Matt Monro Forum

We watched the Classic Brit Awards from the Royal Albert Hall last night which this year took in more 'crossover' music than in previous years. "Classical" in the title having been changed to "Classic" to acknowledge this. Il Divo opened the show and later won Artist of the Year. Katherine Jenkins also sang, and Alfie Boe and the cast of Les Miserables, amongst others. There was a special award in honour of John Barry with Virginia McKenna presenting it to Don Black, with Born Free being played in the background. Several John Barry tunes were played by the orchestra with a vocal tribute from Katherine Jenkins and Alfie Boe.
Dame Shirley closed the evening with Goldfinger.

Yes, we got home last night in time to watch the Baftas Marian. An enjoyable programme, and the duet with Alfie Boe and the cast of Les Mis was fantastic, and how nice to see the tribute from Virginia McKenna to the incomperable John Barry and the award received by Don Black, and then our Matt's Born Free.
Shirley Bassey still singing superbly. What talent we have and have had in our country.
We can compete with anyone.

That sounds great---I have not had chance to watch it yet-but am looking forward to it.

Also a new series of Popstar to Opera Star starts this week--although I have only seen one name mentiioned--Cheryl Baker.

A fitting tribute to York's greatest son! A Memorial concert is on the 20th June at the Royal Albert Hall with a impressive line up of stars, including Dame Shirley. I keep in touch with one of his daughters as well as his sisters family.

I have not seen this programme yet, so this may be a dumb question, but who are you referring to, when you say you keep in touch with "his" family.

We were commenting on tributes to John Barry Marian, so I guess that's who Rob is referring to.

Thanks for that Marian--I knew it was not Alfie Boe--but was not sure if it was John Barry or Don Black.

Did anyone hear Don Black on the Elaine Paige show--not sure what happened to Barbara Windsor-I thought she was covering for Elaine--at one point Don said that he was hosting a memorial concert for John Barry--I think it was in July--so we may well hear Matt on there. I was surprised at some of the music that John barry wrote, it was very familiar--before James Bond, I guess, but I did not know that he had written those songs.

Yes it was John Barry. One of his daughters lives in Stockholm and his older sister still lives in Fulford, York. His brother Patrick died in a car crash in the mid eighties and John dedicated his Oscar winning soundtrack " Out of Africa" to his memory. His niece Abigail introduced me to the great man in 1985 and I must admit the tribute section of the show almost made a grown man cry. The memorial show is June 20th. Matt, Don Black and Barry....." The A Team".

Thanks for that info---hopefully the Memorial concert will be on tv--or radio at least.

I love this show and record it every year, I was glad to see Andre Rieu receive an award/