Matt Monro Forum

We have just got back from a cruise and would like to share a story with you.

We went to the cabaret to see a singer called Robbie Allen whose show we really enjoyed. At the end of the performance he said "Ladies & Gentlemen, my next show will be completely different as it will be a tribute to the greatest singer that Britain has ever produced. I refer of course to the one and only Matt Monro. I do not try to do an impression of Matt because that would be an impossible thing to do but I do sing a selection of the songs which became hits for Matt and I hope you like listening to them as much as I enjoy singing them".

As you can imagine Harry & I were totally surprised as we had not expected him to do this so we went along to the show to see what Robbie had to offer. He started off by giving a brief story about Matt's life accompanied by some great photographs. He also told the audience about the book Michele had written about Matt's life. His choice of songs was excellent and he gave a great performance in his own particular style. In between singing he talked about his admiration for Matt and his music and it was obvious to us that he was a true fan of Matt. The audience loved the show too which was evident from the applause at the end and from people we spoke to later.

We spoke to him afterwards to tell him how much we had enjoyed the whole show and to wish him well for the future and to carry on singing his tribute to Matt.

He called the show "Monro Magic" but at the moment he only does this show on cruise ships so if you ever get chance to see Robbie perform, you will be in for a treat.

Thanks for reading our story.

Maureen & Harry

What a lovely story Maureen and Harry, as well as being a brilliant surprise for you both!
It must have made your cruise all that more exciting.
I hope Robbie Allen knows about the website, it sounds like we could do with a few more like him.

A fantastic story Maureen and Harry, and a lovely surprise for you both.
Nice that you were able to meet this great entertainer too.
We are all so appreciative of entertainers like Robbie.
Thanks for sharing this story with us.

Hi Maureen & Harry--how lucky we are that you were there to see this show, and tell us all about it--it sounds magical.

Hi Maureen and Harry, thankyou for sharing your story with us. It sounds like a great show, what luck you were able to see him perform.

We are glad that you enjoyed reading our story and thank you all for your comments.

Yes Marian, Robbie does know about the website and in particular we mentioned the forum to him. We couldn't let an opportunity like that slip away!

Maureen & Harry

Hi Maureen and Harry
we have been away too so just catching up on the site.That sounded a wonderful show and what a great title 'Monro Magic' too.
So pleased that he was good and we will look out for the name.

Not such a glamorous location but we are heading to Cleethorpes! tomorrow to see Gary Williams as Nat and Chris Dean as Matt in the 'Matt and Nat Show'.
We have seen the dress rehearsal at Potters but not the full show so will report back.

Sandra and John

Hi Sandra & John,

Glad to read you enjoyed our story. We have remembered since that posting that Robbie Allen is also a fan of Joe Longthorne and we know that you are too.

Hope you enjoy the Nat & Matt Show tonight and we are looking forward to reading all about it.

Maureen & Harry

Matt and Nat was as good a show as we expected.
Gary Williams (local boy made good) was excellent singing all the Nat King Cole favourites.
And our own Chris Dean (Syd Lawrence Orchestra) didn't disappoint in keeping the name of Matt alive.
Good songs interspersed with some of Matts life story.
One laugh was when Chris introduced a song of Matts by singing the verse,which he said perhaps wasn't well known.When asking the audience if they knew the song ,the deathly silence was broken by us shouting out the answer 'The Nearness Of You'. He promptly came over to our side of the stage
saying ' there is always some smart a--- in the audience!!
Chris and Gary also did some great duets together which had the sell out
audience tapping their feet .Great!!

Incidentally their is a superb CD out of Gary Williams singing Frank Sinatra
backed by the said Chris Dean and his Orchestra.

Sounds like a great concert Sandra and John, and smart a... or not it makes you feel good doesn't it. Well done. !!!
We saw Gary Williams at a Sinatra Convention concert a few years ago, him and Chris Dean both good singers keeping the good music alive. Wonderful eh !!

You certainly had a great evening Sandra & John. We will have to keep our eyes open for these two doing this show in our area.

Their sense of humour appeals to us as we like it when singers enter into friendly banter with the audience. Well done too for being the only ones to know the song.

Maureen & Harry

Thanks for that enjoyable anecdote, Sandra.
Like you I would have shouted out, 'The Nearness of You',
however, I would also have been tempted by the riposte,
'There's often one on the stage, too.'
Keith

It sounds like you had a really enjoyable evening Sandra and John.
Thanks for sharing it with us here.

Thanks everyone
Never thought of that Keith-was too shocked knowing the answer