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"You don't have to swim faster than the shark, just faster than the guy next to you." - Anonymous
Monday, January 07, 2008
Diane Warren
Russell Watson
Enterprise NX-01Russel Watson's Inspiring Story
You must have seen episodes of Star Trek Enterprise on TV although I’m not sure if you’re aware that the theme song “Faith of the Heart, is written by Diane Warren and superbly performed by Russell Watson
The story of Russell Watson, 41, is inspirational. It depicts the meteoric rise of a humble factory worker from Salford who was catapulted into international stardom. He has sold millions of records worldwide and has performed for some of the most influential people of our time including our very own Agung of Malaysia, The President of the United States, the Emperor of Japan, Ex-British Prime Minister Tony Blair, Prime Minister of Germany, various UAE Sultans, The Beckham’s and even the late Pope John Paul II who requested a private audience with Russell at the Vatican in Rome.
After staging a recent concert at Windsor Castle in the presence of Prince Charles and Camilla Duchess of Cornwall, the Prince requested Russell’s services as an ambassador for his coveted charity The Prince’s Trust. Russell has been invited to numerous functions hosted by Queen Elizabeth II including a recent visit to Buckingham Palace.
This success did not happen overnight. As the son of a factory worker, Russell found himself following in his father’s footsteps working 12 hour nightshifts in a nuts and bolts factory to earn his living. It was only when he entered a local radio talent competition, beating 400 other hopefuls that Russell decided to throw down the proverbial oily rag and pursue his passion – music. Russell spent the next few years completing his musical apprenticeship in the North West working men’s clubs.
Russell’s big break came in May 1999 when he was invited to Old Trafford to sing before Manchester United’s Premiership-winning match. His performance of the World Cup anthem “Nessun Dorma” received a standing ovation.
To quote respected sporting journalist, Paul Hince, present at the game: “You know you have just witnessed something special when even the cynical hacks in the press box rise to their feet and join in the ovation. I swear, even the pigeons on the roof of the stands flapped their wings”.
Inevitably this triggered a series of sports-related performances. He was invited to perform so often that one journalist was quoted as saying “there is only one person to have appeared more times at Wembley this year than David Beckham, and that is Russell Watson!”.
The sports theme has stayed with Russell and in 2002 he was invited to perform at the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games in front of a worldwide television audience of 1 billion people.
Russell was signed by The Decca Music Group to a five-album deal and in September 2000, his debut recording The Voice was released to huge critical and public acclaim. This mix of repertoire along with Russell’s majestic vocal performance delivered an incredible impact.
By October, it had climbed to No.5 in the UK pop charts and broke worldwide records by holding the No.1 position in the classical chart for a year, only to be knocked off by his follow up release, Encore. It broke further records by quickly reaching the No. 1 spot in the US, making Watson the first British male to simultaneously occupy the top of both the UK and the American charts. This multi million-seller went on to win two awards for Best Classical Album and Best Classical Debut album.
Encore followed Russell’s innovative trademark mixture of popular Italian arias with pop classics (including songs recorded for the Hollywood blockbuster Captain Corelli’s Mandolin and “Faith of the Heart, written by Diane Warren as the theme song for the Star Trek TV series Enterprise). It went multi Platinum in the UK (where it was at No. 1 in the classical charts for 30 weeks), multi platinum in New Zealand, Ireland and Gold in numerous territories around the world. Russell won a further two awards for Best Classical Album and Male Artist of the Year.
Watson’s third album Reprise, released in 2002, went Platinum in the UK within two weeks, reaching No. 9 in the pop charts and No. 1 in the classical charts. In fact every UK release to this day by Russell has reached top ten status in the national UK album charts.
Russell has been no stranger to career and life threatening scenarios. One of these life changing experiences occurred just after his third album when he began experiencing problems with his voice.
“It was probably one of the single worst days of my life when I went to see the specialist. I told him I was having problems with my falsetto. I could sing chest notes, but I knew I was bypassing the problem. He stuck a pipe up my nose and down my throat and said you’ve got a lump on your vocal chord and that they were going to have to surgically remove it. He was totally honest with me and said that I could lose some of my top register; he couldn’t give me any guarantees. I walked out of the place in tears.” Fortunately the operation was a complete success and Russell returned to full health.
The next album, Amore Musica, was extraordinarily beautiful. It included lyrics by Dianne Warren and Gary Barlow (Take That). This was a record that Russell felt truly reflected his state of mind at that time saying “this is a record about love, music, peace, happiness and hope”.
