Place:
Leyton, East London

Educated:
Barclay Infants / Junior School, Leyton (5-11), Leyton County High School for Boys (11-16)

Parents:
Tom and Peggy Crush

Sisters:
Susan and Gina

Brother:
Philip

Nieces:
Hannah, Claire and Emma

Nephew:
Alex

First piano tutor:
Vin Hurst

First experience of working an audience:
Joined a concert party at the age of 13, playing shows on bandstands in and around London parks

Next step:
2 residencies at pubs in Essex, working Saturday and Sunday nights ... I was 15!

First "proper" job:
Working in the record department of "W.H.Smith" in Kingsway, London (now a "Starbucks"!!)

Second and final job before entering showbusiness:
Office boy at "Leslie Grade Ltd.", a theatrical agency

Big Break ... Winning the television talent show "Opportunity Knocks" 6 times in a row. First appearance:
18th September 1972

Professional stage debut:
Supporting Jack Jones at the London Palladium, November 1972

Career Highlights:
My first gold disc and the standing ovation given to me by the audience following my "40th Birthday Concert", recorded for BBC Radio 2 ... it was validation that I'd gone from a talent show discovery to someone who had real staying power!

Favourite Male Singer:
Johnny Mathis

Favourite Female Singer:
Dusty Springfield

Favourite Composers:
Burt Bacharach, Stephen Sondheim, George Gershwin

Musical influences:
Russ Conway, Liberace and Dorothy Squires, who taught me everything I know about finishing a song BIG!

Best Theatrical Experience:
"Lena Horne, The Lady and Her Music", Nederlander Theatre, New York, 1982 ... the most thrilling night I've ever spent in a theatre

Best Cabaret Experience:
Anthony Newley at the Green Room, Cafe Royal, London, 1998 ... a master class

Favourite live performers:
Liza Minnelli, Steve Lawrence & Eydie Gorme, Elkie Brooks, Judy Collins

Favourite recordings:
Too many! - but off the top of my head ...

Going back - Dusty Springfield

MacArthur Park - Richard Harris

Love Letters - Ketty Lester

Yellow roses on her gown - Johnny Mathis

If he walked into my life - Eydie Gorme

Portrait of my love - Matt Monro

Anyone who had a heart - Dionne Warwick

Somewhere along the way - Nat King Cole

Passing strangers - Sarah Vaughan & Billy Eckstine

Is that all there is? - Peggy Lee

This nearly was mine - Barbara Cook

First time on a Ferris wheel - Nancy Wilson

Favourite Movies:
On Golden Pond, Cinema Paradiso, Some like it hot, Moonstruck, Tea with Mussolini, The Color Purple

Favourite TV shows:
Family Guy, Will and Grace, Frasier, documentaries

Favourite author:
Maya Angelou

Favourite possession:
The jukebox I bought myself to celebrate my 50th birthday

Favourite cities:
London (of course!), New York, Las Vegas, Venice

Present home:
Central London, within walking distance of the Houses of Parliament!

"What would you do if you weren't in showbusiness?" Unthinkable!! It's been my life for over 40 years ... can't imagine ever doing anything else.