Russell Watson

Russell Watson (born 1966 or 1967) is an English tenor who has released singles and albums of both operatic-style and pop songs.

He began singing as a child, and became known after performing at a working men's club.

Russell Watson was born in 1966 or 1967.

He attended Irlam Endowed Primary School.

He then began work on a Youth Opportunities Programme as a bolt-cutter.

Although Watson had been singing since he was a child, he never sought a career as a professional singer.

Then married and with a baby, he began to earn extra money singing cover versions of Elvis Presley and other artists in North West clubs to help support his young family.

In 1990 he won a Search for a Star contest organised by Manchester's Piccadilly Radio.

In 1998 Ian Boasman, manager of the Bistro French restaurant in Preston, arranged for him to sing at Old Trafford during the interval at a memorial football match for 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.

Russell signed a management deal with Boasman; this also involved comic Bobby Ball and businessman Keith Chadwick.

He came to attention in 1999 when he sang "God Save the Queen" at the Rugby League Challenge Cup Final at Wembley Stadium, "Barcelona" at the last match of the Premiership season between Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford, and a full set of songs at the 1999 UEFA Champions League Final in Barcelona between Manchester United and Bayern Munich.

In 1999 he sang "God Save the Queen" at the Rugby League Challenge Cup Final at Wembley Stadium, then finally sang 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 to the pitch to sing the Freddie Mercury and Montserrat Caballé song "Barcelona", during which he tore off his dinner jacket to reveal a Manchester United shirt; 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.

Watson was now managed by Perry Hughes, who was pivotal in the success of Watson's career during these years.

Watson's debut album The Voice was released in May 2001; four others followed.

Watson's début album, The Voice, followed in May 2001.

A mixture of operatic arias and covers of pop songs, it topped the UK classical chart and eventually reached number five in the UK Albums Chart.

When it was released in the United States, it took the number one spot, the first time a British artist had held both the US and UK classical number one.

The album contained perhaps Watson's most unusual collaboration to date, with former Happy Mondays singer Shaun Ryder who lent his vocals to the Freddie Mercury and Montserrat Caballé song "Barcelona".

It also featured a duet with Faye Tozer of pop group Steps, "Someone Like You", which when released as a single, charted at number 10 on the UK Singles chart.

Prior to the formation of Velvet Revolver, Watson was asked by Slash (guitarist of Guns N' Roses) whether he would be their singer.

Watson turned down this opportunity to focus on his solo career.

In 2001, Watson sang the opening theme of the television series Star Trek: Enterprise, "Where My Heart Will Take Me", written by Diane Warren.

The self-styled "People's Tenor", who is also known as "The Voice" after his first album, won the Album of the Year at the Classical BRIT Awards in both 2001 and 2002, also collecting awards for Best-Selling Debut Album (2001) and Best-Selling Album (2002).

He also sang it live at the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games in Manchester in 2002.

In 2003, the song was remixed to a more upbeat version.

In late 2004, Watson released the single "Nothing Sacred – A Song for Kirsty" to raise £5 million for the Francis House children's hospice in Didsbury, Manchester.

The campaign was fronted by Kirsty Howard, a seven-year-old girl with a serious heart defect.

The song reached number 17 on the UK Singles Chart.

An album planned for November 2006 was delayed due to the removal of a benign pituitary tumour.

This album, titled That's Life, was eventually released in March 2007.

Later that year, it was discovered that there had been a regrowth of the pituitary tumour and bleeding into Watson's brain.

He underwent emergency surgery and was discharged from hospital on 31 October.

He underwent an extensive rehabilitation programme, including radiotherapy.

His sixth studio album, Outside In, was released on 26 November 2007.

In August 2007, it was played as a wake-up call for American Mission Specialist Richard Mastracchio on Space Shuttle Endeavour mission STS-118.

Watson released La Voce, his first album since overcoming the brain tumour, in 2010.

Watson has released thirteen studio albums.

His latest is a collaborative album with singer Aled Jones, Christmas with Aled and Russell, which was released in November 2022.