Tonic Jukebox History
WEEK 39 - Harrow
This week we feature musicians who have lived at least part of their lives in the London Borough of Harrow. There are too many to list them all, but I hope you enjoy this selection. Apologies to members of the choir who do not live in Harrow and feel that we have ignored your area. My excuse is that Harrow does have quite a number, and Tonic Choir did start in Harrow.
Monday December 7
George Frederic Handel (1685-1759) was a German, later British, Baroque composer who spent the bulk of his career in London. He spent 18 months living and working in Little Stanmore, as many of you will know, having sung with us at St. Lawrence's Church where he worked from 1717 to 1718. Read more about him here. I was going to include Handel's Arrival of the Queen of Sheba, but we included that in week 6, so here is Zadok the Priest. A few years ago Tonic Extra worked very hard on this piece and sang it well. This will bring back memories for them. |
Tuesday December 8
Liza Lehmann (1862-1918) was an English operatic soprano and composer, known for her vocal compositions. She moved to Hatch End when she got married and stayed for a few years. She writes that she often made the short trip to visit the WS Gilberts (of Gilbert and Sullivan fame). Read more about her here. Whilst in Hatch End she wrote the song cycle for which she is best known, In a Persian Garden. This is a setting of the Rubáiyát by the Persian mathematician, poet and astronomer Omar Khayyám, as translated by the English poet Edward FitzGerald. Towards the end of her life, Lehmann returned to Hatch End and lived in Cornwall Road in a property called The End House. This was where she died in 1918. In her time she was one of a very small number of successful and well known women composers. Two extracts from In a Persian Garden: Ah moon of my delight sung by Irish tenor John McCormack Myself When Young sung by David Shipley of the Jette Parker Young Artists Programme (Royal Opera) |
Wednesday December 9
Sir Elton Hercules John CH CBE (born Reginald Kenneth Dwight; 25 March 1947) is an English singer, songwriter, pianist, and composer. He was born and raised in Pinner and one of his homes was at 55 Pinner Hill Road. His award winning song, Daniel, as usual written with his lyricist Bernie Taupin, received the 1973 Ivor Novello award for Best Song Musically and Lyrically. Performance |
Thursday December 10
Leslie Bricusse (born 29 January 1931) is an English composer, lyricist, and playwright. Bricusse is best known for writing the music and lyrics for the films Doctor Dolittle, Goodbye, Mr. Chips, Scrooge, Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, the songs Goldfinger, and You Only Live Twice. And of course my favourite, Stop The World I Want To Get Off. Bricusse was born in Pinner and attended the same school as Elton John. There is evidence that in 1967 he built and lived in 'Melodies', an extant house on Oxhey Lane. Although not as well known, I have always enjoyed the film of Bricusse's musical Scrooge. This seems appropriate as Christmas is almost upon us. Thank you very much (from Scrooge) The Ghost of the Christmas Yet To Come shows Scrooge the future. |
Friday December 11
Dame Janet Abbott Baker CH DBE FRSA (born 21 August 1933) is an English mezzo-soprano best known as an opera, concert, and lieder singer. For many years Dame Janet has lived in Harrow and is the President of Harrow Philharmonic Choir. (personal story at Tonic Jukebox week 13) Purcell's opera, Dido and Aeneas, includes the poignant aria, When I am laid in earth, also known as Dido's Lament. Of Dame Janet's many wonderful interpretations there are none better than this. 1966 recording at Glyndebourne Later audio recording with better sound quality And if you have the time this 55 minute conversation is well worth watching. Dame Janet and Joyce DiDonato |
Weekend December 12/13
** Pop spectacular **
Three pop stars who have lived in Harrow. In fact they all have links to me (Philip). One was a neighbour, one a classmate at school and one is Judy's cousin. Can you work out which is which?
Gary Go grew up in Harrow. He is a songwriter, producer, composer and multimedia artist. His debut album included the international hit single Wonderful. Lady Gaga referred to Gary Go as "my favourite new artist this year" and one of Gary's songs has won a Grammy Award.
Wonderful
Kimberley (Kim) Rew is an English rock singer-songwriter and guitarist. Originally from Bristol, Kim Rew attended a Harrow school for a few years. He is best known as a member of Katrina and the Waves from 1981 to 1999. Two of his better-known compositions, both written for Katrina and the Waves, are Walking on Sunshine and Love Shine a Light, performed by Katrina and the Waves as the United Kingdom's entry at the Eurovision Song Contest 1997, the last time the UK won the contest. It is unlikely that we will win it in the future.
Love Shine a Light 1997
Paul Martin Layton is an English musician and former child actor. Paul Layton spent his childhood in Harrow. As a teenager he had parts in the films I Could Go on Singing (with Judy Garland), and Beckett; and television appearances in Dixon of Dock Green and Emergency Ward 10. Layton released his first single Mister Mister which was a minor success in the Netherlands. He then became the bassist and vocalist of the group The New Seekers and has sold more than 35 million records worldwide.
Mister Mister
I’d like to teach the world to sing
Paul is on the far left playing bass guitar.
Interesting: This song started life as a jingle for Coca Cola.
** Pop spectacular **
Three pop stars who have lived in Harrow. In fact they all have links to me (Philip). One was a neighbour, one a classmate at school and one is Judy's cousin. Can you work out which is which?
Gary Go grew up in Harrow. He is a songwriter, producer, composer and multimedia artist. His debut album included the international hit single Wonderful. Lady Gaga referred to Gary Go as "my favourite new artist this year" and one of Gary's songs has won a Grammy Award.
Wonderful
Kimberley (Kim) Rew is an English rock singer-songwriter and guitarist. Originally from Bristol, Kim Rew attended a Harrow school for a few years. He is best known as a member of Katrina and the Waves from 1981 to 1999. Two of his better-known compositions, both written for Katrina and the Waves, are Walking on Sunshine and Love Shine a Light, performed by Katrina and the Waves as the United Kingdom's entry at the Eurovision Song Contest 1997, the last time the UK won the contest. It is unlikely that we will win it in the future.
Love Shine a Light 1997
Paul Martin Layton is an English musician and former child actor. Paul Layton spent his childhood in Harrow. As a teenager he had parts in the films I Could Go on Singing (with Judy Garland), and Beckett; and television appearances in Dixon of Dock Green and Emergency Ward 10. Layton released his first single Mister Mister which was a minor success in the Netherlands. He then became the bassist and vocalist of the group The New Seekers and has sold more than 35 million records worldwide.
Mister Mister
I’d like to teach the world to sing
Paul is on the far left playing bass guitar.
Interesting: This song started life as a jingle for Coca Cola.