Da Capo Luciano- Mille Gratia Maestro

How easy would it be to write all the cliches about this wonderfully warm and generous man. A voice that broke down all the snobby barriers around the classics.
One of Luciano's most admired attributes was his wonderful humility and appreciation of other singers including of course his part in Andrea Boccelli's rise to fame.
As the story goes, Succarro, that very famous italian rock star had written his "Misere", for classic and rock voices.
Succarro's intent was for Luciano to sing the classic tenor roll. Bottecelli recorded the early interpretation and Succarro sent it to "Lucy" as an introduction and a request for him to sing it.
"Lucy" replied, "You don't need me to sing , you have a wonderful singer in Bottecelli".
The rest of course you all know about. Andrea Bottcelli continues the legacy.
The most famous aria, popularised by "Lucy" and gave the world a taste of his wonderful voice, was "Nessun Dorma" from Puccinis Turandot.
Now not to detract from "Lucy", the great Swedish tenor Jussi Bjorling made the aria famous and Luciano carried it on for us all to make it without argument, the most well known aria. So much so that people ask, "sing the "Pavarotti number - you know".

Forty five years later his final curtain call, at Modena Cathedral his home town. No more encores, just to remember "The Voice" and the person .

Thank you so much Luciano for your inspiration, your wonderful voice and character.
Where ever you are performing now, will benefit from your presence. Maestro, the World is a much sadder place for your passing. Thankfully your recordings preserve your legacy. Your wonderfully warm heart and smile we will miss forever.
Take care my wonderful friend and fellow artist.

Great Show American Idol Final Good old Tony Bennet

Well, what a fabulous show American Idol put on for us! The very great Tony Bennet, everyones favourite. Even at eighty years of age he his incomparable. Rubin Stern another fabulous singer cool unstrined controled voice of velvet. Bette Midler, Ha Ha , I remember Bettes shows from way back when she made raunch a winner as well as having one of the finest "feel" voices around.
The modern R&B bands and past winners doing Beatles numbers so brilliantly. Lennon would have been proud of "working class hero" although Lennons version had we're al Fxxxxcking peasants as far as I can see, which got it banned by the BBC in England.
This is the sort of show they should give us at least every month. Great artists "VARIETY"!
Come on you producers give us some two hour shows of the type" Sunday Night at The London Palladium" you'll have colossal audiences. Never mind these crappy Jerry Springer, Rosie and another cop chasing another killer film full of false teeth and silicone tits. Haven't we had enough? There are so many talented artists out there waiting to give their all to perform, seeking a platform and all we get are mindless, untalented celebrity seekers type Paris Hilton, Anna Nicole Smith and the others crammed down our throats.
Who's to blame? Us the stupid public who watch the rubbish. And yet tonight we saw what it really should be about TALENT!
Now, I don't agree with the decision tonight, and my opinion doesn't matter that much but I wish both Blake and Jordin well. I'm sure they will make a success of their careers but the stand out was Melinda Doolittle without any shadow of doubt.
Come on Simon Cowell and Simon Fuller give the entertainment Industry more of a bloody good shake and show them what Entertainment is all about every day.
Thanks for a great show tonight.

American Idol voting public have lost the plot

What on earth is wrong with the American voting public where their taste is concerned?
Last year it was Elliot Yamin, one of the finest new interpreters of melody that lost out to karaoke king Taylor Hicks.
This year, for my money anyway, the finest voice of the past twenty years, well on a par with the best in the business, Melinda Doolittle loses out. No offence intended or implied but Jordin and Blake as talented as they are, are in no way in the same league.
Thankfully, Simon Cowell will ensure that Melinda gets the recognistion and fame that she deserves.
Melinda, no woman singer has moved me so much with passion, understanding and interpretation of a song and its lyrics. You seem to know what the composer had in mind and a bit more.
I look forward to seeing lots and lots of you over the years. You will still be around fifty years from now as a great.
The American public voted as they say, but the ones who know greatness probably did'nt.
I'm wondering what the demographic was that voted the largest portion of calls and votes.
Was it a teeny bopper conspiracy? If I'm half right here Blake will win! The Sanjaya voters now how have a new favourite Blake. This guy really is a talent and I wish him well.
Melinda you are The New Queen of Hearts. Go get 'em girl. I will lookout for you and my other great favourite Elliot Yamin.
Thank you both for the pleasure you give musically and with humility.

