No doubt the majority, if not all of Matts fans will be aware of his health problems that finally and sadly led to his death, also we certainly weren't aware that he was a nervous man, in fact his close associates have described him as the most laid back person they have ever known, however many of us have vices of one kind or another but still often refuse to obstain.
Matt's decision to carry on with his singing career, wise or unwise and even though he may have been financially comfortably off , it could be any one of several understandable reasons.
Matt was brought up in a working class backgound where their only affordable bit of enjoyment was an evening out with their hard earned cash in the local pub at weekends with family members and friends. That's what life was all about then, far removed from the wealthier upper classes who were swinging at the Ritz and were living on another planet unknown to the working classes.
There are many stars and celebrities who came from humble beginnings and even though now wealthy, have admitted they always still have a fear and dread of those times returning. To Quote Michael Caine;;
I have been rich and I've been poor, but rich is better!!
There is another reason and a genuine reason why Matt may have decided to carry on and this is the one that we believe. It was because he loved giving pleasure to his audiences with his god given talent.
Matt's Declining Health
I think it is well known that he drank and smoked, but that wonderful voice seems never to have been anything but great. And he was not the first and won’t be the last to have drunk more than was good for him.
We should not forget that for Matt’s generation healthy living was not the 24/7 propaganda machine it is now. They used to advertise cigarettes as good for you, for Pete’s sake!
In one small, selfish way I am glad he did like a tipple for it was his fondness for a drink that, indirectly, meant I got to be lying awake in bed at 3.00 am listening to him singing along with my Mum while my step-father accompanied them on piano!
They were down in the lounge, I was a teenager trying to get to sleep upstairs. Now I wish I’d had the sense to go down and listen in the same room rather than be a bit annoyed that I had to get up for work in the morning.
This scenario came about because my mother and step-father - professional musicians who by then ran a theatrical agents in Scotland - and booked Matt for a tour in 1980. He was booked into hotels, but as my Mum was accompanying him to all the shows it made sense for him to come to the house on a few occasions.
I can’t recall exactly, but I guess it was after a show. Anyway, Mum was worrying that left alone at the hotel he might have too much to drink so she would pick him up early in the day and take him back at night. Being the woman she is that was probably more an exaggerated fear than a real risk, but whatever, it meant I got to be kept awake by Matt Monro singing.
I said almost exactly those words at work the following day. They looked at me and said surely I meant records. I said no, the real Matt Monro.
I must have gone to a few shows and I can remember at least one where, before the show (yes, at the bar) he asked me which song of his I’d like him to sing for me. Well, of course being a child of the 60’s I knew Born Free and was a huge Bond fan, but I am and have always been a car nut so I said the theme from The Italian Job. And he did!
This memory was given a fresh coat of polish recently when I read – I think something Michele had written – that The Italian Job was the favourite of all the themes he recorded as he liked the movie. Top man!
We should not forget that for Matt’s generation healthy living was not the 24/7 propaganda machine it is now. They used to advertise cigarettes as good for you, for Pete’s sake!
In one small, selfish way I am glad he did like a tipple for it was his fondness for a drink that, indirectly, meant I got to be lying awake in bed at 3.00 am listening to him singing along with my Mum while my step-father accompanied them on piano!
They were down in the lounge, I was a teenager trying to get to sleep upstairs. Now I wish I’d had the sense to go down and listen in the same room rather than be a bit annoyed that I had to get up for work in the morning.
This scenario came about because my mother and step-father - professional musicians who by then ran a theatrical agents in Scotland - and booked Matt for a tour in 1980. He was booked into hotels, but as my Mum was accompanying him to all the shows it made sense for him to come to the house on a few occasions.
I can’t recall exactly, but I guess it was after a show. Anyway, Mum was worrying that left alone at the hotel he might have too much to drink so she would pick him up early in the day and take him back at night. Being the woman she is that was probably more an exaggerated fear than a real risk, but whatever, it meant I got to be kept awake by Matt Monro singing.
I said almost exactly those words at work the following day. They looked at me and said surely I meant records. I said no, the real Matt Monro.
I must have gone to a few shows and I can remember at least one where, before the show (yes, at the bar) he asked me which song of his I’d like him to sing for me. Well, of course being a child of the 60’s I knew Born Free and was a huge Bond fan, but I am and have always been a car nut so I said the theme from The Italian Job. And he did!
This memory was given a fresh coat of polish recently when I read – I think something Michele had written – that The Italian Job was the favourite of all the themes he recorded as he liked the movie. Top man!
