BOBBY CRUSH

Few entertainers can claim to have had as varied a career as BOBBY CRUSH ... famous in the U.K. for over 30 years primarily as a pianist but also as a songwriter, broadcaster, actor and TV presenter.

Bobby became known nationwide after six winning appearances on TV’s “Opportunity Knocks!” receiving along the way the Variety Club of Great Britain’s Award for “Best New Artist of 1972”. This was presented to him by the late Lord Mountbatten of Burma and heralded the first of many appearances before members of the Royal Family.

West End successes include three seasons at the London Palladium co-starring alongside Jack Jones, Vic Damone and Julie Andrews; a year with Max Bygraves in “SwingalongaMax” at the Victoria Palace and an appearance in “The Royal Variety Performance” before Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother.

Bobby’s work abroad has also been extensive - a tour of Canada with Sir Harry Secombe, concerts in Australia and New Zealand (where he also co-hosted the “Countrywide Music Awards Show” and received a gold disc for sales of his “Piano Party” album). He is also a regular guest on the QE2, P&O and Crystal cruise ships, where his cabaret shows invariably receive standing ovations. Recording successes include his debut album “Bobby Crush”, which reached the UK top 20; chart singles “Borsalino” and “The Sting” and the TV-advertised “Double Decker Party Album”, which sold over 100,000 copies and brought Bobby two more gold discs. In all, he has made 13 albums (not including compilations). As well as his piano albums, Bobby has been heard vocally on two show recordings ... he played the role of “Pharoah” on Pickwick’s “Joseph & the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” and sang 3 songs on Carlton’s “Songs from the musical ‘Hair’”.

Bobby’s TV appearances have included two series of “Sounds like Music” (show host), “Through the Keyhole”, “Celebrity Squares”, “This Morning”, “Jim Davidson’s Generation Game”, “Live from Her Majesty’s”, “Esther”, “Give Us A Clue”, “The Antiques Road Show”, “Viva Cabaret!”, “Noel’s House Party”, “Big Breakfast” and “Wetty Hainthrop” with Victoria Wood and Julie Walters for “Comic Relief”. He has also been a guest judge on Sky Television’s talent show “Star Search” and Carlton’s “Pot of Gold” with Des 0’Connor.

Bobby’s broadcasting career has included his own week of shows on BBC Radio 2 and many guest slots including “Steve Wright in the Afternoon”, “The Gloria Hunniford Show”, “John Inman and Friends”, “Maestro” and five acclaimed appearances on “Loose Ends” with Ned Sherrin for BBC Radio 4. His “40th Birthday Concert”, aired on Radio 2, was nominated for the Monte Carlo Radio Prize and such was its success that a follow-up show, “Bobby Crush - Centre Stage”, was immediately commissioned. As a composer, he has written two complete pantomime scores, one full-scale musical (“Sherwood”), a huge hit for Keith Harris & Orville, (“Orville’s Song” reached no. 4 in the UK charts with over 1 million sales and was awarded a silver disc) and he has also written comedy material for Russ Abbot and Les Dennis.

Bobby has also appeared in 4 musicals starring as “Dr. Frank N. Furter” in “The Rocky Horror Show”, “Vernon Gersch” in “They’re Playing Our Song”, “L.M.” in “Pump Boys and Dinettes” and “Billy Flynn” in “Chicago” at top theatres around the United Kingdom.

To coincide with the release of his “Reel Music” album, Bobby played a 45-date tour with 60’s singing star Gene Pitney. His sell-out show at the Arts Theatre in London’s West End was followed by a critically acclaimed week in cabaret at the Cafe Royal’s “Green Room”, an appearance at the Royal Albert Hall in “The Stonewall Equality Show” and a national tour of “Back to Bacharach”, his tribute show to the legendary Burt Bacharach, for which he also wrote the script.

In recent months, Bobby was chosen as top of the bill for the “Tribute to Russ Conway” held at the Westminster Theatre and at London’s Fortune Theatre, during a performance of his one-man show, Bobby received a standing ovation from the sell-out crowd!

On October 20th 2002, Bobby was given a lunch in his honour by “Musical Heritage” to celebrate his 30th Anniversary in showbusiness. This was held at London’s “Grosvenor House Hotel” and guest speakers included John Inman, Christopher Biggins, Claire Rayner and Anita Harris.