Retro Singer

Professional vocalist, vintage wedding entertainment, music, functions, events

Singing at the Novar Estate in Dingwall

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During the last couple of months I’ve had quite a few trips up to the Scottish Highlands to perform at the beautiful Novar Estate in Dingwall near Inverness.

I was booked to provide entertainment for some groups of American visitors who were visiting Scotland as very special guests of Whyte and Mackay award-winning whisky.

They were certainly lucky as they got to see Scotland in all its summer glory – we had such amazing weather here during June! And lucky for me too, as the drive up from Glasgow to Inverness was really something in the sunshine – just like driving through a picture postcard.

Whyte and Mackay wanted to provide some high-class entertainment that was a little different from the usual ‘bagpipes and Scottish dancing’, so they asked me to sing a mixture of music for the guests, including some American songbook standards.

During pre-dinner cocktails I sang light easy-listening songs, including some fun vintage-style versions of pop songs (in the style of Postmodern Jukebox), and during dinner I provided jazz standards plus some other well-known classics such as popular Bond themes. After dinner we picked up the pace and let our hair down a bit with some music for dancing (Abba was a big favourite, as always!).

From my time singing on American cruiseships I’ve always loved entertaining American audiences, as they’re always very friendly and enthusiastic. The groups at the Novar Estate were no exception, and so we had a lot of fun.

Really speaking, my job was very easy, as the guests were already so happy at being in such a sumptuous setting. Whyte and Mackay had treated them to some stunning trips around Scotland, and The Novar Estate is a really outstanding venue. Check out this link for some fascinating history on its origins: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Novar_House

Neil and the team at the Novar did an absolutely sterling job ensuring that every detail was absolutely perfect, from the whisky cocktails to the sumptuous dinner. Shauna from Whyte and Mackay was the perfect hostess, organising everything so it ran perfectly smoothly and making sure that everyone was totally happy.

It was so lovely to meet everyone at Novar, and I’m looking forward to returning again soon.

novar estate dingwall

 

You’ll Never Know, 1940s song from The Shape of Water

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You’ll Never Know is a 1940s song that popped up recently in the award-winning film ‘The Shape of Water’. When I went to see the movie I was very pleased to hear the original Alice Faye version featured prominently in several scenes.

Funnily enough, I’d recently recorded a version myself, as it’s one of my favourite songs. It’s one of those beautiful standards that’s so emotive to sing that I sometimes struggle not to burst into tears when I’m performing it – back then they certainly knew how to write songs that would pull at your heartstrings!

So I put together a little video of my recording and added some trivia about the song – I’m always fascinated to find out the background of these vintage songs.

Here it is – I hope you like it.

You’ll Never Know – history and background

You’ll Never Know was written by Harry Warren (music) and Mack Gordon (lyrics) and was introduced in the 1943 movie ‘Hello Frisco Hello’ by popular singer of the day Alice Faye.

The movie ‘Hello Frisco Hello’ was released by 20th Century-Fox and filmed in Technicolor. Set in San Francisco, it told the story of vaudeville performers around the period of the Panama Pacific Exposition of 1915, and starred Alice Faye, John Payne, Lynn Bari and Jack Oakie.

The song’s sentimental lyrics – based on a poem written by a young wartime bride from Oklahoma – captured the hearts of millions of people who were missing their loved ones.

With lines such as ‘you went away… and my heart went with you’, it really struck a chord with couples who had been separated with no guarantee of being reunited, and it became something of a World War 2 anthem.

Funnily enough, according to Philip Furia and Michael Lasser, the song’s main melodic theme came from military inspiration. In their book The Poets of Tin Pan Alley they quote Warren:

“You know my big Academy Award song, “You’ll Never Know”? Well, it wasn’t entirely original – I did a little steal on that one.  Songwriters always borrow a few bars here and there.  I don’t know how the hell it came to me but I was thinking about the notes in a bugle call and dammit if it wasn’t just what I wanted to get “You’ll Never Know” started”

The song wasn’t just popular with the public – it also won the 1943 Academy Award for best original song.

Faye went on to perform the song again in her 1944 film ‘Four Jills in a Jeep’. Sadly however, she never released a recorded version of it due to a clause in her contract with Fox. She soon faded away from the public eye; replaced by bigger stars such as Betty Grable.

