Singer, Russell Watson, was yesterday (24/10/2007) admitted to hospital in Cheshire for emergency surgery on a brain tumour. Russell has been a customer of my courier firm since soon after his phenomenal rise to fame in 1999. He is a colourful character and always a pleasure to meet, usually in his beloved Manchester United strip, on the common outside his house looking very sporty (not posing - honest). His musical arranger, Bill Hayward, lives in Shrewsbury, hence my firm's connection with Russell, Katherine Jenkins, Lulu and the Halle orchestra (also customers).
Russell is a typical Salford lad, the son of a factory worker, mad about sport, especially Man U. He grew up as one of the lads with a passion for singing which he did around the working men's clubs of Salford and just for fun, whilst working 12 hours a night at a nuts and bolts factory. He entered a local talent contest, which he won and one thing led to another. He was invited to sing at Man U's end of season game in 1999 where he performed Nessum Dorma. That brought him to the attention of Decca and the rest, as they say, is history. He topped the UK classical charts for a year and was only knocked off the top position by his own follow up and was simultaneously No 1 in America, a unique achievement.
Russell has never lost sight of his origins or of the value of life - "It's been a long road, getting from there to here..." and he takes every opportunity to help those less fortunate than himself, especially children. Only a couple of weeks ago he performed at Manchester's prestigious Bridgewater Hall with the Halle orchestra to raise money for the new Children's Hospital and it is known that he has dug deep into his own pocket as well.
Illness has dogged him throughout his career. In 2002 he had to have a growth removed from his vocal chords. Only a year ago he had a benign brain tumour "the size of 2 golf balls" removed. It is typical of the man that he was in the recording studio working hard when his current problem "interrupted play".
My thoughts go out to Russell and his family at this anxious time. He is a fighter and we wish him every ounce of strength and courage to defeat the invisible enemy.
Pierre
Tags: Russell Watson hospital Cheshire brain tumour courier fame Manchester United Bill Hayward Shrewsbury Katherine Jenkins Lulu Halle Salford working mens clubs talent contest Nessum Dorma Decca classical charts children Bridgewater Hall courage invisible enemy
Russell is a typical Salford lad, the son of a factory worker, mad about sport, especially Man U. He grew up as one of the lads with a passion for singing which he did around the working men's clubs of Salford and just for fun, whilst working 12 hours a night at a nuts and bolts factory. He entered a local talent contest, which he won and one thing led to another. He was invited to sing at Man U's end of season game in 1999 where he performed Nessum Dorma. That brought him to the attention of Decca and the rest, as they say, is history. He topped the UK classical charts for a year and was only knocked off the top position by his own follow up and was simultaneously No 1 in America, a unique achievement.
Russell has never lost sight of his origins or of the value of life - "It's been a long road, getting from there to here..." and he takes every opportunity to help those less fortunate than himself, especially children. Only a couple of weeks ago he performed at Manchester's prestigious Bridgewater Hall with the Halle orchestra to raise money for the new Children's Hospital and it is known that he has dug deep into his own pocket as well.
Illness has dogged him throughout his career. In 2002 he had to have a growth removed from his vocal chords. Only a year ago he had a benign brain tumour "the size of 2 golf balls" removed. It is typical of the man that he was in the recording studio working hard when his current problem "interrupted play".
My thoughts go out to Russell and his family at this anxious time. He is a fighter and we wish him every ounce of strength and courage to defeat the invisible enemy.
Pierre
Tags: Russell Watson hospital Cheshire brain tumour courier fame Manchester United Bill Hayward Shrewsbury Katherine Jenkins Lulu Halle Salford working mens clubs talent contest Nessum Dorma Decca classical charts children Bridgewater Hall courage invisible enemy
