On This Day 28/07/1980 Noel Sullivan

On this day, 27 July 1980, Welsh singer and actor Noel Sullivan (Noel John Hayes) was born in Cardiff.

He was a member of the British pop group Hear'Say. Like the other members of the group, he won his part through the talent show Popstars.

Sullivan grew up in Cardiff in a musical family with a strong choral background. He trained as a chorister, understudied for Welsh National Opera and performed in choirs. Aged 18, Sullivan toured the United States with The Black Mountain Male Chorus of Wales as a musical theatre soloist.

By this time Noel was living in Ely, Cardiff. Soon after his role within the chorus was at an end, whilst also working as a waiter, Sullivan auditioned in 2001 competing as an aspiring pop singer in the first series of the reality television documentary Popstars, which aired on the UK television channel ITV1.

He impressed the show's expert judges (who included Nigel Lythgoe and Nicki Chapman) enough to win selection as a founder member of the pop group Hear'say, alongside Danny Foster, Myleene Klass, Kym Marsh and Suzanne Shaw.

Hear'say went on to enjoy international success, selling nearly three million records worldwide. The group's debut single "Pure and Simple" became the fastest selling number one single of the UK Singles Chart at the time. The group also released another UK number one single and a number one album, as well as performing a sell out arena tour across the UK and Ireland. The group disbanded 18 months later after four single and two album releases.

Since the band’s split Sullivan has split his career been Musical Theatre and TV acting appearing in BBC’s Call The Midwife and Doctors.

On This Day 26/07/1963 Nat King Cole

On this Day, 26 July 1963, legendary American singer Nat King Cole played Cardiff’s Capitol Theatre, with support provided by Ted Heath & His Music.

Nat King Cole, was a singer, jazz pianist, and actor and recorded over 100 songs that became hits on the pop charts.

Cole's shift to traditional pop led some jazz critics and fans to accuse him of selling out, but he never abandoned his jazz roots; as late as 1956 he recorded an all-jazz album, After Midnight, and many of his albums after this are fundamentally jazz-based, being scored for big band without strings, although the arrangements focus primarily on the vocal rather than instrumental leads.

Cole had one of his last major hits in 1963, two years before his death, with "Those Lazy-Hazy-Crazy Days of Summer".

His trio was the model for small jazz ensembles that followed.

Cole also acted in films and on television and performed on Broadway. He was the first African-American man to host an American television series.

Until his death in 1965, Cole was an active and visible participant in the civil rights movement, playing an important role in planning the March on Washington in 1963.

In August 1948, Cole purchased a house from Col. Harry Gantz, the former husband of the silent film actress Lois Weber, in the all-white Hancock Park neighborhood of Los Angeles. The Ku Klux Klan, which was active in Los Angeles in the 1950s, responded by placing a burning cross on his front lawn.

Members of the property-owners association told Cole they did not want any "undesirables" moving into the neighborhood. Cole responded, "Neither do I. And if I see anybody undesirable coming in here, I'll be the first to complain."

He was the father of singer-songwriter Natalie Cole (1950–2015).

On This Day 25/07/1999 Simply Red

On this day, 25 July 1999, British soul and pop band Simply Red played Cardiff Castle

Formed in Manchester in 1985 The band is led by singer and songwriter Mick Hucknall, who, by the time the band initially disbanded in 2010, was the only original member left.

Since the release of their debut studio album Picture Book (1985), they have had ten songs reach top 10 in the UK Singles Chart, including "Holding Back the Years" and "If You Don't Know Me by Now", both of which reached number one on the US Billboard Hot 100. They have had five number one albums in the UK, with their 1991 album, Stars, being one of the best-selling albums in UK chart history.

Simply Red Review - Guardian

The first surprise is that Mick Hucknall's speaking voice is at the exact high pitch of his singing one. Finishing 'A New Flame' at the second of Simply Red's shows at Cardiff Castle, he says: 'That's the first time I've played that in a long time,' and it is as if the stage has been invaded by a castrated Mancunian choirboy, wearing his testicles as cuff links.

