Matt Monro Forum

Received our "Memory Lane" magazine yesterday that included an interview with Betty Driver who plays Betty Turpin in Coronation Street.
Betty began her career in 1930's variety as a 12 year old starlet, and made her first radio broadcast for the BBC at 13. She made her first record "Jubilee Baby" in the Jubilee year 1935. She was immediately signed up by impressario C.B. Cochran, appearing from then on in theatre reviews, films and of course recording songs.
Andrew Liddle said... one thing is immediately clear, and it's her enthusiasm for music. She loves all kinds of music ....; although i do find a lot of the stuff out there today a little difficult to understand;
She paid tribute to singers -Nat King Cole, Frank Sinatra, Peggy Lee, Lena Horne, she then reeled off English singers Ann Shelton, Vera Lynn, Alma Cogan, Kay Cavendish, but there is no one better in her book than Matt Monro , she went on... whose phrasing and breath control is right up there with Sinatra. Praise indeed....
Just thought we'd mention it..

If my maths is right, that makes her about 86---she certainly does not look it on Corrie---amazing lady. I remember her as a singer, way back !

Marian

That's right Marian, she was born in May 1920.
She was with Henry Hall's band for several years, but made hit recordings with other bands.
She made a cassette a few years ago that was also on Cd with the title. ""The Girl From The Street "" one of the songs "So Little Time" on
www.itsahotun.com click on STARS.
She has been awarded the MBE from the Queen and has been on This Is Your Life. A great lady.

Thanks for providing the comments from Betty Driver. This is high praise indeed. But I don't understand why Matt Monro always has to be compared to Frank Sinatra, when every facet of Matt Monro's singing if FAR superior to Sinatra. I don't understand why the rest of the world can't see that.

Paul, It's choices and it's peoples own reasons for their choices and their preferences, millions of people do actually prefer Matt, and we are sure are not comparing Matt with Sinatra, it's the breath control and phrasing technique that is extremely rare, and over many years of listening experience of vocalists and as far as we can remember even with all the compliments written or spoken about in favour of other successful vocalists, this compliment paid to Matt due to this rare quality has not been attributed to one other.
There's one thing we are certain about, we would be totally gutted if Matt was compared with some of the so called singers of recent, even some that we've discussed on the forum.

Paul

I agree totally about Matt's singing being superior in every way to Sinatra's, and I have never understood why Sinatra is so well thought of as a singer. Great communicator maybe - though not to me - but singer ..nah!

Whata a fascinating career and life Betty Driver has had - I never really realised it until this thread brought it to my attention. have watched Corrie for years and not realised the story behind the lady behind the bar! And certainly not the tremendous range of her talent.

Obviously, I agree with every word she has to say about Matt. Comparisons against Sinatra are meant to flatter a singer I guess, and certainly Frank was a major talent. But when I hear Matt sing, I hear a song sung in a warm and caring way. He is relaxed about his tremendous vocal ability. Frank always comes across as cool but also cold and slightly arrogant. Great voice, but not the care and attention that I feel when I hear Matt sing. Lena & Harry - you are so right about Matts phrasing - I know its something we've mentioned before. And Paul jh, you obviously know a whole lot of technical stuff about music, so to hear you wax lyrical about Matt (as you always do!) reassures me that I have excellent taste in music! (Although we'll agree to differ on Westlife - who are obviously in a totally different league ). Lena & Harry - its a shame that there isn't any young talent that can equal Matt, although he was pretty unique. I'm always just glad when some young singer shows an interest in singing in front of a real band!