Matt Monro Forum

As a variation on Paul's enjoyable theme, I suggest
that we invite forum members to list, in order of preference,
just six recording stars to accompany us as desert island
castaways, allowing the full repertoire of every singer across
the musical spectrum. Here is my list:

(1)Matt Monro
(2)Karen Carpenter
(3)Nat King Cole
(4)Andrea Bocelli
(5)Perry Como
(6)Finbar Wright

I include Matt (predictably) and Nat for their unique
tonal qualities, Karen for the purity of her voice,
and Andrea and Finbar for their ability to 'crossover' the
genres without comprising their classical training.
And I wish some t.v. channel would revive the Perry Como
Show type of entertainment of yesteryear.

Keith

Keith, my 7 (it's a bakers 7) would be-

Karen Carpenter
Gigliola Cinquetti
Nat King Cole
Meat Loaf
Frank Sinatra
Frances Langford
and em.................oh yes Matt Monro

Well this is a bit easier---mine are just in alphabetical order--

Karen Carpenter
Bobby Darin
Jack Jones
Johnny Mathis
Matt Monro
Barbra Streisand.

I certainly don't find this any easier. I have three or four definites and all of you can guess what they are given my history with these lists. But it's the other two that are difficult to choose.

Here are mine, again like Marian, in alphabetical order.
Karen Carpenter
Perry Como
Al Martino
Matt Monro
Jerry Vale
Andy Williams

Karen Carpenter and Matt are in all the lists so far

This one's easy!
I would take...

1) Matt
2) The Beatles (please don't say that's four people out of the six!)
3) Ludwig van Beethoven
4) Marvin Gaye
5) Frank Sinatra

and

6) The Carpenters (is that another two people...?!)

But anyway, Matt & Karen have made another list.

PS ask me again tomorow and I may change one of the artists.

OK I'll keep the list growing with
Karen Carpenter
Matt Monro

and add

Roger Whittaker
Tom Lehrer
Lonnie Donnegan
Don MacLean

Here's mine:

Johnny Mathis
Matt Monro
Oleta Adams
James Dean Bradfield
Chrsitianne Stotijn
Janet Baker
Anthony Rolfe-Johnson

The last three are classical singers. Er, Gray, didn't know Beethoven was a singer!

Keith

Shouldn't that be "compromising", not "comprising"?

Here's my choice..

Matt Monro
Jack Jones
The Carpenters
Bobby Darin
Russell Watson
Hayley Westenra

Marian

Don't know what made me put Katie Melua when I meant to put Hayley Westenra!! Senior moment again

Thanks, Jon, for pointing out that my text
comprising a glaring spelling error runs the risk
of seriously compromising what I am trying
to convey. Believe it or not, I do ex-gratia proof-reading
for friends. Haven't you compromised your interesting
list by over-subscription?
Keith

OK, Keith, yes; I'll remove Oleta Adams.

Hi Chris, perhaps it isn't surprising that Matt and Karen
are included in almost every list. Changing the subject
completely, I love your feline avatar. I thought you might
like to read my paean to our cat.

CHARLIE

My monochrome marshmallow mate,
you of the engine purr;
we can bridge the species barrier
and sentiently relate.

Occasionally when you gaze at me
mist-eyed and affectionate,
you become more than a mere pet -
a lifelong friend you'll be.


Alas, Charlie departed to the great cattery
in the sky on 10 January. His sad demise
brought forth these lines with a photo
interposed between title and verse:


CHARLIE - A VALEDICTION
(Now cracks a noble heart, goodnight sweet prince
and flights of angels sing thee to thy rest - Shakespeare)

Each time we stroked that sleek receptive fur,
and lulled by that calm-presence-inspired purr,
we were beneficiaries
of mutually administered therapies,
poignantly enfeebled at this hour.

Keith

Keith, they were 2 very sweet little rhymes--anyone who has ever had a cat will relate to them. Over nearly 40 years George and I had more cats than I can remember---and I still have one--Mitten--she is about 5 years old now.

Thank you for removing Ms Adams, Jon. Puzzling how she could be on any list with Matt Monro and Janet Baker, but I know we shouldn't comment on other's music tastes. Isn't she the one that sang about taking a journey on a Trailways bus?