Biography
The Early Years | The 70's | New Faces | Songsmith
Touring | C.S.E. | Cruising | The 80's | Sinatra | Today
It’s the summer of 1963 and the British music scene has been changed - forever!
Rock n roll is here to stay and as Geoff sang along to the Beatles “Love Me Do” at his local dance venue he was unaware that someone was listening.
That someone was forming a 'group' and Geoff was invited to join.
These five young men became known as ‘The Heralds’ and as the years progressed it was clear in which direction Geoff would move - Quality music with strong Melodies!!!
As Geoff moved out of his teens, one popular singer made a massive impact on him - Andy Williams. “I was driving my old Ford Zephyr” Geoff says, “and Almost There came through my single speaker at the rear - loud & clear. I was hooked!”
It wasn’t long before the ‘Sinatra’ influence shook his ears. ‘The Summer Wind’ was the first of many additions to Geoff’s repertoire. “How smooth can a singer get” recalls Geoff. “He seems to do little, yet delivers everything”. Only in later years did Geoff realise he was listening to one of the greatest pop singers - ever!
With the arrival of his son, Robert, Geoff felt that maybe the music business wasn’t right for a family and so he quit for a while and managed a shop for several years - hey, there was free accommodation!!! However, the desire to sing was too strong and so he did what you gotta do - both!
A local dance band was his first solo venture. A great way to learn the ‘Standards’. An invitation to join a jazz trio followed. An even better way to learn how to sing them!
In 1973 Geoff auditioned for a ‘Music Pub’ circuit in south London and started a few nights a week under the direction of Gil Lucas (ex Migil 5 - Mocking Bird Hill etc). Within a few short months two nights became seven!
“I think that’s when it really started” recalls Geoff. “I was working with top musicians from the West End, the recording and session world, radio and TV - what an education!”
On one session a sax player said to Geoff “Hey, you sing really good, why don’t you audition for the BBC?” Geoff thought he was joking at first but then it became real.
An audition was set for June ’74. “I wanted to look pro” said Geoff, “So I took my own musicians - The Rodney Mendoza Trio". The Beeb seemed impressed - then I got the polite letter!!!”
It was time to turn pro. Geoff had turned 26 ( wow so old!). Decision time - stay semi-pro or make his living as a full time singer. The latter won by miles which was just as well since things really got busy! The BBC contacted Geoff and he did his first broadcast in Oct 74 at the Golders Green Hippodrome - with a 36 piece orchestra - “fabulous” recalls Geoff, who went on to record hundreds of broadcasts for both the BBC and Capital Radio through the years.
“There was one time I remember well” says Geoff, “ When the conductor of the MRO fell ill and everyone was looking at each other - 36 players of strings, brass and percussion and of course the rhythm section” So Geoff offered to conduct! “Have you ever conducted an orchestra before” said the producer. “No” replied Geoff “But I’d love to!” And so he got to conduct The Midland Radio Orchestra!!!
“It was a fantastic day” says Geoff. “All these terrific musicians waiting for my cue!!!" Thank goodness I knew the arrangements!!!”
By the end of that year the date sheet was looking great. Cabaret was beckoning and with just a few local clubs under his belt, Geoff was invited to perform at nightspots in the London area. The Peacock Club in Streatham was just one of many successes and the rebooking ratio was terrific! As was the West End hotel scene with some of the great ‘big bands’.
It was during this period that the man who introduced Geoff to Gil Lucas, a year earlier, took a strong interest. His name was Reg Tracey and he and his family became lifetime friends. A highly respected manager in the industry, having looked after Kenny Ball, The Migil 5 and the Bonzo Dog Do Da Band. All big 60’s hitters.
There was a new show on TV, about to go into its second year - ‘New Faces’ Reg arranged for Geoff to audition and in May 1975 he was on.“I took a real chance” says Geoff. “Doing a cover of a pop song seemed to be the fashion. I had heard what I thought was an amazing album - ‘Jack Jones sings Michel Le Grand’ so I went against the trend and chose a really obscure song called ‘One at a Time’ It worked for Geoff. The orchestra loved it and did a fabulous job with the score and the judges were knocked out. Even record producer Micky Most was prompted to say - “Geoff is a singer with style - that’s so important for a singer of this quality”. Geoff was the first singer to win with 101 points! The stage was set for the young singer to become a very busy man!!! Following his ‘New Faces’ success, which included an invitation to return as a guest singer on the show, stardom was calling.
A major landmark saw Geoff signing with Pye records. 14 tracks were scheduled. 7 of these were orchestrated by Peter Knight. A giant in the music industry, who had arranged many songs for Sammy Davis Jnr! The remaining tracks were arranged and conducted by Tom Parker. Another great talent who gave these tracks a more modern feel - try listening to the Jerome Kern standard - ‘All The Things You Are’ set to a funky ‘Shaft’ feel - terrific!!!
The album was called quite simply ‘Songsmith’ for by this time Geoff was becoming known as just that - a craftsman. His phrasing had become quite unique and talked about. At that time he was delivering a song with the punch of a rock ‘n’ roller, yet with the light and shade of the great crooners. Geoff reckons the influence of the rock, soul, Motown etc along with the Sinatra style, gave him his way to deliver a song.
He has often been quoted as saying “I believe there are several important things about singing his way. Do a song with a melody that grabs you and make sure your audience can understand it!! In other words (excuse the pun) Diction!!
“I always place strong emphasis on getting the songwriters words across crystal clear” Geoff continues “I can’t see any point in singing it otherwise. Hey, a song is a story - mostly of love- why miss any lines!!!”And so with many radio broadcasts, appearances on prime time TV, and the release of his album the world was waiting!!
