Gary Williams | |
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| Background information | |
| Born | 15 December 1970 U.K. |
| Genres | Jazz, easy listening |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, broadcaster |
| Website | garywilliams |
Gary Williams (born 15 December 1970) is a British jazz singer, writer, and broadcaster whose performances include concerts, cabaret shows, and theatre. Williams has recorded ten solo albums and written Cabaret Secrets, a book on stagecraft.
Williams started his career in social clubs before performing with the BBC Big Band on BBC Radio Humberside. [1] This led to appearances on BBC Radio 2's Big Band Special , BBC television's Pebble Mill at One with David Jacobs, and Gloria Hunniford's Open House with Burt Bacharach. He played the role of Frank Sinatra for the West End show The Rat Pack [2] for 150 performances at the Haymarket Theatre, the Adelphi Theatre, and subsequent UK and European tours.
In 2006 he performed in BBC1's 'Doctor Who – A Celebration' concert with David Tennant and the BBC National Orchestra of Wales with the BBC National Chorus of Wales conducted by Ben Foster. [3] In 2007 he recorded two songs for the soundtrack of the Warner Bros' motion picture Mrs Ratcliffe's Revolution .
He regularly performs in cabaret at Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club, The Crazy Coqs, [4] The Pheasantry, [5] privately for theatre producer Cameron Mackintosh [6] and with the Syd Lawrence Orchestra. [1] He is a regular soloist in the concert hall with the CBSO, RSNO, Halle Orchestra, RLPO, BBC Concert Orchestra (for Friday Night Is Music Night [7] ), Lahti Symphony Orchestra, [8] [9] Northern Sinfonia, the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra for the Adelaide Cabaret Festival [10] and the RTÉ Concert Orchestra.
His most popular show is the interactive Sinatra Jukebox where, "instead of an hour of songs and anecdote, halfway through members of the audience were invited to fill in request forms". [11] Reviewing the show, Cabaret Scenes said, "I can think of no other singer to better pay homage to Ol' Blue Eyes on his 100th birthday." [12] In 2014 he performed on BBC Radio 2 with the BBC Concert Orchestra for David Jacobs – A Celebration alongside Michael Ball, Joe Stilgoe, Liz Robertson, and Marti Webb. [13] In 2015 he made his debut at Bestival and the following year at Camp Bestival. [14]
Williams's Christmas show A Swingin' Christmas was given a five star review by the London Evening Standard [15] and described as "The jolliest sleigh-ride in town!". The same show was given four stars by The Times, [16] which on the same night gave Michael Bublé's show at the O2 three stars. [17] A big band version of the show was aired on Sky Arts on 18th December 2022 [18] with the LP Swing Orchestra and Mica Paris.
In 2017, The Sunday Times profiled Williams, describing him as "one of the country's best-loved crooners". [19]
In 2022 he made his New York debut at Carnegie Hall as part of a tribute concert to Peggy Lee, [20] staged by the Mabel Mercer Foundation.
In 2004, Williams recorded Alone Together with the John Wilson Orchestra [21] at Abbey Road Studios. He returned to the studios for In the Lounge with Gary Williams and Swingin' on Broadway, both recorded with his own band. Highlights of these three albums appeared on Gary Williams – The Best of Abbey Road, released in 2010. Also in 2010 he released Gary Williams Meets Frank Sinatra, recorded with Chris Dean and His Orchestra, which was awarded Jazz FM's album of the week. In 2011 he released Let There Be Love – A Celebration of Nat King Cole with the James Pearson Trio. Recorded live in 2003, it lay forgotten about until rediscovered late 2010. [22] Gary Williams Live in Brazil was released in 2013. In 2015 after a successful crowdfunding appeal [23] he released a big band Christmas album Big Band Wonderland. In 2017 Williams released Gary Williams at the Movies, which was awarded four stars by the London Evening Standard which said, "This selection of movie tunes sung with Sinatra-esque flair, will transport you down memory lane and get your serotonin levels soaring." [24] In 2018 he released 'Treasure Seeker' his first album as a singer/songwriter.
Williams has hosted the weekly musical biography show The Legends of Las Vegas [25] for The Wireless by Age UK. He hosted the weekly podcast In Conversation Radio, [26] similar in style to Desert Island Discs , and guests included Fred Astaire's daughter Ava Astaire MacKenzie, Christopher Biggins, and Jeffrey Archer. He has contributed to BBC Radio 4's Excess Baggage [27] and its consumer program You and Yours. Other broadcasting work includes a two-hour special for the centenary of Frank Sinatra for BBC Radio Humberside, [28] a contributor for Don Black's Cabaret Nights on BBC Radio 2, [29] two-hour Christmas specials for BBC Radio Humberside in 2016 [30] and 2017 [31] and a one-hour special on The Art of the Crooner for BBC Radio 2 50s. [32] Williams also does corporate presenting and voice-over work. [33]
Williams' book Cabaret Secrets: How to create your own show, travel the world and get paid to do what you love has been featured in Time Out London, [34] described as "an ideal vade mecum for anybody who wants to succeed in cabaret". [35]
In 2008 he was invited to a reception by the Prime Minister's wife Sarah Brown at 10 Downing Street [36] in acknowledgement of his work for The Caron Keating Foundation. In 2010 he performed a benefit concert for Grimsby's 'Big Red Heart Appeal'. [37]
Francis Albert Sinatra was an American singer and actor. Nicknamed the "Chairman of the Board" and later called "Ol' Blue Eyes", he is regarded as one of the most popular entertainers of the mid-20th century. Sinatra is among the world's best-selling music artists, with an estimated 150 million record sales globally.
