Thinking of Matt on his 82nd.!

[GregT]

Hi Monrovians - and Happy Birthday Matt.!
As I sit here with Matt's musical legacy filling my headphones, I wonder what he'd be doing if he was still 'strutting the stage'. (Much in demand,no doubt).
I still marvel at Matt's breath control..not that I'm a singer..but you can hear something special (due in no small way to Richard Moore's expertise) in many of Matt's
recordings.
Take 'My Kind of Girl' for example. While the orchestra is playing the intro, you can hear Matt take a huge breath. This occurs many seconds before the first word is sung.
I have taken a breath along with Matt and held it until he says "She walks..." and it feels so un-natural for a non-singer but obviously for the magnificent Mr. Monro, it is second nature.
And in "My Way" , you can tell that Matt belted out the "My way.." and went straight into the much softer "I've loved, I've laughed and cried.." all in one take.
I'm sure Sinatra took a break between these phrases , you can 'feel' a production break in his recording as he takes a breather and prepares for the softer phrases.
We forgive with grace Matt's (very) minor and (very) rare transgressions.
In "Jean" when he says ".. halfed dreamed dream..." So What.!!
I think if Matt still walked this earth..he'd be giving Mr. Bennett a run for his money, that's for sure.

[Christine Hampshire]

You are so right in every thing you say GregT about the GREAT MATT MONRO.
And today thinking of Matt on what would have been his 82nd birthday xx

[mariana44]

thinking also of Michele and the family on this day.

[Michele Monro]

Thanks Mariana. I ran around the ship searching for a candle to light - but I did manage to steal one from the a la carte dining room. This is the first year that the Christmas tree isn't up, I have always put it up on dad's birthday but sometimes a break in tradition isn't the end of the world. Got back yesterday and it will go up today.