Not that the two women next to me seem to mind. Possibly inspired by Hucknall's past romance with 'Welsh lovely', Catherine Zeta Jones, they keep up a robust, drunken display of appreciation for his none-too-obvious physical charms. 'Get down off that stage, come over here, and fuck me!' hollers the first, slopping beer over her open-toe sandals. Her friend says little, merely lifting her top occasionally to solemnly flash her bra at the thankfully oblivious Hucknall. All of which goes to prove that there's someone for everyone. Even for Mick Hucknall, voted the Ugliest Man in Pop 240 years running by the Great British Public.

Why do we all hate Mick Hucknall so much? Could it be his Pomagne Socialism, that relentless schmoozing of New Labour in general, and Tony Blair in particular? It's all very well hearing that Blair plays Simply Red's music when travelling, but you suspect Hucknall listens, gooey-eyed, to Blair's speeches in his own car. (While it is accepted that politics and music occasionally get into bed together, Mick, dear boy, no one expects them to actually shag.)

All that apart, there are no serious grounds for disliking Hucknall. Even at his egomaniacal worst (the video for 1991's 'Stars', where Hucknall, carrot locks flowing majestically, runs through space dressed in one of God's old nighties), there were just enough tunes to see him through. Simply Red have made their share of deeply dull stadium music, but there was always the odd original gem ('Holding Back the Years', 'For Your Babies'), or well realised cover ('Money's Too Tight To Mention', 'If You Don't Know Me By Now'), to keep even the most cynical pop fan interested.

However, if Simply Red are surprisingly good at Cardiff, the crowd are better. As Hucknall is introducing his ridiculously huge band (I stopped counting after about 11), some wag shouts: 'What's the singer called then?' And, while I've seen people hold lighters in the air in silent homage, I have never seen a crowd hold their cigarettes in the air before.

As the set unfolds, it becomes clear that Hucknall intends to play it safe, sticking to old hits. And quite right too. At one point, he squeakily asks the crowd if they want to hear some new numbers, and it is a credit to their manners that no one shouts back: 'No, of course not.' In the end, Simply Red play quite a few new numbers, all of which send everyone racing off for a fortifying lager or Fab ice lolly.

This thirtysomething crowd, part noisy hen party, part lairy stag night, haven't paid a disgracefully inflated £27.50 a head to act as guinea pigs for completely fresh material, or even relatively recent material. They want to hear the stuff from Picture Book and Stars, songs which, for them, were first-date soundtracks or marriage-proposal anthems.

And they want to hear Hucknall's voice of course, which is better than any white guy's deserves to be. If it is true that, to be convincing, white male soul singers, should aim to sound like black female soul singers, then Hucknall is blessed indeed. At Cardiff, his voice soars into the high notes, dips seamlessly back down into the low ones, and goes for riffing little walks when it feels like it. All without him breaking into a sweat.

People are technically incorrect when they go on about Hucknall's great voice. He hasn't got a great voice, he's got seven great voices. Fashionable he will never be again, but, long after the snobbery and childish sneering have faded, Mick Hucknall's voice will probably be remembered as one of Britain's best.

Setlist

Mellow My Mind

(Neil Young cover)

Never Never Love

Man Made the Gun

It's Only Love Doing Its Thing

(Barry White cover)

A New Flame

Thrill Me

For Your Babies

If You Don't Know Me by Now

(Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes cover)

So Beautiful

Thank You

Look Into Your Eyes

Night Nurse

(Gregory Isaacs cover)

Stars

Come to My Aid

I Won't Feel Bad

Infidelity

The Right Thing

Money's Too Tight (To Mention)

(The Valentine Brothers cover)

Holding Back the Years

(The Frantic Elevators cover)

Something Got Me Started

Fairground

On This Day 24/07/1935 Les Reed

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On this day, 24 July 1935, English songwriter, arranger, musician and light-orchestra leader Les Reed was born in Woking, Surrey.

His worked featured heavily in the careers of many fine artists, most notable of which was Welsh singer Tom Jones.

During 1964, Reed penned "It's Not Unusual" with ex-Viscounts member and Tom Jones' manager Gordon Mills, which was Jones' debut recording and gave him a UK number 1. Reed also arranged the song and played the piano for the recording.