William James "Count" Basie was an American jazz pianist, organist, bandleader, and composer. In 1935, he formed the Count Basie Orchestra, and in 1936 took them to Chicago for a long engagement and their first recording. He led the group for almost 50 years, creating innovations like the use of two "split" tenor saxophones, emphasizing the rhythm section, riffing with a big band, using arrangers to broaden their sound, and others. Many musicians came to prominence under his direction, including the tenor saxophonists Lester Young and Herschel Evans, the guitarist Freddie Green, trumpeters Buck Clayton and Harry "Sweets" Edison, plunger trombonist Al Grey, and singers Jimmy Rushing, Helen Humes, Thelma Carpenter, and Joe Williams.
Pierino Ronald "Perry" Como was an American singer, actor, and television personality. During a career spanning more than half a century, he recorded exclusively for RCA Victor for 44 years, from 1943 until 1987.
Harry "Sweets" Edison was an American jazz trumpeter and a member of the Count Basie Orchestra. His most important contribution was as a Hollywood studio musician, whose muted trumpet can be heard backing singers, most notably Frank Sinatra.
BBC Radio Humberside is the BBC's local radio station serving the former county of Humberside which includes the unitary authorities of East Riding of Yorkshire, Kingston upon Hull, North Lincolnshire and North East Lincolnshire.
Gary Barlow is an English singer, songwriter, record producer, and television personality. He is the lead singer of the British pop group Take That.
A crooner is a singer that performs with a smooth, intimate style that originated in the 1920s. The style was made possible by better microphones which picked up quieter sounds and a wider range of frequencies, allowing the singer to access a more dynamic range. This suggestion of intimacy was supposedly wildly attractive to women, especially younger ones such as teenage girls, known at the time as "bobby soxers". The crooning style developed out of singers who performed with big bands, and reached its height in the 1940s to late 1960s.
American vocalist Frank Sinatra recorded 59 studio albums and 297 singles in his solo career, spanning 54 years.
The BBC Big Band, originally known as the BBC Radio Big Band is a British big band, previously run under the auspices of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). The band broadcasts exclusively on BBC Radio, particularly on BBC Radio 2's long-running series Big Band Special. It consists of professional musicians and is directed by a number of conductors. These include arranger and composer Barry Forgie, who has been the band's Musical Director since 1977, American jazz trombonist Jiggs Whigham, and guest musical directors.
Joe Temperley was a Scottish jazz saxophonist. He performed with various instruments, but was most associated with the baritone saxophone, soprano saxophone, and bass clarinet.
Claire Martin, OBE is an English jazz singer.
"It's All Right with Me" is a popular song written by Cole Porter, for his 1953 musical Can-Can, where it was introduced by Peter Cookson as the character Judge Aristide Forestier.
Jack Sperling was an American jazz drummer who performed as a sideman in big bands and as a studio musician for pop and jazz acts, movies, and television.
"Oh! Look at Me Now" is a 1941 song composed by Joe Bushkin, with lyrics by John DeVries. It is strongly associated with Frank Sinatra, who first recorded it with Tommy Dorsey and his orchestra, in an arrangement by Sy Oliver. Sinatra re-recorded the song for his 1957 A Swingin' Affair!, this time arranged and conducted by Nelson Riddle.
A Swingin' Christmas is a Christmas album by Tony Bennett, released in 2008, that features the Count Basie Big Band. Bennett's daughter Antonia duets with him on one track.
For music from an individual year in the 1940s, go to 40 | 41 | 42 | 43 | 44 | 45 | 46 | 47 | 48 | 49
The Diamond Jubilee Concert was a British music concert and celebration held outside Buckingham Palace on The Mall in London on 4 June 2012. The concert was organised by Take That singer-songwriter Gary Barlow and was part of Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee celebrations.
"The Christmas Waltz" is a Christmas song written by Sammy Cahn and Jule Styne for Frank Sinatra, who recorded it in 1954 as the B-side of a new recording of "White Christmas", in 1957 for his album A Jolly Christmas from Frank Sinatra, and in 1968 for The Sinatra Family Wish You a Merry Christmas.
Submotion Orchestra are a seven piece band formed in 2009 in Leeds, Yorkshire, England. They are influenced by dubstep, soul, ambient electronica, jazz and dub.
The Orpheus Sinfonia is an orchestra based in London. Established in 2009, it is formed of recent music conservatoire graduates and provides experience and support for young musicians develop their professional careers. It is under the artistic direction of international cellist and conductor Thomas Carroll.
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