Alice Faye was an incredible talent and I can’t understand how she isn’t more widely remembered. In my opinion she delivered the definitive version of this song, although many other performers came to be better known for it, including Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby, Rosemary Clooney and Vera Lynn, whose version was very popular with British audiences.

Around this time the musicians’ recording strike of 1942 to 1944 prevented singers from recording songs with any musical accompaniment, leading artistes such as Frank Sinatra and Dick Haymes to record their versions ‘a capella’ (using only voices and no instruments).

They used backing singers to replace the music, and I must say it’s very cleverly done, as you can hardly tell there’s anything missing!

As the years went by singers such as Doris Day , Shirley Bassey, and Michael Buble continued to bring back this beautiful song, and no matter what era it found itself in, it never failed to inspire emotion.

It was the first song ever recorded by a very young Barbara Streisand, in 1955 at the age of 13. Despite her tender years that distinctive voice still shines out as she effortlessly does the song justice.

You’ll Never Know in the movies

You’ll Never Know has continued to be a hit on the silver screen too. It was used to great effect in the opening scene of Martin Scorsese’s 1974 film ‘Alice doesn’t live here anymore’ , perhaps setting the trend for emotive vintage songs providing uneasy backdrops for violent movies.

The Shape of Water

This evergreen song has most recently been brought back into the public eye in Guillermo del Toro’s incredible film ‘The Shape of Water’, starring Michael Shannon, Richard Jenkins, Doug Jones, and featuring a spell-binding performance from the wonderful Sally Hawkins.

The film is set in the 1950s and features lots of gorgeous vintage music, including one of my absolute favourites ‘I know why and so do you’ – I was so pleased when that little gem popped up – I had to restrain myself from singing along in the cinema 😉

Fantasy sequences and playful dance scenes throughout the movie mean that vintage songs and style were seamlessly sewn into the plot, despite the storyline being VERY different to your typical vintage Hollywood movie. I won’t say anymore because, you know – spoilers 😉

If you haven’t seen the film, do yourself a favour and go and see it, as it’s incredible – especially if you’re a fan of the 1940s and 1950s.

You’ll Never Know – Lyrics

You’ll never know just how much I miss you
You’ll never know just how much I care
And if I tried, I still couldn’t hide my love for you
You ought to know, for haven’t I told you so
A million or more times?

You went away and my heart went with you
I speak your name in my every prayer
If there is some other way to prove that I love you
I swear I don’t know how
You’ll never know if you don’t know now

You went away and my heart went with you I speak your name in my every prayer
If there is some other way to prove that I love you
I swear I don’t know how
You’ll never know if you don’t know now

You’ll never know if you don’t know now

Corporate event in Inverness

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I headed up to the Highlands recently, to perform at a corporate event in Inverness.  Ardtalla House on the Novar Estate in Dingwall was the beautiful backdrop for me to sing classic songs in a vintage style for a group of American businessmen who were visiting Scotland.  They were guests of Glenmorangie, producers of finest Scottish malt whiskey, so of course they were treated to a tour of the distillery before their arrival at Ardtalla House.

We were blessed with fine weather, so I performed my first set outside on the terrace.  The guests were served aperitifs as I sang a mix of popular songs.  After that we made our way inside where the party settled down to a sumptuous meal, complete with traditional ‘Address to haggis’.  I provided some soft background music during dinner, and afterwards the guests were led back outside by a Scottish piper, to be treated to a rousing performance by a Military Band.

All in all it was a fabulous night, and the Novar Estates was truly a stunning venue.  That night I had the pleasure of staying at the wonderful Kincraig Castle Hotel, where the staff were lovely and the surroundings were gorgeous.  Here’s a video I took of the lounge in the morning before breakfast – it felt as though I’d been transported back to the 1940s – they were even playing one of my favourite songs!  I highly recommend this hotel if you’re ever travelling in the Inverness area.

On the way back home we stopped off at Chanonry Point and were lucky enough to see some dolphins!  We also had a look around the Loch Ness Exhibition Centre which was really fascinating.  Scotland has so much to offer, and I feel so lucky that my job takes me around and about this country, giving me the chance to visit so many beautiful places.

Many thanks to Sibilla and her team at Bright Partnerships who organised the event.

Corporate Entertainment in Edinburgh

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The Balmoral Hotel provided a beautiful setting for my show recently, where I provided some corporate entertainment in Edinburgh.  I was booked to perform a surprise James Bond tribute show at the Chaine Des Rotisseurs Gala Dinner.

