The Singers Singer - The Life and Music of Matt Monro

[Marian]

I love the book. It feels right, looks right, and holds the reader spellbound all along the way wanting to know more.
Matt Monro's life story is fascinating, from a childhood of poverty in the East End of London, all the way to super stardom conquering many countries of the world. The long awaited story of Britain's best ever singer.
The detail in the book is exceptional, and the quotes from people who he worked with, lived and loved with, add another dimension to the man, that distinguishes this book from the usual biography.
I have travelled as far in the book as Michele's birth, that seemed an appropriate place to pause.
The many photos along the way add to the story greatly too, as they are there on every few pages to help and illustrate the story. A really cute picture of new baby Michele with her Daddy on the page I have paused on.
So this far, from Terry's early difficult childhood days, to school days, to wartime London and evacuee days, early days at work, to Army days discovering he had a voice and then his break into the world of show biz, an early doomed marriage and a baby son, to eventual lasting love and a new and promising future as Matt Monro, it is all here...

I feel compelled to mention here the Foreword to the book. It is so powerfully written..
Michele, your foreword to 'The Singer's Singer' is the most true, honest and moving descriptive piece of writing that I have ever read.
How you are able to convey your feelings through words as you have done here, is overwhelming.
Your words take the reader with you on an emotional rollercoaster of hope and despair to the inevitable painful closure of loss and emptiness.
This is true suffering and grief on paper, but made palpable..
We feel it too.

Marian and Peter.

[mariana44]

Excellent write up Marian-really looking forward to mine arriving.

[Sandra]

Yes Marian how well you describe the book so far and your description of the 'Foreward' hits the spot of how we feel too.
John and I are reading it between us (2 bookmarks in place!) and we both had shivers down our spines after reading the foreward.

[Lena & Harry Smith]

Yes, I have passed the Foreword and into the first chapter of Matt's childhood days, A childhood that I and many others can relate to.
The Foreword in the book is gripping and instantly starts bells ringing for those of us who have been there in those dark and dank situations, Incredibly accurate descriptions of thoughts and state of mind, and so familiar.
Brilliant writing. !!!!

[mariana44]

Just checked in Amazon, to see if it was there--and for the first time, I saw the "Special Reserve" listed--at £59.99 reduced to £50.99 !!!! But all sold out.

[john]

I finally started reading the book this morning. I am only up to page 15 at the moment but I am hooked. The foreward is heart rending. Can't wait to read more.

[maureen & harry]

We are in the throes of reading THE BOOK and only wish we could spend all day reading it as from the first few chapters alone it has become evident that this must rank as one of the most researched biographies we have read.

We will write further updates here in due course as we progress through the book and was pleased to read that you are all enjoying/have enjoyed reading the book as much as us.

Maureen & Harry

[Don Cooper]

Right. That's the Titan * signed * Special Reserve slipcase and contents in pride of bookcase-place.

My Amazon day-to-day copy in " I couldn't put it down! " proximity.

Now the e-book , Paperback Edition (?) and Screenplay Adaptation (?) to come...

Don

[Michele Monro]

You are forgetting the audio rights!!!!

[Don Cooper]

I do hope you said that off-Mic, Michele. Otherwise we will all hear it on the Audio-book you are recording !


Don

[usafret]

CONGRATULATIONS ON THE BOOK, IT REALLY DID CONTAIN WARTS AND ALL.
I HAVE NEVER READ A MORE HONEST BIOGRAPHY.

I KNOW THE BOOK TOOK OVER 3 YEARS TO WRITE, AND I CAN SEE WHY.
ALL THE NAMES, DATES, PLACES AND STORIES THAN WENT ALONG WITH THEM,
AT TIMES I FELT LIKE I WAS THERE ALONG FOR THE RIDE.

IT WAS NO SECRET THAT MATT WAS A HEAVY DRINKER AT TIMES, BUT I ADMIRE HIM FOR THE QUALITY OF WORK IN SPITE OF THE ALCOHOL.
THE LIFESTYLE OF A TOP PERFORMER ALONE HAS TO BE CONDUCIVE TO PARTYING AND DRINKING.
IN 1981 WITH MATT IN RECOVERY, THEY SAY HIS SINGING WAS BETTER THAN EVER.
TOO BAD HE COULDN'T HAVE STAYED WITH US EVEN A FEW YEARS LONGER
IT COULD BE THAT THE BEST WAS YET TO COME

THANKS MICHELE WAS TAKING US ON THE TRIP WITH MATT THROUGH HIS LIFE
GREAT BOOK FOR THE FANS

HERE'S FOR CONTINUING SUCCESS
ED HARROD

[Michele Monro]

Hi Michele,
The book is absolutely SUPERB in every way.

The package from Amazon has arrived and I think the presentation is first-class. In fact, it seemed wrong to break the seal! Of course, I had to, and after being able to do a quick thumb through both books, I am really excited about reading everything. Unfortunately, it will have to be in instalments due to my other activities.

I am going to play the CD a.s.a.p., but I am currently, by coincidence, listening to a programme from Radio Derby that was broadcast on Sunday evening last and is on repeat play. It just so happens to includes a feature on your dad, so I am keeping it on until it is completed.

Now I must get my work completed so that I can concentrate on your book(s). There's no doubt at all that you can rightly feel very proud and I am confident it will become out-of-print before not very long.
I love the photos,
Best regards,
Ray Purslow

[maureen & harry]

We have now finished the book and have been enthralled from beginning to end.

Michele has done a marvellous job collating all the details of Matt's life. We were taken through an incredible journey where we could share both tears and laughter.

We feel sure that her family, friends and fans are so proud of her achievement and it has been well worth all the blood, sweat and tears it must have taken to bring it to its conclusion.

Thank you Michele.

Maureen & Harry

[Sandra]

Absolutely Maureen and Harry!

We have been reading it between us too.

I am going to have to read it again and hopefully not feel such emotion as the first time round.

What a story What a life What a labour of love Michele

We want to use the word sacrifice but not in a derogatory manner.

Just meaning to us your Dad was making a huge sacrifice by the amazing ,

amazing amount of work and travelling he did.

But to him,you and your family it was a way of life.

Who today could cope with that amount of work.

But because of that wealth of life we are able to read and understand more

about the man behind the famous name that is 'your Dad'.

Thanks Michele a superb book.

[john]

I am enjoying the book so much. I haven't finished it yet, in fact I am only up until 1968, but it is just so fascinating. The detail that has gone into it, the interviews, his tours, the photos, just everything, it is really quite remarkable. Reading all about his tours, the places he went to, his whole life, just wonderful.