Matt Monro

Matt Monro (December 1, 1930 (or 1932, say some sources) - February 7, 1985) was a ballad singer of the 1960s and one of great international postwar entertainers. Throughout his 30-year career he filled cabarets, nightclubs, music halls an

Matt Monro (December 1, 1930 (or 1932, say some sources) - February 7, 1985) was a ballad singer of the 1960s and one of great international postwar entertainers. Throughout his 30-year career he filled cabarets, nightclubs, music halls and stadiums across the globe, from Australia, Japan, the Philippines, and Hong Kong to Africa, the Middle East, Europe, and the Americas. He sold more than 25 million records during his lifetime, imbuing each one with his elegant blend of majesty, sincerity, and superior technique.

He was born Terence Parsons in Shoreditch, London. Affectionately nicknamed "the singing bus driver" (because one of his many occupations prior to achieving fame was driving the Number 27 bus from Highgate to Teddington), he got his first break in 1956 when he became a featured vocalist with the BBC Show Band. An important influence on his early career was pianist Winifred Atwell, who became his mentor and provided him with his stage name.