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mmonro
Dad's Health
I would like to state categorically that my father never ever drank before a TV or live performance, nor did he have a need to.
As most artists at the time, once a show was finished, it was usual for all the musicians to share a drink after the show. There were also ocassions where my father had guests visit after a gig and again hospitality was offered. Once a show was finished an artist is unable to go straight to sleep and so circulates with friends and other artists alike. It is no different from a working person coming home after their day's work at 6.00pm - you don't go to sleep then either. Because of the nature of the business most shows don't finish until 11.00pm and there was a very limited amount on offer at that time of night so artists would create their own fun.
My father never went to the Royal Free Hospital. When he first got ill with was was suspected as food poisoning at the end of 1984 he went to see an eminent liver specialist at the Cromwell Hospital in London. Once cancer was diagnosed he was transferred to Addenbrooks Hospital in Cambridge. We were then put on a waiting list for a liver transplant. We were in at the same time as little Ben Hardwick whose case was chronicled on Esther Ranzen's popular TV show "That's Life".
When the surgery started no-one including the surgeon knew that my father was riddled with cancer and it was for that reason and that reason only that the surgery didn't proceed. There was no point in giving a new liver.
The gentleman who wrote and professsed to be a technician at a hospital my father wasn't at, could not possibly know what my father did or didn't do before a show. From the time my father first got sick there was only a period of twelve weeks before he died. He never went back to work.
I can only suggest that the person who wrote this garbble has had a few drinks himself.
I am sure you will forgive me if I delete anything further that is posted by this person
As most artists at the time, once a show was finished, it was usual for all the musicians to share a drink after the show. There were also ocassions where my father had guests visit after a gig and again hospitality was offered. Once a show was finished an artist is unable to go straight to sleep and so circulates with friends and other artists alike. It is no different from a working person coming home after their day's work at 6.00pm - you don't go to sleep then either. Because of the nature of the business most shows don't finish until 11.00pm and there was a very limited amount on offer at that time of night so artists would create their own fun.
My father never went to the Royal Free Hospital. When he first got ill with was was suspected as food poisoning at the end of 1984 he went to see an eminent liver specialist at the Cromwell Hospital in London. Once cancer was diagnosed he was transferred to Addenbrooks Hospital in Cambridge. We were then put on a waiting list for a liver transplant. We were in at the same time as little Ben Hardwick whose case was chronicled on Esther Ranzen's popular TV show "That's Life".
When the surgery started no-one including the surgeon knew that my father was riddled with cancer and it was for that reason and that reason only that the surgery didn't proceed. There was no point in giving a new liver.
The gentleman who wrote and professsed to be a technician at a hospital my father wasn't at, could not possibly know what my father did or didn't do before a show. From the time my father first got sick there was only a period of twelve weeks before he died. He never went back to work.
I can only suggest that the person who wrote this garbble has had a few drinks himself.
I am sure you will forgive me if I delete anything further that is posted by this person
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Lena & Harry Smith
- Posts: 21514
- Joined: Tue Jul 12, 2005 10:05 am
- Location: London UK
Edgar, we're not sure either, but can only assume that it brightens up their drab day, and they choose to make their own assumptions, but now that Michele has set the record straight and posted the facts about her dads illness (and she should know shouldn't she) she will probably want to drop the subject, but here's an interesting point.
I accompanied a friend of mine to hospital appointments when she was diagnosed with stomach cancer that led to liver cancer of which she eventually died.
From what we learned through that experience and information from one of the top oncologists in the country, it is apparently extremely rare, if at all, that liver cancer originates in the liver but is spread from another organ such as the colon e.t.c.
Another story, a relative of ours was very friendly with a sister at the Cromwell Hospital who was the duty sister in the ward when Matt passed away. She said what a lovely, lovely man he was.
I accompanied a friend of mine to hospital appointments when she was diagnosed with stomach cancer that led to liver cancer of which she eventually died.
From what we learned through that experience and information from one of the top oncologists in the country, it is apparently extremely rare, if at all, that liver cancer originates in the liver but is spread from another organ such as the colon e.t.c.
Another story, a relative of ours was very friendly with a sister at the Cromwell Hospital who was the duty sister in the ward when Matt passed away. She said what a lovely, lovely man he was.
