Hear My Song!

I can't remember when I first began singing, but one of the earliest memories I have is around 10 years old.

I was sick and off school, one of those days where the grown-ups go to work and leave you to your devices. Of course however ill you actually are, you seem to perk up as soon as school starts. With a whole day to fill, music became my port of call.

We had an old Amstrad computerised LP Midi system, purchased to stop me destroying records putting the needle down. It was on this day I discovered the quick way to learn to sing for a 10 year old... the faster speed for LP's, and Queens Greatest Hits!

Amazingly, I discovered that I could exactly match Freddie at that faster speed and spent the day singing along to Bohemian Rhapsody, Save Me, Killer Queen and Don't Stop Me now. The latter was far from the big worldwide favourite it is today back in 1987, but I loved the fast tempo. I wasn't great when I tried to slow it down/transpose the songs back down but I was passable for a kid.

Of course, soon enough my voice dropped and tastes altered slightly to heavier bands like Guns 'N Roses, Aerosmith and Extreme. All with singers far too high for my new voice to reach. I was heartbroken, being unable to "sing" anymore and having that teenage aversion to anything old...I stopped after my first couple of Karaoke's went horribly.

At this point I should probably mention that unknownst to me until the age of 44, I was autistic. This played a major part in my special interest in singing, and my fastidiousness in only singing what I wanted to, something that hurt me later on...but around 18, I had an epiphany when I realised I could copy other people's singing voices well. Not all voices to be sure, but my first realisation was Chris Cornell's vocal on Black Hole Sun, quickly followed up by Scott Weiland on Big Empty, Lenny Kravitz, Noel Gallagher and perhaps most importantly at the time, The Beatles.

As I left school and began working, the opportunities to go out to Karaoke became more often and I began to learn songs...lots of songs. One of the benefits of my autism turned out to be the ability to remember lyrics and voices of songs.

Karaoke became a regular and then almost obsessional pastime after work. I would go as least twice if not three times a week by the time I first showed my best friends how I could effortlessly mimic Richard Ashcroft of The Verve on Lucky Man, Sonnet and The Drugs Don't Work and over these late teenage/early twenties years became known as "the guy who sings the random songs that no one else does..." around town.

At this stage however, I hadn't ever sung in front of my family. My parents had long since divorced and I lived with my Dad and Nan with a younger brother now in the British Army. I was often met with sneers or chuckles when I said I could sing or was going to Karaoke, I never practiced at home and considered singing live at Karaoke my practice.

By 2000, I had made the decision I wanted to finally go to University to study a Music based degree but had to complete a one year Access course. Prior to starting this, our family took a vacation to St. Lucia. My Dad, his partner, brother and his fiancee all flew into Rodney Bay for a 3-week break.

The first week was, for a 23 year old surprisingly unhappy. As this was our "odd" week and the UK groups came in every 2, there was nobody even close to my age around. A bad case of sunburn on my foot also meant that I cut a grumpy figure and took full advantage of the all-inclusive booze.

The start of the second week brought a whole new influx of people, with a lot more in my age range. Being cripplingly shy, there was no way I'd approach anyone to talk to.

That first night, the Sunday, a live band played and thinking he was being funny, my brother "volunteered me" to go up on stage and sing backing vocals. While I did sing, I hadn't really sung WITH other people and did few duets, much less harmonies and felt I blew it. Angry Rob sat down and sank Piton after Piton before resolving that I had to go all out at the Karaoke the following night.

As my family sat there on the Monday, the jokes at my expense flew in thick and fast. I countered with my still held belief, that only those who do not have the guts to sing themselves make fun of others.

My name was called up... do or die... luckily, the Karaoke book, listing all the songs was almost identical to that of my regular host, barring a few Britpop anthems from Ocean Colour Scene and the like.

I needed to choose a song that would blow EVERYONE away and show each member of my family something they would be engaged in.

The song was "Let It Be" by The Beatles, one of the harder songs I knew but one I knew would work. Four minutes later, I finished and I got my "Hollywood" moment, literally everyone, about 80-100 people was clapping and cheering. As I walked back people shook my hand and one even said "It could have been the record..." arguably the highest compliment I could be paid.

Needless to say when I sat down, our family dynamic was somewhat different. My sister in law to be asked "where I'd been hiding that?", while my Dad couldn't understand how I got so close to Paul McCartney in tone. Even my brother gave a nod of approval. I got to say the obligatory..."I TOLD you I could sing..." and over the course of the night I sang four more times, increasingly confident each time.

By the time we went to the resteraunt for a late supper/drinks I was greeted by a younger group that had formed, which I quickly became part of.

The next two weeks were some of the most fun I'd ever had. I was a minor celebrity in the hotel, with lots of people complimenting me when they saw me. I even got a holiday romance out of it for the few days it lasted.

From then on, there was little argument about me pursuing a Music Industry degree, which I began in 2001. That Christmas Eve, I mentioned to my dad I'd applied for an exchange to Miami for the second year, one I probably wouldn't get. On the first day of that second year, I phoned with the news I'd been offered one to Memphis instead which I took and visited in 2003, after this I ended up working in India at a "School of Rock" and back in the UK for a Music based charity and as a singer in bands for several years. I've actually had gigs on 3 continents!

While a couple of disabling accidents and our current times mean the chance to sing is less than ever, when I stopped my voice had developed into my own, and was able to hit notes I never could back then and Green Day's 10 minute "Jesus Of Suburbia" was my best song.

None of this would have been possible without that one time I decided to be Remarkably Real and show my family what I had been hiding from them.

It taught me to never let those close to you belittle or make fun of who or what you love. Music has helped me through the most difficult times in my life and will do for the remainder of it. I truly believe the meaning of life is that everybody can sing one song... your mission is to find the song!

Good hunting!