The Balmoral has been a landmark in the heart of Edinburgh for over a century, beginning life as a grand railway hotel and now remaining a striking feature of Princes Street with its historic Balmoral Clock and kilted doormen.  It was a good choice for a James Bond tribute show, as everyone’s favourite ‘Bond’ – the one and only Sean Connery – officially re-opened the hotel in 1991.

J.K. Rowling is also a fan of this hotel, and obviously found it inspirational, as she stayed here to finish ‘Harry Potter and the deathly hallows’, making the Balmoral something of a pilgrimage for Harry Potter fans.

Did you know that the Balmoral Clock has traditionally always been set three minutes fast, so the people of Edinburgh don’t miss their trains?!  How thoughtful!  It is set at the right time just one day per year – and as you can probably guess, that is at Hogmanay (New Year’s Eve), so nobody gets confused as to when to set their fireworks off!

The Chaine Des Rotisseurs are an international gastronomic society who celebrate fine food and wine around the world.  By the looks of the sumptuous dinner they were served at The Balmoral, they were certainly well catered for in Edinburgh and shown some of our famous Scottish hospitality.

My James Bond / Casino Royale show is perfect for these sort of corporate functions, as it is a show that people can just sit back and listen to.  Featuring all the great theme songs from the movies, it includes classics from the 1960s right through to modern day favourites such as Skyfall by Adele, so it has something for everyone.

And here’s Dame Shirley Bassey with a couple of all-time greats that I always make sure I include in the show!

Gosford House East Lothian

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I recently had a lovely evening performing at Gosford House in Longniddry, East Lothian, where  I was booked to sing during dinner at a corporate event.

Gosford House is a majestic neo-classical mansion built in 1800.  The family seat of the Charteris family, it has been featured in movies, international brand photo-shoots, and is a much sought-after location for weddings, gala dinners and other events.

Gosford House Jazz singer

Tina at Hello Scotland was in charge of organising the night, and what a great job she did, as there was lots going on throughout the night, with pipers, a private tour of the house, and a sumptuous five-course dinner.

I kept the guests entertained during dinner with a selection of popular jazz and swing songs from throughout the decades.

The audience were a lovely group of Germans who were very appreciative of the music.  At the end of the night we all bid farewell outside in the grounds singing Auld Lang Syne together and waving our sparklers in the cool evening air.

What a beautiful end to the night, at a truly magical and historic place.

Wedding Reception at Trump Turnberry Hotel Ayr

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The beautiful Trump Turnberry Hotel in Ayr was the setting for a wedding reception I recently performed at.  This luxury resort on the Ayrshire coast boasts a championship golf course, a spa, several restaurants, bars, and stunning views over the Firth of Clyde.

Lisa Martin swing singer

The bride-to-be had requested a list of beautiful songs from across many different eras; from old-time classics like ‘I only have eyes for you‘ right through to more modern numbers like Amy Winehouse’s version of ‘Valerie’.  She chose the very popular ‘At Last’ for the first dance, and a smashing finishing number for me to add into my set – ‘Enjoy Yourself’ by Jools Holland and Prince Buster.  I’d heard this many times on Simon Mayo’s BBC Radio 2 show, and never realised it was originally a 1940s song!

The hotel was very plush, and the staff and event organisers were super-helpful in getting me to the right place and making sure I had everything I needed to set up for the show.  Our function room was the perfect setting, with gorgeous views across the golf course.

It was a lovely afternoon and the happy couple looked superb. I wish them all the best for the future.

1940s style 80th Birthday Party

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This month I performed at my most important VIP gig of the year – my mum’s 80th birthday party!  We decided to have a 1940s / 1950s theme to give her a little reminder of what life was like when she was a young slip of a thing 😉

Nobody needed much of an excuse to get into the mood and dress up accordingly.  It helps that 1940s fashion is so easy to access nowadays with many online shops providing cool vintage looks.

1940s singer birthday party

My gorgeous cousins suit the 1940s look!

I did a little snippet of my 1940s and 1950s show to get the party started, then two of my cousins (Shirley and Becca) took to the mic and kept the singing going (what a talented family we are!).  My partner Stephen is also a singer and musician, so he finished the night off with some music to keep everyone dancing.

