Gary Williams (singer)

Gary Williams
Photograph of a smiling Caucasian man wearing a black suit and tie
Background information
Born 15 December 1970
Grimsby, England
Genres Jazz, Easy listening
Occupation(s) Vocalist
Website http://garywilliams.co.uk

Gary Williams (born in Grimsby, England on 15 December 1970), is a jazz and easy listening singer described by the London Evening Standard as, "the UK's leading standard-bearer for the supercool era".[1]

Gary Williams started his career in social clubs before performing with the BBC Big Band on BBC Radio Humberside.[2] 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'[3] for 150 performances at the Haymarket Theatre, the Adelphi Theatre, and subsequent UK and European tours. He performed for HRH The Prince of Wales at Buckingham Palace and was invited to a reception by the Prime Minister's wife Sarah Brown at 10 Downing Street[4] in acknowledgement of his work for The Caron Keating Foundation.

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.[5][6] In 2007 he recorded two songs for the soundtrack of the Warner Bros' motion picture 'Mrs Ratcliffe's Revolution'.

He has performed in cabaret at Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club, The Crazy Coqs, The Pheasantry,[7] privately for theatre producer Cameron Mackintosh[8] and with the Syd Lawrence Orchestra.[2] 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[9]), Lahti Symphony Orchestra, Northern Sinfonia, the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra for the Adelaide Cabaret Festival[10] and the RTÉ Concert Orchestra.[11] His latest show is the fully interactive 'Sinatra Jukebox' where, "instead of an hour of songs and anecdote, halfway through members of the audience were invited fill in request forms".[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]

As a regular headliner on cruise ships (he sings in six different languages) Gary has contributed on BBC Radio 4's Excess Baggage[14] and The Stage newspaper.[15]

As the author of 'Cabaret Secrets: How to create your own show, travel the world and get paid to do what you love’, he’s literally written the book on stagecraft. It has been featured in Time Out London[16] described as "an ideal vade mecum for anybody who wants to succeed in cabaret"[17] and "indispensable" by Jonathan Baz[18] who says of Gary, "his familiarity with the Great Song Books (not just American) is unquestioned."

In 2004 he recorded 'Alone Together' with the John Wilson Orchestra[19] 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 featured 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 award Jazz FM's album of the week.[20] 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.[21] His latest album 'Gary Williams Live in Brazil' was released in 2013.

References

  1. ↑ Ben Walters (18 December 2013). "Christmas cabaret in London – Theatre – Going Out – London Evening Standard". London Evening Standard.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Classics in the Park will swing to globe-trotting crooner's selection of Sinatra"
  3. ↑ "The boys are back in town". Yorkshire Post. 2 June 2004.
  4. ↑ This is Grimsby (13 November 2008). "Crooner's invite to Number 10". Grimsby Telegraph.
  5. ↑
  6. ↑
  7. ↑ "New London Cabaret Intiatives Launch at Wilton's Music Hall and The Pheasantry". Playbill. 15 June 2010.
  8. ↑ This is Grimsby (11 May 2009). "Gary Williams' birthday gig". Grimsby Telegraph.
  9. ↑ "BBC Radio 2 – Friday Night is Music Night, 16/11/2007". BBC. 16 November 2007.
  10. ↑ Log in (13 June 2007). "Spoilt for choice – sounds and visuals galore in SA | ArtsHub Australia". Artshub.com.au.
  11. ↑
  12. ↑ "Gary Williams presents a Sinatra Jukebox". Musical Theatre Review. 20 April 2013.
  13. ↑ "BBC Radio 2 – David Jacobs: A Celebration". BBC. 9 February 2014.
  14. ↑ "Radio 4 – Excess Baggage". BBC.
  15. ↑ "Sky1 to launch cruise ship-based talent show : News". The Stage.
  16. ↑ Walters, Ben (18 June 2013). "Five reasons to love cruise-ship cabaret – Time Out London". Time Out.
  17. ↑ "Cabaret Secrets by Gary Williams [Book Review] - from www.classicalsource.com". Classicalsource.com.
  18. ↑ Baz, Jonathan (8 July 2013). "Jonathan Baz Reviews...: Book Review : Cabaret Secrets by Gary Williams". Jonathanbaz.com.
  19. ↑ "John Wilson Orchestra Offers That's Entertainment, Celebration of MGM Musicals". Playbill. 28 July 2008.
  20. ↑
  21. ↑ "BBC Radio 2 – Russell Davies, 06/03/2011". BBC. 6 March 2011.

External links