Around this time, Reed struck up a songwriting partnership with Barry Mason. They wrote a song for Kathy Kirby, "I'll Try Not To Cry", as Britain's entry in 1965 for the Eurovision Song Contest held in Naples.The song was beaten by "I Belong".

The songwriters had a 1967 hit in "Everybody Knows" by The Dave Clark Five—who also recorded a Reed–Mason follow-up—and another success in 1968 with "Delilah", again a Top 10 hit for Tom Jones. "Delilah" was originally written for P. J. Proby, and later covered by The Sensational Alex Harvey Band in 1975.

Reed and Mason also wrote "The Last Waltz", which became a million selling UK number one for Engelbert Humperdinck in September 1967.

Reed died 15 April 2019 (aged 83), at Petersfield, Hampshire.

On This Day 21/07/2001 Stereophonics

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On this day 21 July 2001, Welsh rockers The Stereophonics played Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium, with support provided by the Black Crowes, Ash and another Welsh band The Crocketts.

The band had just released their third studio album Just Enough Education To Perform (JEEP) and spawned three top-ten singles in the form of "Mr. Writer", "Have a Nice Day" and "Handbags and Gladrags" as well as topping the UK album charts.

Review - BBC Wales

The Stereophonics conquered the odds of illness to stage a triumphant homecoming concert at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff on Saturday night.

Plagued by foot-and-mouth disease, which forced a relocation from Chepstow Racecourse, and Kelly Jones's flu, which cancelled their US tour, the band were happy to finally turn up at their biggest ever gig on Welsh soil.

An estimated 60,000 fans joined the Phonics in the capital along with support acts the Black Crowes and the Crocketts - this was a rock concert in the very best sense of the word.

Stadium bosses closed the retractable roof to keep out the rain and to keep in the raucous rockers' noise.

But the fans could not keep a lid on their enthusiasm, many waving Welsh flags and huge plastic daffodils.

The boys from Cwmaman played a varied, two-hour set including material from their third and latest album, Just Enough Education To Perform, which went to the top of the charts when it was released in April.

JEEP is still top of the indie charts, moving around 20,000 copies each week.

The performance came as a relief after a troubled few months for the Phonics.

In May, the band was forced to cancel a US tour after Kelly Jones's flu bug worsened to a chest infection and doctors ordered a month's rest.

They also had to pull out of a curtain-raising appearance before the FA Cup Final on 12 May.

Saturday's concert, which seemed to fit the Millennium Stadium so well, was slated for Chepstow Racecourse - but foot-and-mouth put paid to the band's "Day At The Races" idea along with a host of horse races.

Then, Glastonbury 2001, which the Stereophonics were rumoured to headline, was cancelled over crowd safety concerns.

They went on to play a virtual 90-minute Glastonbury event to a handful of faithful fans and a web audience.

But it served as little more than a rehearsal for the impressive Cardiff concert.

Setlist

Local Boy in the Photograph

More Life in a Tramp's Vest

A Thousand Trees

Traffic

T-Shirt Sun Tan

The Bartender and the Thief

Just Looking

Pick a Part That's New

I Wouldn't Believe Your Radio

I Stopped to Fill My Car Up

Mr Writer

Hurry Up and Wait

Have a Nice Day

Step on My Old Size Nines

Roll Up and Shine

Encore:

Everyday I Think of Money

Watch Them Fly Sundays

Vegas Two Times

Rooftop

On This Day 20/07/1958 Shirley Bassey..."washed up." ?

Shirley Bassey pictured sitting at the piano as she tries one of her numbers with Cliff Lewis, (pianist), and New theatre manager Reg Phillips - 1958 - Wales Online Copyright

On this day, 20 July 1958, it was reported in the music press that Cardiff singing legend Shirley Bassey’s latest appearance more than confirmed the singer was still a hit and far from being “washed up’”.

The review.

Shirley Bassey’s return to Variety at the Leeds Empire last Monday proved that she was far from being “washed up.”

The plaintive appeal, physical attraction and slick sophistication are still there.

her act, altered for the better to include blues and standards, is still linked with her old eye-catching, ear-bending numbers.

