Find your idols

The Inspirations Behind My Singing Journey

The people that inspired me to start singing, first and foremost, were my father.

My Father's Influence

My dad used to sing around the house all the time.

• Not a Professional Singer: He wasn't a professional singer, but he sang from morning to night.
• Variety of Songs: He was constantly coming up with:
  • Silly songs
  • Happy songs
  • Sad songs
  • Fun songs
  • Loud songs
  • Quiet songs

It was amazing what he would do.

Record Collection

His record collection was extensive, covering a wide range of genres, including:

• Country
• Skiffle
• Rock and Roll
• Big Band
• Jazz
• Classical
• Folk Music

Artists included:

• Elvis
• Glenn Miller
• Enrico Caruso
• Pavarotti
• Roy Orbison
• Ella Fitzgerald
• Billie Holiday

It was just incredible.

Family Influence

Coming from a large family allowed me to extend my education into my brothers' and sisters' music. They were into rock bands and folk music, exposing me to various styles as I grew up. Eventually, I grasped onto certain singers that truly inspired me, giving me the courage to try it for myself.

Influential Singers

Classical Inspirations

On a classical level, my key influences were:

• Pavarotti
• Enrico Caruso: The old tenor who left a mark.
• Richard Tauber: Another fantastic singer my father loved.
• Jose Carreras: His voice was dynamic, especially in the role of Tony in West Side Story.

That performance was a real groundbreaker for me. I played that role at 19, heavily influenced by Carreras's rendition.

A Dream Come True

I never expected to perform alongside him at the Royal Albert Hall. It felt like a dream come true, and I learned so much from simply listening to him.

The Lesson of Listening

One of the key lessons I learned early on was that you have to listen. It's crucial to constantly absorb the influences around you.

• Carreras was a significant influence on me.

The Rock Music Era

Then rock music emerged, and Freddie Mercury became a big influence as well.

Jazz Love

In jazz, I loved Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin. Rock and roll filled my heart and soul.

• Elvis, The King of Rock and Roll: For me, he was the top. I listened to Elvis extensively.

Tonal Quality

He had an amazing tonal quality and loved classical music too. A perfect example is his song "It's Now or Never," which mirrors "O Sole Mio." His ability to bridge genres showed his love for music.

A Broader Perspective

Elvis taught me a lot, not just how to sing or create tonal quality but also how to love music.

• Role of an Idol: An idol should inspire you to:
  • Discover new music
  • Embrace different types of music
  • Appreciate various performers and singers

There's no single music form or art form; everything exists in one big room.

Connecting Genres

There's no separation for me between classical and rock and roll. You could stand Mozart next to Keith Richards; they were both rock stars of their time.

Conclusion

Ultimately, you need an artist to connect with, someone who inspires you to explore and embrace different types of music and make them your own.