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VIDEO: Leeds man a karaoke star in...Mongolia!
BELTING out tunes for Sunday shoppers was a breeze for singing grandad Eugene Levine.
The 68-year-old from Bramhope was a big hit on stage at the Planet Leeds free music event on Briggate last weekend.
Tom Jones and Frank Sinatra fan Eugene sang for 20 minutes with a set including Kiss and My Way.
Eugene had no problem entertaining a few hundred appreciative shoppers as he once sang to a 50,000 plus audience at a bizarre gig in the Gobi Desert.
He was enjoying a night out at a Beijing restaurant on a trip to China in 2005 when he gave an impromptu karaoke performance.
His performance impressed one diner – a concert promoter – so much the man asked for Eugene's number.
A few months later the man called Eugene up and asked him to travel to Mongolia to perform at a massive concert.
Grandfather-of-five Eugene, who was born in Roundhay, took up the offer and performed to 52,000 alongside big stars from the Far East.
Eugene said: "It was an unbelievable experience, I was mobbed when I came off stage."
His singing career has mainly been confined to cancer charity events since then – a cause he supports wherever possible after winning a battle with prostate cancer in 2002.
Eugene, who has also sung at the London Palladium, said: "I love performing and it's great to have the chance to sing for people in Leeds. I just can't stop singing, I would sing anywhere at the drop of a hat."
Eugene is involved in the digital printing business, but singing and also acting are his passions.
He has played small roles in Heartbeat and A Touch of Frost and was Karoke Kenny on YTV soap Emmerdale.
In 2003 Eugene won third place in the Silver Stars national contest for over 60s.
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Friday 25 May 2012
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