Matt Monro(1930-1985)

While doing his national service in the army in Hong Kong, he fixed up his first radio show and ended up in the cells for returning late from leave the night before he was due to go on air. His C.O. was a fan and let him out under guard to go to the studios. Demobbed, he worked as a long distance lorry driver between London and Glasgow. In Glasgow between runs, he recorded a private disc. Later, he switched to driving a number 27 London bus, then Winifred Atwell heard his recording and got him started in show business. He took the name Matt from the first name of a Fleet Street journalist and Monro from the christian name of Winifred's's father. Soon, he won fame with Cyril Stapleton's Show Band, had a series on Radio Luxembourg, made records and commercials, the most famous being 'You'll Look a Little Lovelier Each Day' and did shows for the BBC and ITV. He then slipped into obscurity and almost vanished from the music scene until Fred Flange came to the rescue. It was under that name, that he did an impersonation of Frank Sinatra on the opening track of a Peter Sellers mickey-taking LP of 'Songs For Swinging Sellers'. As a result of publicity, the track got on both sides of the Atlantic and people began to remember that Matt was still around, Soon, he was back on top with a new record contract, a trip to the States, West End night club dates, radio series and hit records such as Portrait of My Love and My Kind of Girl.]