As part of my Time Drive show soon to air on IPTV Coventry online TV, I got the chance last week to interview local legend Dave Willetts in the famous Ghost Town car.
Dave, famed for his amazing voice, remains the only man to have played the lead character in Les Miserables and The Phantom of The Opera.
Away from the big shows, Dave now uses his music in a very different way.
The Dave Willetts Foundation was created to help those who are living with Dementia.
At present there are 850,000 people living with Dementia in the UK. This is due to rise to one million by 2025, and two million by 2050.
This debilitating disease not only affects the individual concerned, but it is like a pebble in a pond and the ripples spread to all family and friends. The holy grail is to find a cure, but until that time arrives, we can play our part to create the best quality of life possible.
To this end, Dave has created the Memories series of CDs, of which ‘Memories‘ is the first.
These are inspired by the Singing For The Brain sessions that Dave runs, which is a service that is provided by the Alzheimer’s society. The CDs can be played anytime whether just for enjoyment or to calm any situations that may arise.
Every single penny from the sale of the Memories CDs goes back into the funding of future projects to help those living with Dementia. As we approach the season of giving, there is also a very special Christmas Memories CD, Memories of a Mellow Christmas, available at HMV.
Competition Time, Did you win?
Chrysalis Records recently announced a celebration of 40 years of 2 Tone Records with a year of special releases, beginning with special edition half-speed master of Specials.
It’s a beautiful package and you had a chance to win one signed by Roddy Byers himself, to be picked up in person at the 2-Tone Village.
The winner is Daniel Gerrard, who knew that Elvis Costello produced this album.
For those who didn’t win, I would still recommend you get your hands on a copy of this album. This special edition of one of the most important British debut albums of all time, mastered at Abbey Road Studios by Miles Showell, is a straight half-speed vinyl cut from the original master tapes, split over two 45RPM 12” vinyl, housed in wide spine LP with an OBI wrap around paper strip.
It’s all there, but with a new definition, playing as it does on 45RPM.
Pete Chambers BEM