In 2006 Russell released The Ultimate Collection, a compilation of his greatest hits so far. With a debut at no. 2 in the national album charts, his highest position to date, and a fifth number one in the Classical charts it really proved Russell is here to stay.
Russell is aiming to break new ground and force the boundaries. The new record is a collection of some of his favourite songs. Recording at the legendary Capitol studios in Los Angeles seemed the only way to do these songs justice by bringing them back to their original home.
With a collection of classic songs including “Strangers in the Night”, “When I Fall in Love” and “Born Free” Russell truly has encapsulated the magic of the golden era of music within this record.
Only now did Russell explain that he was slowly emerging from the most traumatic experience that he had endured in his life. Whilst recording this album he received news that everyone dreads to hear - that he was diagnosed as having a brain tumor. Despite this horrifying news, he kept it secret from everyone and soldiered on to complete the record.
After the operation, Watson could barely walk. The tumor had affected his pituitary gland - which controls hormone levels: "My mood swings went from ecstatic to suicidal. I remember one night standing on the balcony, full of dark thoughts and self-pity, thinking 'God, this is fu*king terrible, why me?'
I went back to bed, couldn't sleep, got up again. I thought I'd had enough. If it hadn't been for my daughters..." His energy levels were very low and he did not leave his house for two months: "I couldn't deal with more than one person at a time or with multitasking and I cried easily." Watson was readmitted to hospital for tests on 6 October 2006 after complaining of dizziness, headaches and blurred vision.
An MRI scan showed he had a regrowth of his tumor but this time with bleeding in his brain. He underwent emergency surgery to remove the tumor at the Alexandra Hospital in Cheadle, Greater Manchester, and was for a while in critical condition in the hospital's Intensive Therapy Unit.
On 26 October 2007 Watson was declared "recovering well" from his surgery and in a stable condition, although the recovery process might be "a long haul". Watson was discharged from hospital on 31 October 2007, and will continue to undergo extensive rehabilitation including radiotherapy.
He said "I'm just happy to be alive and be with my children at the moment". Watson has two daughters: Rebecca, and Hannah. He was divorced from his former wife soon after the release of his first album.
Watson said that his brain tumor changed his priorities. “Made me appreciate the importance of relationships, of friends and family and, most of all, my two daughters. My fear for them if I died – that was the worst part."
To sum it up this is quite simply a story of passion versus emotion and there really is only one possible appropriate title for Watson’s recently released album - That’s Life.
The story of Russell Watson, 41, is inspirational. It depicts the meteoric rise of a humble factory worker from Salford who was catapulted into international stardom. He has sold millions of records worldwide and has performed for some of the most influential people of our time including our very own Agung of Malaysia, The President of the United States, the Emperor of Japan, Ex-British Prime Minister Tony Blair, Prime Minister of Germany, various UAE Sultans, The Beckham’s and even the late Pope John Paul II who requested a private audience with Russell at the Vatican in Rome.
After staging a recent concert at Windsor Castle in the presence of Prince Charles and Camilla Duchess of Cornwall, the Prince requested Russell’s services as an ambassador for his coveted charity The Prince’s Trust. Russell has been invited to numerous functions hosted by Queen Elizabeth II including a recent visit to Buckingham Palace.
This success did not happen overnight. As the son of a factory worker, Russell found himself following in his father’s footsteps working 12 hour nightshifts in a nuts and bolts factory to earn his living. It was only when he entered a local radio talent competition, beating 400 other hopefuls that Russell decided to throw down the proverbial oily rag and pursue his passion – music. Russell spent the next few years completing his musical apprenticeship in the North West working men’s clubs.
Russell’s big break came in May 1999 when he was invited to Old Trafford to sing before Manchester United’s Premiership-winning match. His performance of the World Cup anthem “Nessun Dorma” received a standing ovation.
To quote respected sporting journalist, Paul Hince, present at the game: “You know you have just witnessed something special when even the cynical hacks in the press box rise to their feet and join in the ovation. I swear, even the pigeons on the roof of the stands flapped their wings”.
Inevitably this triggered a series of sports-related performances. He was invited to perform so often that one journalist was quoted as saying “there is only one person to have appeared more times at Wembley this year than David Beckham, and that is Russell Watson!”.
The sports theme has stayed with Russell and in 2002 he was invited to perform at the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games in front of a worldwide television audience of 1 billion people.
Russell was signed by The Decca Music Group to a five-album deal and in September 2000, his debut recording The Voice was released to huge critical and public acclaim. This mix of repertoire along with Russell’s majestic vocal performance delivered an incredible impact.
