David Hughes (tenor)

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David Hughes (Geoffrey Paddison)

David Hughes (born Geoffrey Paddison; 11 October 1925 – 19 October 1972)[1] was an English pop and opera singer.

The popular tenor

Paddison was born in

records by Caruso. He found work as a railway clerk at Curzon Street, Birmingham. During his time there he was invited to sing "On the Road to Mandalay" at an office concert. This was so well received that he started taking professional singing lessons. He also was an RAF cadet and took flying lessons at Wythall airfield near Birmingham. In 1945 he joined the RAF
. The war in Europe was over and he was despatched on a ship to the Pacific which was intended to construct an airfield in support of the war against Japan. Following the fall of Japan his ship was diverted to Hong Kong as part of Operation Ethelred under Rear-Admiral Harcourt in order to receive the surrender of the Japanese. Paddison found himself acting as a policeman. While here he regularly sang on ZBW in
radio station. At this time he was singing Bing Crosby songs
. After returning to the UK and being demobilised in 1947 he received a grant to study singing at Wigmore Hall, London.

48 Alton Road, Bournbrook - David Hughes's birthplace

After that he studied at the Royal Academy of Music and Dramatic Art.

UK Singles Chart, "By The Fountains of Rome".[1] The composer was Mátyás Seiber and the lyrics by Norman Newell, who also wrote hits for Ken Dodd ("Promises", 1966), Shirley Bassey ("Never Never Never", 1973) and Matt Monro ("Portrait of My Love
", 1960).

He also co-starred in the musical Scapa Flow at the Adelphi Theatre alongside Pete Murray and Edward Woodward. He participated in the

A Song For Europe
, finishing in second place with the song "Mi Amor".

The opera singer

Shortly after appearing in the musical Seagulls Over Sorrento (1962),[2] and whilst appearing in a summer season show at Torquay, he had his first heart attack.

Whilst recovering he decided to undertake his first love and retrain as an opera singer.[2] This was a major undertaking and meant starting at the bottom.

His first role was as the high priest in

Welsh National operas. Sir John Barbirolli engaged him on several occasions as the tenor soloist in Verdi's Requiem.[2] He earned a reputation as a thorough professional, popular with colleagues. His most famous role was as Don José in Carmen, a role he performed over 100 times. He also performed the role of Lieutenant Pinkerton in Madam Butterfly many times.[2]

He never forgot his fans of popular music, continuing to do Sunday concerts in theatres all over the UK. His popularity also saw him presenting his show "Make Mine Music" with the Midland Light Orchestra on BBC Radio.

He was on Desert Island Discs twice. On 21 May 1956 as a pop singer https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p009y9cq and on 23 November 1970 https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p009ndjy as a tenor.

On 8 October 1972, he fell ill while singing the part of Pinkerton at the London Coliseum. He collapsed in the wings near the end but managed to complete the character's offstage vocal lines, which complete the opera. He died the following day, from heart failure, at the age of 47.

Namesake

  • He chose his father's two Christian names to use as his stage name.[2] His father was David Hughes Paddison.

Discography

Popular songs

  • "Santo Natale / Not as a Stranger" (single) (1954) [3]
  • "By the Fountains of Rome" (
    UK
    No. 27
  • Here in My Heart (compilation)
  • The Best of David Hughes (compilation)
  • Great British Song Stylist (compilation)

Stage musicals

  • Summer Song (1956)
  • Plain and Fancy
  • Scapa Flow (1962) [4]
  • Here in My Heart

Classical music

  • 16th–18th Century Songs of Love
  • Favourite Opera / Operetta Arias and Songs You Love EMI TWO 319, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Louis Fremaux, recorded in Birmingham Town Hall
  • The Merry Widow

References

  1. ^
    ISBN 1-904994-10-5
    .
  2. ^
    ISBN 0-85112-939-0
    .
  3. ^ Discogs https://www.discogs.com/release/2213467-David-Hughes-Santo-Natale-Not-As-A-Stranger. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  4. ^ "Scapa Flow The Musical". Gettyimages.fr. Retrieved 23 May 2020. From left to right, singer David Hughes (1925 - 1972), playwright Hugh Hastings and DJ Pete Murray rehearse for Britain's first-ever all-male musical, 'Scapa Flow' or 'Scapa!', December 1961. The musical, based on Hastings' play 'Seagulls Over Sorrento', will open at the Royal Court Theatre on 8th February 1962.

External links

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