Elliot Yamin and Tony Bennett Duets

Well, After the response for Elliot, I reckon what I really would like to hear is a Tony Bennett/Elliot Yamin singing together.
Loads of great songs spring to mind both modern and some of "The Maestro's" classics.
How about this for a selection; Who can I turn to when nobody needs me. Maybe this time. Don't get around much anymore. Fasinatin' rhythm. Maybe September. The Gentle rain. Lost in the stars.( Tony dedicated this song to me in Birmingham England on his "Art of excellence" tour about 20 years ago, a cappella and without microphone), Live for life. Rags to riches. Without a song. Old Devil moon. Yesterday I heard the rain and of course what more appropriate than, The best is yet to come.
Elliot I have loads of time to listen. Tony thank you so much for all the joy and love you put into both my life and the inspiration for my musical interpretations. You are still the top and I know you will inspire Elliot, if you haven't already.
"Elliot sings Bennett" with Elliot's own style and interpretation. Or how about this one: Tony Bennett sings the music of Elliot Yamin? Cant wait. Just do it.
Break a leg brother.
PS I guess it's too much to wish for, Elliot sings "The shadow of your smile" dueting with me Ray Leigh

Elliot Yamin

Well, a liitle be-lated but I have just been listening to arguably the finest modern singer for a long long time-The fabulous Elliot Yamin. Without any doubts, as far as I am concerned this wonderfully human interpreter of lyric and harmony will be the Tony Bennett of the future.
Only Bennett and possibly Sinatra ever gave music so much passion and feel into their timing, and phrasing.

No hystronics just gets up and moves his audience like no other.

I'm guessing, but he seems to live and feel music. Putting all of his obvious love into it. Many thanks Elliot you have put back my faith into modern music interpretation.

I have spent my whole life as a singer all over the World and have rarely heard such talent. Great phrasers are in short supply I spend hours listening to Tony Bennett Nina Simone, Streisand et al, believe me Elliot Yamin is well on the way to being amongst them as an icon to great music.

Like Bennett he has what is missing from music these days -Humility. I for one will be amongst the first to buy his music. The originals.

Just as a matter of interest have you heard Tony Bennett's duets? Treat Yourself. My StumbleUpon Page

The Best Singers Of All Time

I had this conversation the other night over dinner with some of my friends from the entertainment industry.

Who are the best singers of all time and why?

The conversation was exiting, stimulating, even heated (in a nice sort of way). The support for her, the "how can you say that" for him. There were no winners or losers but a great time was had by all. At least I wasn't ranting about the usual subjects. (You who have read my blogs before know what I'm talking about.)

Anyway I offer my choices and my arguments for. You are welcome to contribute, so leave your choice in the comments and I'll write about them in the next blog. Let's see if we can create a consensus of opinion. No particular order but here goes with my list:


Tony Bennet

Here is one of the greatest interpreters of lyric and melody ever. His phrasing and timing are out of this world. He seems to know instinctively what the composer has in mind, almost as if he lived with the song before performing it. Listen to the dynamic. You cannot help but be moved. Thanks Tony, for all the pleasure you have given me and my lovers.


Shirley Bassey

I first heard Shirley as a teenager, a while back (none of your business). Here is, for me, a role model for any aspiring young singer, male or female. How does she find the passion and expression that her wonderfully dynamic voice exudes? She moves me so much when I listen to her. When I listen and watch then I am a total mess for days afterwards.


Andrea Botcelli

Now having taken over from a list of superb classical voices that include, Pavarotti, Domingo, the very great Swedish tenor Jussi Bjorling and Mario Lanza. Andrea's trumpet like tenor is as clean as a church bell even when he soars effortlessly into the "d" above high "c". There is no compromise, he never falters staying true to the melody and even though he does not radiate "showbiz" his wonderful voice moves everyone irrespective of age or music choice.


Nina Simone

Where do you start with Nina? Here is a wonderful artist who has taken on the mantle of her people, the oppression they endured and narrated with music and song the struggles. There is not a chance on Earth that her interpretations, with that voice that seems to live the often sad lyrics, won’t influence you forever. Not just musically, Nina will influence your very soul. You always need to come back for more. It may even change the way you see the World and yourself.


Here I run up against a wall of great "pop" singers. The list could be long from, Sam Cooke, Otis Reading, David Ruffin, Ben E King, Luther Van dross, Aretha Franklin and yes even Michael Jackson. But I'm going for,


Barbra Streisand

An artist who has inspired so many of today’s talent. Celine Dion to name one. Here is truly one of the outstanding voices of all time. In fact if you forced me to choose just one to listen to for the rest of my life it would have to be "Babs".

Fantasia

Well! I have recently listened and watched, 2 years too late apparently, the singularly most inspiring and wonderful singer since Babs.
Fantasia, wow. a combination of Nina simone, Billy Holiday, Diana Ross and Aretha.
Easily the best voice for years.
Full of passion, fabulous timing, wondeful phrasing and has obviously lived the lyrics she expresses with the voice so rare. Thanks Fantasia.


So all of you who think I knock America too much! I believe that the "Great American Song Book" is the best modern music ever! That's it for now. Let's give it some thought and come back with some more.


Photo credit to Rahav Segev / Rolling Stone