My mum had a brilliant time, she was grinning from ear to ear from the moment she walked in.  She was up on the dancefloor all night – I don’t know where she gets her energy from – she’s living proof that age really is just a number!

mum-80th

The birthday girl looking fabulous

It took me two car journeys to get all the presents and cards back to my mum’s house – not to mention the all-important birthday cake.

It was so nice to get to see all my family, as I really don’t see enough of everyone now that I live up in Glasgow.  Big thanks to everyone that helped organise the party, including my brother Danny and his girlfriend Barb who laid out a delicious buffet, my cousins Kate and Shirley for providing a stunning vintage-style birthday cake plus some lovely party decorations, and everyone else for joining in with all the fun!

Vintage Wedding Music at Greywalls Gullane

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I performed some lovely vintage style wedding music at the gorgeous Greywalls Hotel in Gullane a little while ago.  I was booked to sing 1940s and 1950s classics during an afternoon drinks reception, the day after The Big Day.

After a very pleasant drive along the coast from Edinburgh to Gullane, we arrived at Greywalls, which is a stone’s throw away from Muirfield Golf course.  Even though autumn was well on its way we were very lucky with the weather, with clear blue skies and bright sunshine, so  I was able to set up outside in the enchanting grounds of the hotel.

Greywalls-Hotel-Vintage-Singer

Not my car… unfortunately 😉

Greywalls Hotel is a charming place that retains a quiet homely feel while remaining perfectly elegant, inside and out.  Built in 1901, it has seen the whole of the 20th century go by, so it seemed very fitting to choose the best of popular songs from throughout the century.

The old-style romantic songs such as ‘The way you look tonight”, “As time goes by” and “Cheek to cheek” seemed to suit the character of the hotel perfectly.

Greywalls-Vintage-Wedding-Muisc

The charming gardens at Greywall Hotel

It was a delightful afternoon, with guests either sitting and listening while they enjoyed their refreshments, or having a little dance when the mood took them.

Sunshine, good music, and great company – what more can you ask for?  I think these sunny afternoon gigs are my favourite type of bookings!

Are you looking for ideas for vintage weddings in Scotland?  Take a look at this video, which features some lovely vintage suppliers, including elegant bridal dresses, quirky vintage cutlery, delicious cakes, and classy photography – plus me singing one of my favourite romantic ballads ‘What a difference a day makes’.

Afternoon tea party at the Marriott Hotel Glasgow

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The Marriott Hotel in Glasgow was the venue for a vintage-style afternoon tea party I performed at recently.  Based in Argyle Street in the centre of Glasgow Scotland, the Marriott is a very popular choice for corporate functions and parties.

The event was hosted by a pharmaceutical company,  who had invited patients to an open day and wanted to finish off with afternoon tea and entertainment.  I came along with a mixture of golden-oldies to cheer up the visitors who had had a long morning taking in information, so they were glad of a little light entertainment with some tea and cake to refresh themselves!

Marriott Hotel Glasgow

Many thanks to Catherine Price from MPI for ensuring everything ran smoothly.

Vintage tea party at Pollokshields, Glasgow

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I recently sang at a lovely vintage tea party at Pollokshields Burgh Hall in Glasgow.  The special occasion was the 40th birthday party of Jo Pirie, an award winning film-maker who runs Bowery Productions, an independent film and production company that makes promotional films, wedding videos, and various films for other events.

It was a beautiful sunny afternoon and the gardens in Maxwell Park were all in bloom.  Jo had opted for an afternoon tea party to celebrate her birthday, as she was pregnant with her 2nd child so it seemed like a refreshing non-alcoholic alternative to a late-night party!

vintage-tea-party-glasgow

Vintage music lends itself perfectly to this kind of thing, so she booked me to sing some 1940s and 1950s songs while everyone relaxed and tucked into some delicious looking cakes and sandwiches.  It was a lovely informal family affair, with lots of children running about and enjoying the retro-style candy on offer, while people meandered in and around the hall and gardens, making the most of the sunshine.

I included plenty of great old unforgettable classics in my set, such as ‘Fly me to the moon’and ‘My baby just cares for me‘, plus some modern songs with a vintage twist, like this version of Meghan Trainor’s ‘All about that bass‘

A vintage tea party is a unique family-friendly way to celebrate a special occasion in style – and Glasgow has plenty of classy venues that lend themselves perfectly to these occasions.  Pollokshields Burgh Hall certainly added a special something to a perfect day.