This is going to sound pretty highfalutin compared with some biographies you may read, but I’m sorry – there’s a lot to tell! So here goes:

I’ve been a high profile professional pianist since leaving the Guildhall School of Music, London as a young man and building a reputation along the way. This has allowed me to follow careers in the classical world, show business and the jazz industry, which has added breadth to my playing, sometimes merging seamlessly, as they say. And now that I’m one of the more “mature” pianists, I can claim to know all the tunes!

London and the south-east has proved to be a wonderful area to live and work, giving me the chance to mix with the best of our profession and opening doors into top West End musicals. I was pianist / musical director in Bubbling Brown Sugar at The Royalty, Evita and Some Like It Hot – both at The Prince Edward, 42nd Street at Drury Lane, Joseph And His Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and Barnum – both at The Palladium. I can recommend this path for any aspiring musician seeking an excellent grounding in performance. Discipline wise, there is no finer way than to sit in a West End orchestra throughout the whole run of a top show and blend your own playing into the performance – and to have to get it right!

Of course, a musician’s career is not all six nights a week grafting in a theatre pit orchestra – touring is also a great career move. Over the years, I’ve found myself playing and directing cabaret shows in top venues for Frankie Vaughan, Roy Castle, Vince Hill, Tommy Cooper, Michael Barrymore – eventually becoming pianist with Dame Vera Lynn during her last few singing years and performing at royal occasions throughout Europe. In another direction, my jazz playing has taken me to international festivals as far afield as Japan, Germany, Poland and The Netherlands.

Still in the touring vein, I’ve played my way through many a Force 9 gale on the QE2, Oriana, Arcadia, and Royal Caribbean line cruises. Another wonderful opportunity to don the white jacket and conduct the cabaret orchestra from the piano stool. “Too many airports” also springs to mind!

So Back At Home and playing for your wedding:

All this has given me a tremendous repertoire but I still welcome any special musical ideas you might have to make your day go with a swing. Please don’t hesitate to call. There are many styles in piano playing, the most popular being Frank Sinatra / Ella Fitzgerald music (we have to consider all age groups here!) with Elton John, Jamie Cullum and Billy Joel being regularly requested. Classical music is, of course, still most commonly used for the ceremony itself.

For that extra touch of luxury, may I also suggest my trio for background music, possibly with girl vocalist or saxophone. Still the classiest sound in town!

No piano available? I can provide my Yamaha digital piano with stereo sound; tailored by me to sound exactly like a normal instrument – and I love to play it!

I’ll happily forward you a CD of my performance of the best and most popular tunes. Please just call or email.