Just arrived :)
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Jersey Warren
- Posts: 14
- Joined: Sat Nov 29, 2008 12:49 am
- Location: Cleburne,Texas, USA
Just arrived :)
I just joined this group and I'm glad that someone started it and I'm also glad to be here. My board name refers not to your island of Jersey but the U.S. state of New Jersey, where I was born and lived for the first 22 years of my life. I now live in Southwest Florida. I first paid attention to Matt Monro back in the 1960s, when I was still in my teens. His music has been around in the U.S. for a long time, yet very few people in the states seem to have heard of him. It is their loss, because his talent was legendary. I assume that most members of this group are British, since that was Matt's home turf and where he was best known. Like most New Jerseyans, I have long been a Frank Sinatra fan, and I heard years ago that Matt was known as "the Frank Sinatra of England." Not a bad comparison. The two were definitely in the same league as far as singing talent went. I constantly promote Matt's work among those who appreciate good music, because, at least here in the states, he was not nearly enough recognized and appreciated. I look forward to reading the posts and occasionally leaving some of my own.
A New Jersey Native who regards Matt Monro as the only singer who compared favourably with our own Frank Sinatra.
Welcome to our forum, and what a lovely post from you. The person who started this forum is called Michele Monro, and she is the daughter of Matt Monro, and she works really hard to keep his memory and music ongoing.
Am I right in assuming your name is Warren?
You are correct in that many on this forum are British, but we have several members from USA and further afield like Malaysia.
There is always someone around, ready and willing to talk about Matt and his music--and anything else for that matter. And Frank is a big favourite with some of us too.
Am I right in assuming your name is Warren?
You are correct in that many on this forum are British, but we have several members from USA and further afield like Malaysia.
There is always someone around, ready and willing to talk about Matt and his music--and anything else for that matter. And Frank is a big favourite with some of us too.
Mariana
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Lena & Harry Smith
- Posts: 21514
- Joined: Tue Jul 12, 2005 10:05 am
- Location: London UK
Welcome to the forum Warren. Nice to see your posting and your picture So you were raised in New Jersey, Sinatra land then. 
We are both Sinatra fans.
Although many look on Matt as England's Sinatra and regard it as a great compliment to Matt, the only similarity I can see is the incredible breath control.
Matt is the finest vocalist that Britain ever had, with his own unique extraordinary phrasing. Nice to know that you promote Matt's work wherevever you can Warren. Join in in our discussions firstly about Matt and his beautiful music, and then all other subjects.
We are both Sinatra fans.
Although many look on Matt as England's Sinatra and regard it as a great compliment to Matt, the only similarity I can see is the incredible breath control.
Matt is the finest vocalist that Britain ever had, with his own unique extraordinary phrasing. Nice to know that you promote Matt's work wherevever you can Warren. Join in in our discussions firstly about Matt and his beautiful music, and then all other subjects.
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Jersey Warren
- Posts: 14
- Joined: Sat Nov 29, 2008 12:49 am
- Location: Cleburne,Texas, USA
Thank you!
Thank you, all of you wonderful people who have already made me feel welcome here.
Yes, Warren is my real first name, and I did indeed grow up in New Jersey, home to Frank Sinatra, the Four Seasons, and Bruce Springsteen. My father was a big Sinatra fan and listening to his records influenced my taste in music. My father's favourite Sinatra song was "A Foggy Day (In London Town)" and I wonder if Matt ever recorded it. Also, I wonder if he recorded another favourite song of mine, "A Nightingale Sang in Barkley Square." Since he was born, lived, and died in London, it seems it would have been a natural for him. Matt Monro was, of course, his own man and a remarkable singer. He not only had a rich voice and excellent voice control, but his English upbringing undoubtedly provided him with perfect diction and pronunciation, making the lyrics almost poetic. Probably, the first MM song I recall hearing was "My Kind of Girl." If you listen to that and the song "Witchcraft" by Sinatra, you will hear a very similar style and I wonder if both songs featured backing by the Nelson Riddle orchestra, which may have been responsible for the similarities. Maybe someone here can answer that speculation. I also recall the theme song from the James Bond film, "For Your Eyes Only." Last year, my wife and I moved to Southwest Florida (about 120 miles across the peninsula from Miami) and we are fortunate that a local radio station here plays lots of Matt Monro songs. The program director must have excellent taste in music! I've heard MM songs I've never heard before. At age 60, I am perhaps a bit younger than most of Matt's original fans, but good music knows no ages limits and I hope that eventually, Matt's music will be as appreciated here in the United States as it is in England.
