Robert Earl (singer)

Robert Earl (born Monty Leigh, 17 November 1926)[1] was an English singer of traditional pop music in the United Kingdom in the 1950s and 1960s, whose style was operatic, like fellow crooners David Whitfield, David Hughes and Edmund Hockridge. He is the father of the businessman Robert Earl.

Robert Earl
Birth nameMonty Leigh
Born (1926-11-17) 17 November 1926
OriginLondon, England
Years active1950–1970
LabelsPhilips Records

Career

He began his singing career at local functions around London's East End, and soon progressed to singing with some of the top big bands of the day such as those of Sidney Lipton, Nat Temple and Van Straten. In 1953, he auditioned for Norman Newell of Philips Records and was offered a recording contract.

In 1957 he had a contract with George Baines and Will Hammer and starred in "Big Splash", an Aqua Show at The Derby Baths, Blackpool for the summer season.

He enjoyed three chart hits during this period, while signed to Philips: "I May Never Pass This Way Again" (#14) and "More Than Ever" ("Come prima") (#26) in 1958 and "The Wonderful Secret of Love" (#17) in 1959.[2]

His agent was Michael Sullivan, who also represented Shirley Bassey. After a 20-year career as a professional singer he retired in 1970, and then devoted much of his time to the Grand Order of Water Rats, a showbusiness charitable organization. He now lives in the United States. There are currently two CD of his recordings available, The Magic of Robert Earl (Spectrum) 2004 – 22 tracks.[1] and "If You Can Dream" released in 2013 by Vocalion Records – with 30 tracks from the first 17 singles [1953 to 1958] - listed in the #Singles Discography below.

It is a mark of the esteem in which he was held by his peers that, in July 1989 some nineteen years after he retired, Earl sang "You'll Never Walk Alone", at the funeral service of his fellow Londoner, Tommy Trinder.

Singles discography
  • "If You Love Me" / "Crying in the Chapel" – Philips PB185 – September 1953
  • "You Alone" / "Timber" – PB228 – January 1954
  • "The Book" / "Yiddisher Tears" – PB238 – February 1954
  • "My Son, My Son" / "Far Away" – PB331 – September 1954
  • "Face Of An Angel" / "Time After Time" – PB406 – February 1955
  • "My Loving Hands" / "I Wonder" – PB433 – April 1955
  • "Three Galleons" / "Till The Last Rose Has Faded" – PB481 – July 1955
  • "He" / "With Your Love" – PB517 – October 1955
  • "My September Love" / "Now And Forever" – PB552 – February 1956
  • "Believe In Me" / "If You Can Dream" – PB593 – June 1956
  • "More" / "Your Home Can Be A Castle" – PB622 – September 1956
  • "I'm Free" / "The Golden Key" – PB657 – January 1957
  • "All" / "You Alone" – PB684 – April 1957
  • "Fascination" / "Song Of The Valley" – PB730 – September 1957
  • "My Special Angel" / "There's Only You" – PB767 – November 1957
  • "I May Never Pass This Way Again" / "Someone" – PB805 – March 1958 (UK #14)
  • "More Than Ever (Come Prima)" / "No-one But You" – PB867 – September 1958
  • "The Wonderful Secret Of Love" / "The Boulevard of Broken Dreams" – PB891 – January 1959
  • "Anything" / "Every Day's A Wonderful Day" – PB927 – 1959
  • "The Key" / "The Test of Time" – PB960 – 1959
  • "Oh So Wunderbar" / "I'm Rich" – PB986 – 1960
  • "A Strange and Wonderful Feeling" / "A Place in The Sun" – PB1015 – 1960
  • "Wanderlust" / "One Of The Lucky Ones" – PB1077 – 1960
  • "Love Me" / "April Serenade" – PB1129 – 1961
  • "Lonely" / "Time Will Tell" – 326556BF – 1962
  • "Shalom" / "When You're In Love" – PB1209 – 1962
  • "Falling in Love with Love" / "Give Me My Chance" – BF1289 – 1963
  • "Walk Hand in Hand" / "Never" – BF1379 – 1964

References
  1. Allmusic.com discography
  2. Roberts, David (2006), British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.), London: Guinness World Records Limited, p. 176, ISBN 1-904994-10-5

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