Matt at the pub

Have you ever seen Matt Monro in concert? Tell us your favourite stories.
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Chris Kelly
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Matt at the pub

Post by Chris Kelly » Fri Jun 20, 2008 4:16 pm

My good friend has just told me a story about Matt before he was famous.

"By the way, if i haven't told you before, I knew Matt Monro personally. He used to drive the 14 bus in London, and would come in the Favourite pub, which was at the terminus in Hornsey Rise, where my late sister lived. Him and I and my brother Chris always used get up and give a song. Matt's name at the time was Terry something, I can't quite remember. He was a very modest guy. He'd come in regularly, order a pint, sing about two songs, backed by the pub's piano and drums, and then get back into his bus outside. No gimmicks, no outlandishness, just simply a great voice, which we congratulated him on many times. We were more extrovert, although he he did compliment me once when I sang Song of Songs. (Mario Lanza and Perry Como recorded it)
He would always sing the classy songs like, Embraceable You, My Funny Valentine, Someone To Watch Over Me. You know, Gershwin, Rodgers& Hart stuff.
I always remember he would often sing a song called, Met a Girl In Calico from the 1940's. I'd never heard it before but he sang it really great in laid back style." :lol:

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ROBERT M.
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Post by ROBERT M. » Fri Jun 20, 2008 11:02 pm

Hi Chris. So you are called Chris, yet you have a brother called Chris............that's interesting :?: Matt was called Terry Parsons in those days, Chris :wink: :)
"My Tears Will Fall Now That You're Gone,
I Can't Help But Cry, But I Must Go On" :(

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Lena & Harry Smith
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Post by Lena & Harry Smith » Fri Jun 20, 2008 11:29 pm

We were confused at first too Robert, :shock: specially the personal friend bit, as Chris is only 49 now and Matt would be 78, but can see now that it was Chris's friend who was the personal friend of Matt's when Matt was driving a No 14 bus : :? ? :? and has a brother named Chris, and this was a continuing letter or e-mail ?? that he was writing to Chris ....... GOT IT ...i :? :? :? :roll: :roll: :roll: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: We've only just. :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

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mariana44
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Post by mariana44 » Sat Jun 21, 2008 8:03 am

Well worked out Harry and Lena-I was a little confused also.
Mariana

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Marian
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Post by Marian » Sat Jun 21, 2008 8:18 am

Hi Chris,
I enjoyed the story of your friend reminiscing about Matt.
Not sure he drove a number 14 bus though, I believe it was 27, but he was definately in Hornsey Rise in those days.
I have heard the song that begins Met a Girl in Calico.. I believe it continues
'down in Santa Fe' then something about my Romeo, 'til she rode away.'
Maybe Lena and Harry can fill in the rest, they have a wonderful knowledge of songs from that era. :D :D :D
Marian :wink:

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Lena & Harry Smith
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Post by Lena & Harry Smith » Sat Jun 21, 2008 9:41 am

Sure do remember this one Marian....
Met a Gal In Calico. Down In Santa Fe.
Used To Be Her Sunday Beau, Till I Rode Away,
Do I Want Her Do I Want Her Love Yes Siree.
Will I Win Her Will I Win Her Love Wait And See.
Working With A rodeo Go From Town To Town
See Most Every Kind Of Gal, In Every Kind Of Gown,
But Who Makes My Heart Sing , Yippee I Yippee O
My Little Gal In Calico.. :lol: :lol:

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mariana44
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Post by mariana44 » Sat Jun 21, 2008 10:01 am

I wish that Matt had recorded some of those great songs mentioned--"My Funny Valentine" "Embraceable you" "Someone to watch over me" and.of course "Met a Gal in Calico"----ages since I heard that song !!
Mariana

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Lena & Harry Smith
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Post by Lena & Harry Smith » Sat Jun 21, 2008 10:11 am

So many recorded this song Marian. Probably Bing Crosby was the first one who comes to mind. :lol:

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Marian
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Post by Marian » Sat Jun 21, 2008 10:42 am

I somehow knew you would know the song Lena and Harry. Many thanks for the words. :D :D
Marian :wink:

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Chris Kelly
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Post by Chris Kelly » Sat Jun 21, 2008 11:23 am

Sorry about the confusion. It was my friends quote about him and his brother Chris. They lived for a while with their sister in the London area and that is how the aquaitance came about in the early 1960s.

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Lena & Harry Smith
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Post by Lena & Harry Smith » Sat Jun 21, 2008 5:07 pm

Thanks for that Chris, however, don't think Matt was driving a bus in the early Sixties, but hey!!! the years confuse us at times. :? :lol:

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Chris Kelly
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Post by Chris Kelly » Sat Jun 21, 2008 5:46 pm

My friend says this.

"No, didn't know him after he'd made the big time.
It must have been 1959 or 1960 when we first knew himin the pub cos i remember he had his first hit (either POML or My Kind Of Girl) in March 1961, when i was working in Northampton as a pipe-fitter's labourer at the Carlsberg brewery. It seemed so old fashioned at the time I thought he'd just be a flash-in-the-pan. But then I thought the same about the Beatles in 1962!"

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keithgood838
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Post by keithgood838 » Sat Jun 21, 2008 7:27 pm

Hi Chris
I love your relayed reminiscence about Matt; I didn't have
the good fortune to meet him personally, however the
description of his personality is precisely as I imagine it.
I sank the occasional pint at The Favourite; it's gone now,
alas, a casualty of the developers' wrecking-ball.
Keith
Last edited by keithgood838 on Sun Jun 22, 2008 9:27 am, edited 1 time in total.

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ROBERT M.
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Post by ROBERT M. » Sun Jun 22, 2008 12:23 am

I understand Chris' first post now L&H :wink: :lol:

L&H have a wonderful knowledge from that era..............................are you calling them OLD Marian :wink: :lol:

Chris, Matt's first hit was the beautiful Portrait of My Love...............in 1960 :)
"My Tears Will Fall Now That You're Gone,
I Can't Help But Cry, But I Must Go On" :(

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Lena & Harry Smith
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Post by Lena & Harry Smith » Sun Jun 22, 2008 12:43 am

We've been to our Supper Quiz tonight Robert, and though our table didn't get the overall winners prize, us OLD UNS took top score for the music round... 40 out of 40. 8) 8) 8) :lol: :lol:

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