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My Signature Tune - "They Cant Take That Away From Me"
At nearly all of my concerts I open up and finish with my "signature" tune which is George Gershwins "They Cant Take That Away From Me" - sung by the legendary Frank Sinatra and in more recent times Robbie Williams.
So why did I choose this particular tune? Well firstly, it is the first tune I successfully learnt that would be suitable for a concert of entertainment music.
Secondly, there is a strong meaning in the title which applies to me. I make no secret to the fact that I am not what you call academically minded and never have been. Many aspects in life have barriers which can prevent us from doing certain tasks depending on the type of person we are.
However, my first love (other than Michelle of course!) has been and always will be the organ. I am pleased to be able to do this without lifes obstacles such as money etc getting in the way and preventing me from doing something I truly love and what gives me great happiness. Admittedly, I have experienced some barriers with the organ over the years but these have always been successfully overcome!
With the above in mind, playing the organ is something I am freely able to do legally and honestly. It's good to know that whatever happens "They Cant Take That Away From Me".
A typical lunchtime concert programme I do - this one being at St Mary the Virgin Church in Bury, Lancashire on 26th January 2007.
Videos
The following videos are of me playing the Wurlitzer organ at Stockport town hall - one of the largest theatre organs in the country and of the Young & Sons organ at Manchester Road Methodist Church.
STOCKPORT TOWN HALL: At the Stockport town hall Wurlitzer theatre pipe organ playing "La Mer". I always associate this tune with the film "Mr Beans Holiday"!!
STOCKPORT TOWN HALL: At the Wurlitzer organ of Stockport town hall playing my own arrangement of "Time on my hands". A few years ago I played this very piece on the Compton organ at Southampton Guildhall and am amazed at how similar I managed to make two very different instruments sound in certain points of this video!
WESLEY METHODIST CHURCH, CADISHEAD: Playing "Mighty like a rose" on the tiny single manual 5 stop Sixsmith organ at Wesley Methodist Church in Cadishead, just outside Salford. I did this to show that even the smallest of instruments can be very effective.
MANCHESTER ROAD METHODIST CHURCH, SWINTON: Not something you would hear on a Sunday!!! Giving the Young & Sons organ at Manchester Road Methodist Church in Swinton a workout with "From Russia with love".
