The genre of music I like best has to be Motown and Soul, such as Marvin Gaye, early Ike and Tina Turner, Ray Charles, Little Richard, and if thinking of more contemporary musicians Tina Turner, Phil Collins, Michael Bolton, Mariah Carey – all these artistes have had a strong influence on me because not only are they hugely talented, but they also have great voices. Other more recent influences include the talented Brian Mcknight, Bruno Mars, Lionel Richie, Jamie Fox and Stevie Wonder through the ages – These have all been inspirational and helped to shape my contribution to music.
Other inInfluences in terms of my career have included Donnie McClurkin, I also really like the way Alan Menken writes, although he is famous for Disney he is also very spiritual. I like songs that take you somewhere and inspire you, so for instance going back to Alan Menkin – I love ‘ Go The Distance’ sung by Michael Bolton.
Its hard to say when I knew that I did have a talent – even today I don’t see what is special about my voice; but I do love singing; its a way to get my feelings and emotions out – I think that’s the connection I make with people who enjoy my music, I think I’ve been doing that since I was 11 years old when I was hanging out of the attic window singing ‘Where Is Love’ from Oliver – poor neighbours! But I do like slow songs it enables me to really feel the words and to convey emotion through music – at heart i’m a real balladeer.
Career wise I look up to Jamie Foxx, Cupid Junior, and people such as Luke Evans with whom I have worked on stage. He has been really successful, however, even though he has achieved he is still an everyday guy who is ‘down to earth’, that’s what I would aspire to in my career – right now I am in the top 1% of my field but I don’t want my personality to change and I want to achieve a balance between my family, friends and my work.
I love to travel and my music has given me numerous opportunities to perform in many countries and to have the opportunity to work with some amazing people. The Countries I’ve performed in include Asia, America, Europe, Singapore, Japan, China, Macaou, Jakarta, and Bali as well as Scotland and many gigs in Wales…. A highlight i would say was on Java island in Bali with my cousin Barbara; we were looking around a theme park called Taman Mini which is a miniature village showing the layout of Jacarta. We met a youth group; one of whom engaged us in conversation wanting to know who we were and what work I did, within minutes I had a microphone in my hand and began singing a beautiful Indonesian love song called Bukan Cinta Biasa; almost immediately the quadrant had filled with children and young people with their parents, youth workers and other visitors to the park, they were waiving in unison as though they were at a concert. We had only gone there to check out the miniature scale of Indonesia and it turned into a Hugh Maynard concert – it was an amazing and fantastic experience.
Another highlight was playing in Las vegas with the Tenors of Rock; we were the only band to have played so many venues in such a short time in Vegas – we invited Pricilla Presley and were totally delighted that she accepted our invitation. She felt we were ‘infectious’ (in a good way I hope…) She was a lovely demure lady – we felt we were truly blessed.
Success is measured on so many different levels. I think its about focus and commitment and about believing in yourself and what you are doing. If you are lucky like me, having the support of even one person makes a huge difference; to be able to talk with that person about your dreams helps you on the journey. I really feel the luckiest guy in the world because my voice has enabled me to travel around the world; in fact that is the reason I have travelled around the world, audiences have welcomed me – i’m lucky and I have been blessed, I have a year in Miss Saigon and I may get a second year and if not i’ll go where my voice leads me.