Yes, Warren is my real first name, and I did indeed grow up in New Jersey, home to Frank Sinatra, the Four Seasons, and Bruce Springsteen. My father was a big Sinatra fan and listening to his records influenced my taste in music. My father's favourite Sinatra song was "A Foggy Day (In London Town)" and I wonder if Matt ever recorded it. Also, I wonder if he recorded another favourite song of mine, "A Nightingale Sang in Barkley Square." Since he was born, lived, and died in London, it seems it would have been a natural for him. Matt Monro was, of course, his own man and a remarkable singer. He not only had a rich voice and excellent voice control, but his English upbringing undoubtedly provided him with perfect diction and pronunciation, making the lyrics almost poetic. Probably, the first MM song I recall hearing was "My Kind of Girl." If you listen to that and the song "Witchcraft" by Sinatra, you will hear a very similar style and I wonder if both songs featured backing by the Nelson Riddle orchestra, which may have been responsible for the similarities. Maybe someone here can answer that speculation. I also recall the theme song from the James Bond film, "For Your Eyes Only." Last year, my wife and I moved to Southwest Florida (about 120 miles across the peninsula from Miami) and we are fortunate that a local radio station here plays lots of Matt Monro songs. The program director must have excellent taste in music! I've heard MM songs I've never heard before. At age 60, I am perhaps a bit younger than most of Matt's original fans, but good music knows no ages limits and I hope that eventually, Matt's music will be as appreciated here in the United States as it is in England.
A New Jersey Native who regards Matt Monro as the only singer who compared favourably with our own Frank Sinatra.
Hi again- Warren-if you are interested in knowing the tracks that Matt has recorded , there is a track listing on the site, that will also tell you the album/cd that each particular track appeared on, and as far as I know, Matt did not sing either of those tracks mentioned. Nor did he sing "For your eyes only"--I believe that was Sheena Easton.
If you want to check out the track listing, on the main page--left click on news--the firat item is always Michele's newsletter---then just scroll down till you come to a box marked "Definitive Track listing"--click on it, and it will download for you. You may be surprised at the variety of songs that Matt recorded in his career.
There is quite a large range of age-groups on this forum and it is always good to hear a different point of view.
If you want to check out the track listing, on the main page--left click on news--the firat item is always Michele's newsletter---then just scroll down till you come to a box marked "Definitive Track listing"--click on it, and it will download for you. You may be surprised at the variety of songs that Matt recorded in his career.
There is quite a large range of age-groups on this forum and it is always good to hear a different point of view.
Mariana
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Jersey Warren
- Posts: 14
- Joined: Sat Nov 29, 2008 12:49 am
- Location: Cleburne,Texas, USA
You are right, of course!mariana44 wrote: Nor did he sing "For your eyes only"--I believe that was Sheena Easton.
I was thinking of Matt's recording of "From Russia With Love"
This will definitely be the place for me to get all of my Matt Monro facts in order!
A New Jersey Native who regards Matt Monro as the only singer who compared favourably with our own Frank Sinatra.
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Jersey Warren
- Posts: 14
- Joined: Sat Nov 29, 2008 12:49 am
- Location: Cleburne,Texas, USA
That's quite all right, Robert. I wasn't familiar with Johnnie Spence (British?) and the arrangement on My Kind of Girl did sound a lot like a typical Nelson Riddle arrangement.
On another topic, my wife lived in England for several years in the late 50s and early 60s (her first husband was in the U.S. Air Force) and, remarkably, she never encountered Matt's music while there! I had to introduce her to his singing. They lived in a town called Market Harborough in Leicestershire. Is anyone here familiar with that community? I told Martha (my wife) I would ask.
On another topic, my wife lived in England for several years in the late 50s and early 60s (her first husband was in the U.S. Air Force) and, remarkably, she never encountered Matt's music while there! I had to introduce her to his singing. They lived in a town called Market Harborough in Leicestershire. Is anyone here familiar with that community? I told Martha (my wife) I would ask.
A New Jersey Native who regards Matt Monro as the only singer who compared favourably with our own Frank Sinatra.
Market Harborough has a historical society you can access on www.marketharboroughhistoricalsociety.org Warren. Hope you might find something of interest there.
Marian
Marian
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Lena & Harry Smith
- Posts: 21514
- Joined: Tue Jul 12, 2005 10:05 am
- Location: London UK
Warren, the only connection that I have with Market Harborough is that my Sister. brother and I were evacuated there for a short while during WW2, which at that particular time was known as the phoney war, and so we were brought back home.
My sister recalls the name of the road which was Heygate Street, but little else.
My sister recalls the name of the road which was Heygate Street, but little else.