The prestigious 5 star Southern Sun Hotel Circuit in South Africa booked - held him over and then booked again the following year. The delightful ‘Edward’ in Durban dropped to a 4 star. According to the general manager at the time “Geoff raised the standard in our cabaret lounge - and we got our 5 stars back!”
Tours in Australia followed - all with rave reviews. Within an hour of getting to his apartment he was booked for a one hour album review on ABC. The Beeb of Australia.
“Great venues over there” Geoff says. “You can drive for miles and then suddenly the neon hits you and you’re in a great concert room with a 12 piece band and a top P A system - where did that come from, we were just in the bush!!!”
“Sydney was a great city” says Geoff. “Vibrant and happening. And they loved their entertainment!!!”
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Combined Services Entertainments (the live show dept of British Forces Broadcasting) believed in him and gave him an opening spot on a Northern Ireland tour. Within a year he was topping the bill with his own backing singers - three young ladies! “Hey, the guys loved my voice but….”
“These were fantastic times” recalls Geoff. “Experiences I am very proud of. I got to sing in so many different places. A jungle base in Belize, cabaret and concerts in Germany, Cyprus, Gibraltar. And in my own UK - Northern Ireland, The Shetland Islands, and The Outer Hebrides. All repeated again and again - fabulous”
Geoff would like to put a little note in here. “On my first CSE show the guys were on red alert and in full combats - I stayed away from the love songs!!! Neil Diamonds ‘I am I Said and He Ain’t Heavy He’s My Brother worked better!!!!”
By the late 70’s Geoff started looking at the world of cruising. Not the easiest area to break into but after a short while he was contracted to work a two week cruise for Fred Olsen Lines onboard the MS Blenheim. Then onto the MS Black Watch. Again Geoff was rebooked right through to the mid eighties. “I have been very fortunate” says Geoff. “I visited so many places onboard the Black Watch - and made some great friends. Although the main destination was The Canary Islands, the ship did special itineraries once or twice a year and I was often contracted to sing. We visited the Egypt, Israel, Turkey and many other Mediterranean highlights.” “I remember my first port of call so well” says Geoff. “The voyage to Madeira had been quite rough but I woke early one morning and things had settled down, so I went on deck and to my delight as the dawn broke the island of Madeira was looming on the horizon. I just stood there as we approached - spellbound.”
By the late eighties, things were changing fast and ‘cabaret’ as most acts knew it, was in decline. With the arrival of backing tracks as a means of accompaniment, Geoff decided to stay with ’live musicians’. Fortunately, he soon found himself back on the West End hotel ’Big Band’ scene and within a few months was offered a 2 month contract in the South of France. “wow, it was hot” recalls Geoff. “The gig was outside under the fierce summer sun at the beautiful ’Palm Beach Casino’, in Cannes“. Geoff had his own 10 piece band. “The bay was just amazing” says Geoff. “I can’t think of a more delightful backdrop than the Mediterranean!!!”When Geoff returned to the UK however, he was offered a lucrative contract for cabaret venues. Although these involved being ’self contained’ Geoff decided it was the way forward and he put a show together using ’tracks’. “I guess you have to move with the times”, says Geoff.
Another major development, spurred on by the hit TV show 'Stars in There Eyes’ was the arrival of the 'Tribute’ shows.
"I had been singing Neil Diamond songs for years" recalls Geoff. “I am a massive fan. The lyrics, melody - everything. However, I chose the Sinatra style and got some great tracks from the States.”
“I realised I had been doing a Sinatra ‘Tribute’ for years” says Geoff. “So this was a real pleasure”
Geoff was able to perform his own show, together with his “Tribute to Sinatra”
It was a recipe for success, and Geoff has been doing both to the present day.
The BBC changed as well. Geoff did his last broadcast in ’97 on the Charlie Chester show. The big bands and orchestras were replaced by ’needle time’. “It was really sad to loose all those great ‘house’ bands” remembers Geoff. “But things have to move on I guess. Listening to radio 2 now is a totally different experience - 21st century!!!”
In 1998 Geoff did a tour of Ibiza, Majorca and Minorca for the holiday company, Airtours. His success through the summer led to an offer to perform for the Airtours cruise section - ‘Sun Cruises’. He was a smash hit and was rebooked immediately - in fact for a further 7 years!!! His style and choice of song was ideal for the more mature clientele, and the younger people also loved his 'New York, New York' and ’Mack the Knife’. “It was great to be back working with live musicians” says Geoff. “Not to mention the many friends I made during those years. Andy Rudge, Tucker, and Dave Devreaux. All great talents who have remained good buddy’s to this day”
In fact, good enough friends to attend Geoff’s marriage to Sue in 2005. “I’m not sure if they came to see us tie the knot or just to slaughter this maturing vocalist!!!” says Geoff. “I think it was both - but they certainly did the latter. It was a wonderful day” It seems there were other advantages to cruising for Geoff - he met Sue onboard MS Carousel. “It was, quite simply, love at first sight’ when I met Sue.” says Geoff. They stayed friends for a while and then Sue joined him on a cruise and…..
Geoff, who now lives in the West Country, continues singing and performing to this day. However! One day early in the year - 2008 - Geoff walked into the house, got on the computer and applied for……The X Factor!!! “I don’t know exactly why I did it “says Geoff. “Just had a feeling I should apply” “I forgot all about it” continues Geoff. “Then I got the invitation letter!” “X Factor is on TV at this time so I’m not at liberty to divulge details” smiles Geoff. “Watch this space!!!”
“There is a song I love to sing” says Geoff. “The Best Is Yet To Come”
“Can it get any better? - Maybe not. I’m just gonna make it last longer!!!”