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Russell Watson (born Salford, England, November 24 1974) is a British tenor, who has released popular albums of operatic-style songs.
Although he has been singing since he was a child, Russell Watson never sought a career as a professional singer, and began work as a bolt-cutter in Manchester. Short of money supporting his young family, he began to earn extra cash singing Elvis Presley and Neil Diamond covers in north-west clubs.
The turning point in his career came at an engagement at Wigan Road working men's club one night, when the secretary suggested he try singing "Nessun Dorma" from Puccini's Turandot. His strong tenor voice proved such a success that from then on he sang operatic pieces at all his shows.
In 1998 he was invited to sing at Old Trafford during the interval at a Memorial Match of the Munich air disaster, a huge privilege for a lifelong Manchester United fan. However, his appearance was cancelled at the last minute when player Eric Cantona requested that Mick Hucknall sing instead.
In 1999 he sang the UK's national anthem at the rugby Cup final at Wembley Stadium, then finally got to sing at Old Trafford before the last match of the Premiership season between Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur. After the game, when his team had won the league championship, he returned onto the pitch to sing the Freddy Mercury and Montserrat Caballé song "Barcelona", during which he tore off his dinner suit to reveal a Manchester United shirt.
This appearance sealed his success, and only a week later he was invited to sing a full set at the final of the UEFA Champions League in Barcelona between United and Bayern Munich, duetting with Montserrat Caballé herself.
His debut album entitled The Voice followed in May 2001, a mixture of operatic arias and covers of pop songs, topping the UK classical music charts and eventually reaching number eight in the UK album charts.
In late 2002, he released the single "Nothing Sacred - A Song For Kirsty" to raise money for the Francis House children's hospice in Didsbury, Manchester. Their campaign to raise £5 million was fronted by Kirsty Howard, a seven-year-old girl with a serious heart defect. The song reached number 17 in the UK singles chart.
Watson won the Album of the Year at the Classical Brit Awards in both 2001 and 2002, also collecting Best-Selling Debut Album (2001) and Best-Selling Album (2002).
Albums
- The Voice (2001)
- Encore (2002)
- Reprise (2003)
Singles
References
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