The Legacy of Matt Monro: Ealing’s Beloved Ballad Singer

Brought to you by:

Sam Habeeb

"Shadow MP Campaigner of Ealing North"

The Legacy of Matt Monro: Ealing's Beloved Ballad Singer
Credit: The Sunday Post

Matt Monro (born Terence Edward Parsons; 1 December 1930–7 February 1985) was an English singer. Known as “The Man with the Golden Voice,” he performed internationally during his 30-year career and sold a reported 23 million records. AllMusic has described Monro as “one of the most underrated pop vocalists of the ’60s,” who “possessed the easiest, most perfect baritone in the business.”.

Did Matt Monro live in Ealing?

Matt Monro (1930–1985), a ballad singer, lived at 1 Dallas Road, Ealing, from 1974 until his death.

Was Matt Monro ever a bus driver?

Monro was born Terry Parsons in working-class east London and got his first real job as a bus driver. The fact that he had a good voice soon spread—especially since he occasionally sang while driving—and he made his professional debut in small clubs.

Why did Matt Monro change his name?

A demo record he had made reached the ears of popular pianist Winifred Atwell, who persuaded her record label, Decca, to give him an audition. They all fell for the magic voice at Decca and took him on, bestowing on him a new name—Matt Monro, which he was later given partly for Monro’s father, whom Atwell never forgets. 

Childhood

Terence Edward Parsons was born on 1 December 1930 in Finsbury, northeast of the City of London, to Frederick and Alice Parsons. He had three brothers—Arthur, Reg, and Harry—and a sister, Alice. He attended Duncombe School in Islington and Elliott School in Putney. Monro had an unfortunate childhood. His father died when he was three, and after his mother fell ill, his family fostered him out for two years. After leaving school at 14, he had a series of jobs without sticking at any of them for very long before National Service beckoned in 1948. Monro became an instructor in the British armed forces in the art of driving a tank and was posted to Hong Kong.

He had sung in public from an early age, for example, at the Tufnell Park Palais, and in Hong Kong he developed the habit of entering local talent contests, winning several. He became a regular guest—and frequent winner—of Radio Rediffusion’s Talent Time show in Hong Kong. He was invited by then-host Ray Cordeiro to perform in his own one-off show entitled Terry Parsons Sings, on condition that he would thereafter bow out of future Talent Time episodes to make way for others. Agreeing to the deal, he performed his first on-air concert for Rediffusion on 27 June 1953.

Successful Career

In 1957, Monro released Blue and Sentimental, an album of standards. The release was well received, but Monro was stuck in the background among the young male hopefuls trying to break through in the late 1950s, many covering the Frank Sinatra-type Frankie Vaughan hits. Monro recorded a cover of Vaughan’s “Garden of Eden” during this time as well. He was signed to Fontana Records for a short recording contract.

In 1959, he recorded a country pastiche song, “Bound for Texas,” for The Chaplin Revue, a feature-length compilation of Charlie Chaplin shorts. It would be the first of many Monroe soundtrack themes. Monro reached the United States charts when “My Kind of Girl” (1961) and “Walk Away” (1964) hit the top 40. In 1966, following the death of Nat King Cole, EMI moved Monro from Parlophone to Capitol. The new recording contract necessitated a move to the United States.

This would mark the start of an LP trend, and he was now working with American arrangers such as Sid Feller and Billy May on recording albums that included “This Is the Life,” “The Late Show,” “Invitation to the Movies,” and “Invitation to Broadway.”. But, unlike “Born Free,” his other Capitol singles in California did not do well.

Recording Several Albums

After moving to California and recording several albums with American arrangers, Monro returned to the UK and stayed with George Martin. He later began to change labels within EMI to Columbia, where his final U.S. album, Close to You, was released in 1970. This LP contained “We’re Gonna Change the World,” a semi-satirical song originally used in a TV commercial for Kellogg’s Cornflakes. It was not a success in either the US or UK but remained a staple to this day across the airwaves, and the record became and remains a radio staple on BBC Radio 2. A later rerecording in 1995, however, in which Monro’s son duets with his late father, did briefly sneak into the UK chart at No. 100. On 31 December 1976, Monro sang Black’s “Walk Away” on BBC1’s A Jubilee of Music, celebrating British pop music for Queen Elizabeth II’s Silver Jubilee. Here is a list of his hit albums:

  • 1965: I Have Dreamed
  • 1966   This Is the Life! 
  • 1967   Invitation to the Movies
  • 1980   Heartbreakers
  • 1982   Matt Monro – The Very Best of Matt Monro   
  • 2005: The Ultimate 
  • 2007   From Matt with Love 
  • 2010: The Greatest
  • 2020: Stranger in Paradise

Hit Singles

  • Portrait of My Love
  • My Kind of Girl 
  • Why Not Now? / Can This Be Love
  • From Russia with Love
  • Walk Away
  • Merci Cherie / Honey on the Vine
  • The Lady Smiles
  • What to Do
  • The Music Played
  • He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother
  • And You Smiled
  • We’re Gonna Change the World

How Many Times Did Monroe Get Married?

He got married to Iris Jordan, married 15 January 1955–1959 (divorced). They had one son, Mitchell Terence Parsons. Renata “Mickie” Schuller (19 July 1933, Berlin—25 February 2010, Middx, UK), married 1959–1985 (his death). Renata Schuller was a Kindertransport child refugee who moved to London in 1938. She had a daughter, Michele (1959), and a son, Matt Monro Jnr (born Matthew Frederick Monro) (1964).

What happened to the singer Matt Monro?

He died on 7 February 1985 at Cromwell Hospital, Kensington, London, aged 54, leaving a widow, Mickie, and three children: Mitchell, Michele, and Matthew. Matt Monro was cremated at Golders Green Crematorium. The ashes were removed by the family. A memorial service was also held in Harrow.

How much did Matt Monro leave in his will?

He was cremated at Golders Green Crematorium. The probate record (of 17 July 1985) notes that his home address had been 1 Dallas Road, London W5 (North Ealing), and that he left an estate of £426,000. There is no doubting the high regard in which Matt was held by his contemporaries.

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Brought to you by:

Sam Habeeb

"Shadow MP Campaigner of Ealing North"

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