LIFELINES

Bobby Crush portrait

Born:
Robert Nicholas Crush, 23rd March 1954

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

Nephews:
Alex and Christopher

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 nearly 50 years … can’t imagine ever doing anything else.

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