The 70-year-old from Tingley plays piano every Wednesday at Betty's, York and recently published a memoir about his life, Swinging with the Stars, an allusion to his love of golf.

His book recounts stories from both stage and fairway involving people like Shirley

Bassey, Johnny Mathis, Gracie Fields, Tom Jones, Vera Lynn, Tommy Cooper, Morecambe and Wise and many others.

He lives with wife of 27 years, Patti Gold, who found stardom on the television and stage in the 1980s.

During his career, he played regularly at Batley Variety Club with people like Louis Armstrong and Tom Jones.




The one thing I could not live without is music. I would have said my wife, Patti, but she is not a 'thing'. I have made my living from music.

It started as a hobby and it's taken me around the world.

Most people would feel very privileged to make a living doing their hobby... and I am still doing it!


My first job was as tailor's apprentice. I can still make a suit today. I did that right up to going into the Army and then did it again when I came out.

In fact, I still make my own suits for stage. It's not that I can save money but that I know what I want and when you get to that level in tailoring, you can be disappointed with the quality unless you pay a lot of money.


The best thing about Leeds is that it's pretty much central to the whole country.

I am not doing it as much these days but I have travelled to work in northern Scotland and the south and Leeds is more or less in the middle. It's got a great motorway network and if the Government would pull their finger out, the city would have a great tram system too.


To relax I watch football, or any sport. I like Huddersfield Town but I also think Leeds needs a football team in the top league.


My first memory is of war being declared, when I was two-and-a-half years old and on holiday in Scarborough.

I can remember someone bringing the paper in on a Sunday morning and reading it out.

I can also remember the celebrations for VE (Victory in Europe) Day.

There was a procession through the village in Flockton. My dad was a trombone player, my uncle was a conductor and I played a little drum alongside them.


The best piece of advice I was given was to listen. Always listen to people, even if you do not agree with what they are saying. Then, afterwards, you can make up your own mind. And always say thank-you to people.


I can cry at anything, a piece of bad news on the television, or when Huddersfield Town lose.

It's not something I am ashamed of.


I think the best philosophy on life is to be positive. No matter what it throws at you, look for the best thing and try to be positive.


If I could meet anyone I think it would be Sammy Cahn.

I once wrote a show for him and I was due to meet him in 1993.

He was coming to London for his 80th birthday but he died in the January. I was set to meet him in July.

I'm also a great Sinatra fan and Sammy Cahn was credited with putting more words in Sinatra's mouth than anyone else.

He wrote the greats, like Come Fly With Me and High Hopes.

Sporting-wise, I'd like to have met Seve Ballesteros, who was as good as Tiger Woods in his day but also had the charisma to boot.


I think something that might surprise people about me is the fact I have worked with all these famous names on stage and played golf with them off stage.

If you want some funny stories about them, they are all in my book!


I don't have a memory for jokes. I must have heard every joke ever told but you just don't remember the clean ones and I can't repeat the others here.