Entertainment for Care Homes

Music and Memories

Michael is delighted to take his music to entertain residents at care homes, retirement complexes, sheltered housing complexes and anywhere that music lovers can perhaps no longer get out to see a show but love it when the music comes to them. A typical session of music and memories will include songs from the shows, the big band era, the 60s and 70s and much, much more. Where appropriate, we can bring in song-sheets to help everyone to singalong, and there can be some music for dancing as well. Photo - Right - Michael and Carole (and a care home resident - centre) with the touring organ at a care home, having completed an enjoyable music & memories concert I tour with my own entertainment electronic organ (not a single keyboard or piano but a compact, proper touring organ which recreates the sounds of theatre and church organs, plus full orchestras and bands) and would hope to give your residents a wonderful time with a mini-concert with memories of the music from the great days of theatre organ and variety, using my vast repertoire acquired through my years regularly playing on BBC Radio 2 and touring the length and breadth of the country playing concerts and working as Producer and Musical Director on nostalgic theatre shows with stars including Jimmy Cricket, Syd Little, Joan Hinde, The Black and White Minstrels, Bobby Crush, Don Maclean, Irish Eurovision star Dana, etc. Past venues include Blackpool's famous Tower Ballroom, the Assembly Hall Worthing, Pavilion Theatre Bournemouth, Arundel Cathedral, the renowned Tuschinski Theatre and Radio Hilversum Studios in Holland, and Babylon Cinema in Berlin. When playing for residents, it really is like attending one of my concerts, including big band favourites, lots of show music, some traditional theatre organ music and more, all presented as a proper concert, often, if appropriate, with song sheets so everyone can join in, and sometimes there may even be a little dancing as well! I have played solo on BBC Radio 2 hundreds of times, including live on dear Steve Wright’s show to over 5 million people, and played at the Odeon Leicester Square for His Majesty the King, when he was still HRH Prince Charles. I find that rather than have to sit too long, a session of about 45 to 50 minutes duration is most enjoyable for most people but some homes I have played in have had longer, shorter, or this time split into two halves. One change now is that my wife, Carole (pictured right), a singer who has been the lead in many musical productions, can now come with me (for no extra charge), if you would like her to sing a few popular songs from the musicals and encourage everyone to join in. I used to play at quite a lot of care homes, and was often their favourite, the live organ music evoking many happy memories for everyone, but then life changed and I stopped for quite a while, so it is nice to be back entertaining the residents and being instantly rebooked wherever we have been so far! Incidentally, both Carole and I have Enhanced DBS checks registered with the government’s online DBS Checking Service, so should you wish to check, you can easily do so, and my equipment is PAT tested annually. I look forward to hearing from you to plan your dates soon! Visit the Contact page for email and phone details.