By October, it had climbed to No.5 in the UK pop charts and broke worldwide records by holding the No.1 position in the classical chart for a year, only to be knocked off by his follow up release, Encore. It broke further records by quickly reaching the No. 1 spot in the US, making Watson the first British male to simultaneously occupy the top of both the UK and the American charts. This multi million-seller went on to win two awards for Best Classical Album and Best Classical Debut album.
Encore followed Russell’s innovative trademark mixture of popular Italian arias with pop classics (including songs recorded for the Hollywood blockbuster Captain Corelli’s Mandolin and “Faith of the Heart, written by Diane Warren as the theme song for the Star Trek TV series Enterprise). It went multi Platinum in the UK (where it was at No. 1 in the classical charts for 30 weeks), multi platinum in New Zealand, Ireland and Gold in numerous territories around the world. Russell won a further two awards for Best Classical Album and Male Artist of the Year.
Watson’s third album Reprise, released in 2002, went Platinum in the UK within two weeks, reaching No. 9 in the pop charts and No. 1 in the classical charts. In fact every UK release to this day by Russell has reached top ten status in the national UK album charts.
Russell has been no stranger to career and life threatening scenarios. One of these life changing experiences occurred just after his third album when he began experiencing problems with his voice.
“It was probably one of the single worst days of my life when I went to see the specialist. I told him I was having problems with my falsetto. I could sing chest notes, but I knew I was bypassing the problem. He stuck a pipe up my nose and down my throat and said you’ve got a lump on your vocal chord and that they were going to have to surgically remove it. He was totally honest with me and said that I could lose some of my top register; he couldn’t give me any guarantees. I walked out of the place in tears.” Fortunately the operation was a complete success and Russell returned to full health.
The next album, Amore Musica, was extraordinarily beautiful. It included lyrics by Dianne Warren and Gary Barlow (Take That). This was a record that Russell felt truly reflected his state of mind at that time saying “this is a record about love, music, peace, happiness and hope”.
In 2006 Russell released The Ultimate Collection, a compilation of his greatest hits so far. With a debut at no. 2 in the national album charts, his highest position to date, and a fifth number one in the Classical charts it really proved Russell is here to stay.
Russell is aiming to break new ground and force the boundaries. The new record is a collection of some of his favourite songs. Recording at the legendary Capitol studios in Los Angeles seemed the only way to do these songs justice by bringing them back to their original home.
With a collection of classic songs including “Strangers in the Night”, “When I Fall in Love” and “Born Free” Russell truly has encapsulated the magic of the golden era of music within this record.
Only now did Russell explain that he was slowly emerging from the most traumatic experience that he had endured in his life. Whilst recording this album he received news that everyone dreads to hear - that he was diagnosed as having a brain tumor. Despite this horrifying news, he kept it secret from everyone and soldiered on to complete the record.
After the operation, Watson could barely walk. The tumor had affected his pituitary gland - which controls hormone levels: "My mood swings went from ecstatic to suicidal. I remember one night standing on the balcony, full of dark thoughts and self-pity, thinking 'God, this is fu*king terrible, why me?'
I went back to bed, couldn't sleep, got up again. I thought I'd had enough. If it hadn't been for my daughters..." His energy levels were very low and he did not leave his house for two months: "I couldn't deal with more than one person at a time or with multitasking and I cried easily." Watson was readmitted to hospital for tests on 6 October 2006 after complaining of dizziness, headaches and blurred vision.
An MRI scan showed he had a regrowth of his tumor but this time with bleeding in his brain. He underwent emergency surgery to remove the tumor at the Alexandra Hospital in Cheadle, Greater Manchester, and was for a while in critical condition in the hospital's Intensive Therapy Unit.
On 26 October 2007 Watson was declared "recovering well" from his surgery and in a stable condition, although the recovery process might be "a long haul". Watson was discharged from hospital on 31 October 2007, and will continue to undergo extensive rehabilitation including radiotherapy.
He said "I'm just happy to be alive and be with my children at the moment". Watson has two daughters: Rebecca, and Hannah. He was divorced from his former wife soon after the release of his first album.
Watson said that his brain tumor changed his priorities. “Made me appreciate the importance of relationships, of friends and family and, most of all, my two daughters. My fear for them if I died – that was the worst part."
To sum it up this is quite simply a story of passion versus emotion and there really is only one possible appropriate title for Watson’s recently released album - That’s Life.