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mmonro
liver cancer
Thanks for your kind and positive words. You are quite right - it is extremely rare for primary cancer to start with the liver. If the liver is attacked it is usually as a secondary site. As I have already explained that is backed up by the fact that when operated on, my father was found to have widespread cancer and it is for that reason the transplant did not continue.
Everything passes through the liver to be purified so unfortunately you have a case of the cancer passing through the liver and infecting other areas. I will also state for the record that my father did not have any cancer in his lungs.
My dad did indeed die in the Cromwell after being transferred back from Adenbrooks after the transplant and it is nice to hear some pleasant thoughts.
I have to tell you, when I saw this posting the other day, I replied instantly and in anger. Now that I have had time to think of it further I cannot understand how someone can be so malicious and talk of things they know nothing about.
This website is for fans of Matt Monro and is an area for learning more of his life and his music. I do not need to hide behind any lies and am honest as possible. This is an extremely painful thing for me to discuss but it is for the reasons stated that I didn't delete the message.
Hope to see all the loyal fans non-line soon
Michele
Everything passes through the liver to be purified so unfortunately you have a case of the cancer passing through the liver and infecting other areas. I will also state for the record that my father did not have any cancer in his lungs.
My dad did indeed die in the Cromwell after being transferred back from Adenbrooks after the transplant and it is nice to hear some pleasant thoughts.
I have to tell you, when I saw this posting the other day, I replied instantly and in anger. Now that I have had time to think of it further I cannot understand how someone can be so malicious and talk of things they know nothing about.
This website is for fans of Matt Monro and is an area for learning more of his life and his music. I do not need to hide behind any lies and am honest as possible. This is an extremely painful thing for me to discuss but it is for the reasons stated that I didn't delete the message.
Hope to see all the loyal fans non-line soon
Michele
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TerenceLee
Let's celebrate Matt's life and music
Obviously it is painful for Michele to talk about her dad's declining health and death. So let us concentrate on celebrating his life and his music. Michele I am sorry some posts have made you angry and upset. The majority of us are more sensitive than that.
I have felt terrible and very uncomfortable since I read the first posting.
We, as fans of Matt Monro, are so very lucky to be able to correspond with the daughter of the singer we adore.
The biggets plus of this is that we get truthful and accurate answers to any queries we may have.
Thankfully, on this posting, things have been put straight.
I have tried many times this weekend to reply to this posting but couldn't get the words to come out right.
I guess all I've been trying to say is sorry you had to go through this, Michelle.
We, as fans of Matt Monro, are so very lucky to be able to correspond with the daughter of the singer we adore.
The biggets plus of this is that we get truthful and accurate answers to any queries we may have.
Thankfully, on this posting, things have been put straight.
I have tried many times this weekend to reply to this posting but couldn't get the words to come out right.
I guess all I've been trying to say is sorry you had to go through this, Michelle.
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Guest
Maybe it's now time to end this thread as it's obviously causing a lot of distress and sadness to Michele, Mickie and all the family. Let's concentrate on what this board is all about. It's about the greatest singer I have ever had the pleasure to listen to in concert and on CD, and as per the previous reply, let's be grateful that we have the pleasure of beng able to share our feelings with his daughter and family. Maybe, now that we have a regular selection of members, what about arranging a get together somewhere in the summer?
That would be great Michele. It's going to be difficult to set a venue as we are so spread out, but I think for those of us in the UK, London would seem to be the best choice, and if a date and time it set maybe you could arrange for your Mum and Matt Jr to be there too. Let's have some ideas, folks!
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HossInReno
- Posts: 3
- Joined: Wed Sep 14, 2005 3:46 am
- Location: Reno, Nevada. USA
I wish so much I could have known him
Matt Monro had a message in every one of his songs... He sang with his heart and soul . so often as I'm listening to him , which is daily, I think how could anyone have voice like that ? His voice often brings me to tears.... and now that I have seen him An Evening with Matt Monro.. I see he was so handsome , so warm , well the man just had everything, and he shared his gift with all of us..........
I'm sure everyone on this MM forum would agree with your sentiments 
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mark porter
- Posts: 196
- Joined: Sat Nov 19, 2005 1:07 am
cardiff
i have just been reading these posts which i had actually missed on here before, to carry on with the matt monro live thread, my best memory of seeing matt live was at st davids hall cardiff, he was working with the New Squadronaires, the band i was singing with at the time , he sang his heart out that night the songs just flowed out of him, the audience as always would not let him go and he played along with a number of encores. Chatting to Matt after the show he was his usual amiable self. What a great man , the best we have had. It was one special night i will never forget