Although publisher Cliff Lewis (replacing Colin Beaton on piano) was making his debut on Monday, the act was polished and brilliant.

The supporting bill was strong, too - Howard Jones and Reggie Arnold are top entertainers, Des O’Connor scores with songs and comedy, and the Metronotes vocal group is worth the top spot in any show.

On This Day 19/07/1992 Bryan Adams

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On this day 19 July 1992, Canadian rocker Bryan Adams played Cardiff Arms Park on his Waking Up The World Tour.

Support was provided by Extreme, Squeeze and Little Angels

Review - South Wales Echo

The Canadian finished his British tour last night in fine style, and the party mood out front soon spread to the band.

It's taken 10 years of hard slog to reach

Robin Hood's slings and arrows have brought outrageous fortune for Adams.

And he teased the crowd before half way through launching into the inevitable (Everything I Do) I Do It For You. There was a humourous banter with the band and whether or not guitarist Keith Scott's grandmother is really Welsh, he had plenty of home support.

Adams even demanded a rugby song from the 31,500 crowd, and from his reaction, don't be surprised if there's a cover version of Bread Of Heaven on the next album.

He took the band briefly to a second stage out on the pitch, with a live favourite - Eddie Cochran's C'Mon Everybody, before picking half a dozen fans from the crowd to join him for She's Only Happy When She's Dancing.

Then it was back to the main stage to finish with the Adams standard - Summer Of '69 - and Straight From The Heart If there's a certain formula, few carry it off in such a no-frills style.

Setlist

House Arrest

Kids Wanna Rock

Cuts Like a Knife

Somebody

(Everything I Do) I Do It for You

Run to You

When Night Falls

Can't Stop This Thing We Started

It's Only Love

There Will Never Be Another Tonight

B-Stage

C'mon Everybody

(Eddie Cochran cover)

She's Only Happy When She's Dancin'

Encore:

Summer of '69

Straight From the Heart

On This Day 17/07/2011 James Taylor

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On this day, 17 July 2011, American singer-songwriter James Taylor played Cardiff International Arena.

A six-time Grammy Award winner, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2000. Taylor is one of the best-selling music artists of all time, having sold more than 100 million records worldwide.

Taylor achieved his breakthrough in 1970 with the No. 3 single "Fire and Rain" and had his first No. 1 hit in 1971 with his recording of "You've Got a Friend", written by Carole King in the same year.

Review; James Taylor, Cardiff Motorpoint Arena - Wales Online

GOING to a James Taylor concert is like cwtching up into a warm, fuzzy musical bed.

OK, that’s probably the cheesiest thing I’ve ever written, but it’s true.

I first saw James Taylor about eight years ago.

I became a fan due to parental influence and decided to keep my mother company when she was going to one of his gigs.

But I was so glad I that went along and discovered that the man on the recordings was the same as the man who performed on stage.

This time round I was just as enchanted by his gig at Cardiff’s Motorpoint Arena.

It’s very rare that a singer’s voice is a live carbon copy of what you get on a record, but Taylor’s is.

His wiry frame almost looked frail at times, but this belied an enthusiasm and energy that is seen in performers 30 or 40 years younger.

With great pleasure Taylor treated the audience to favourites such as Fire and Rain, Sweet Baby James, Handy Man and – my favourite – Carolina in My Mind.

Interspersed with mellow favourites, the 63-year-old generously shared tales of career and family with the audience and happily signed autographs from the side of the stage.

It wasn’t all mellow songs though as the singer’s passion and enthusiasm came through again with Mexico and How Sweet it Is, as well as his most requested tune, Steamroller.

The singer had wonderful support from his band, including three backing singers who are performers in their own right.

But even without all the fancy backing and great musicianship, Taylor himself is always the focus, and his basic rules of simple guitar and thoughtful melody are never overshadowed.

He is a great storyteller and his touching lyrics provoke loving responses from his fans old and new.

It’s so entertaining to see a performer who is still as animated and lively about his music and touring as James Taylor is.

I just hope I get the opportunity to see him perform live again in the coming years.