ‘Mouse’ and ‘heart in hand’, I proceeded to ‘Surf ‘ my way through a whole new world of information, learning, insight and experience, ‘riding’ every wave with amounting enthusiasm, as each ‘Click’ took me to new shores of experience and learning. My journey had truly begun and I was quickly becoming an Internet Junkie.

Over the following months I was to converse with people from all over the world, who freely offered their knowledge, guidance and experience in support of my musical goals.

By the end of my journey, not only had I managed to set up all the online technology and support I would need to go for my goal, but I had grown in confidence at my ability to use the internet to its full capacity and advantage.

As with the internet, technological advances in all areas of human creativity, saw the rise of a multitude of digital gadgets. In the area of home recording technology, the multi-track recorder gave the budding singer, instrumentalist, the technology to produce his/her own Albums at the ‘flick of a switch’ and in pursuit of my goal, the first thing I did was to go out and buy myself a very nice portable multi-track recorder, microphone, headphones, and a good selection of professional Jazz backing tracks.

I then proceeded to build myself a 6” x 4” ‘Recording Studio’ in one corner of our large shed at the bottom of the garden, where nobody – except the Rabbits – could hear my pain, and I spent the next five months getting my voice back into shape, and practicing the songs I had backing tracks for.

The outcome some 6 months later was a CD Album, consisting of 12 mainstream Jazz songs, which I produced on my multi-track, and with the assistance of a brilliant software package I designed and Printed off all the CD Jewel Case Inserts for my first Album – ‘Me and My Shadow – So called because in all those long lonely hours that I was shut away in my small recording studio lit by one solitary 100 watt bulb, all I had for company was my shadow on the wall, looking back at me in despair as I practiced the songs over and over and over again till I was satisfied with the final take.

He became my mentor, my critic and my friend, to the extent that he joined me in a duet on the final song on the Album. I don’t think I have to tell you the title of then song!

On completion of the Album – and after the Rabbit’s had been through several weeks of Counselling for their stress related symptoms and the local PDSA had managed to remove the wads of hay they had stuffed deep into their ears, I drafted a letter and sent it out to over 50 family and friends telling them what I was doing and would they like to buy a copy of the Album in support of an old Crooner and a good cause –  The Children In Need Appeal – which a percentage of each Album sold would go to.

The outcome was much more than I expected. I sold over 100 of the Me and my Shadow Albums , raising over £250.00 for Children in Need. This was followed by four further Jazz Albums, all of which got good support. from family and friends, who continued to buy.

 Here are a  couple of  songs from one of the Albums:        

 SMILE              

IT HAD TO BE YOU 

However, as much as I loved singing mainstream jazz standards to professional backing tracks, I was at a stage in my journey where I wanted to start trying my hand at writing some of my own stuff.

So my next stop was the wonderful world of computer generated music, and software that would allow me to compose my own original music and create an Album I could share with a wider audience.

There then followed yet another big learning curve that spanned about six months; learning how to use the music creation software I had bought, to its full advantage and produce songs I felt were worthy of sharing with the public..

The outcome of my journey was the production of my first Album of my own songs – ‘GOOD DAY’ .

Here is a song from the Album:  The Title Song: GOOD DAY   

CLICK HERE TO LISTEN

Recently, I recorded my first SINGLE.  Let me tell you a bit about it.

As a singer/songwriter, some years ago I created a melody that I  really struggled to find the right lyrics for. Whatever I wrote didn't seem to be right and in the end I gave up and put it to one side.

Several years later, I was thinking about certain times in my life and about the songs that were around at those times, and how certain songs trigger both good and bad memories in ones life, when suddenly the almost  forgotton melody popped into my head again and within no time at all I had written a whole set of  lyrics down on paper.   Songs Of Yesterday was born.

The song is  a full 9 minutes long consisting of five verses and six choruses, which  you can join in with. It is about certain times in my  life and the songs that were around at those times and  I have woven the song titles into the lyrics.     

Here is a clip from Songs Of Yesterday.    CLICK HERE TO LISTEN

I would never have been able to do it without the solid support and encouragement of my family, particularly my partner Julie - bless her little stocking tops - the advances in communication and music technology, and also the advances in the general health and welfare of the human race, where people – through better diet and health care - are much fitter and living longer.

I am told that 60 is now considered to be the new 40, so here I am at 66 ( technically 46 ) looking forward to at least another 34 years of singing my way to the top of the Internet Grand-Pop Idol Charts, before I finally fall off my Zimmer Fame, go to heaven and spend the rest of eternity sitting on cloud No 9, singing 'Bat out of Hell' to a bunch of tone deaf Angels…….

Having said that, there will always be those that believe the age of 66 is a bit late to continue pursuing Grand Internet Pop Idol fame. I am very pleased to say that it is not my Partner, Children or Grand Children. This is probably due to the fact that I have always encouraged my children and grand children to follow their dreams, to never give up, to believe in yourself, to never listen to negative people, and most important - It’s never too late to achieve anything you want to in life.

Having said that, I'm a bit too old in the tooth now to start pursuing a professional singing career, but I can offer help and advice to younger people - maybe like you - who want to make a career out of it.  And also to older people who like me - as a hobby - simply want to learn how to produce their own  CD Albums and market them.