August 2026

I have realised that the ‘News’ page is becoming more and more like a blog, and I’m sure a lot of you don’t want to scroll through all my news until they actually get to information on dad.

I am very proud to have launched this website in May 2001. It shocked me that 25 years have gone by and you are still loyally following, and for that reason the website will continue but with a slight change. Instead of reading all about my travels, I will only write about what is happening in the world of Matt Monro

Talking of fans, I very much enjoyed my relationship with Harry and Maureen Carruthers over many years, so I was very upset to receive an email from their son, David, telling me Harry had passed away. It is such sad news, and I will miss his chatty emails. I was gob-smacked to learn that Harry told his son that his whole Matt Monro collection should come to me.

David was tasked with clearing the house to ready it for sale, so it took several months, but a few weeks ago Richard made the journey to Bury to make the pick-up. The back of his Estate car was filled with enormous boxes, which he took home to him in Blackpool. Richard video-called me so that I could see the enormity of the contents of just one of the boxes, and when I say box, it is gigantic.

Going through a few of the bulging files, we came across one filled with all our correspondence going back decades, and it truly brought tears to my eyes that my messages meant so much to him. Richard is aiming to bring the collection over later this month, and I am looking forward to cataloguing it all.

I thank Maureen and David for taking care of it all and ensuring it was returned to me. I will treasure the memories I shared with Harry and am grateful that dad’s music still gives Maureen comfort in these dark days.

Talking about dad’s catalogue of songs, I hope some of you have enjoyed

the launch at the beginning of the year of our new album download, the never before release of the 60^th anniversary of The Legendary Manila Concert at the Araneta Coliseum on download and streaming services as well as dad’s official YouTube channel and all popular podcast platforms.

I mentioned last year that we were putting together another audio compilation with the working title “Matt at the BBC Volume 2’ and I’m delighted that all the legalities have been completed and will be released on our YouTube channel and all streaming sites later this year. I have to tell you the sound is extraordinary.

‘Matt’s Kind of Podcast’ was launched on dad’s birthday in 2024, and we are putting up one edition every month. Thanks to all of you for your support. If you are enjoying it, please tell all your friends to listen in. As you can imagine, I was really excited to feature some special guests over the last year, and last month saw the gorgeous David ‘Diddy’ Hamilton joining Richard and me in the studio. If you haven’t done so already, make sure you listen to it.

I have to admit that Richard and I have had great fun interviewing a host of special people who will be popping up on our podcast over the next few months, so make sure you regularly tune in, and if you want to listen to any of our past podcasts, then you can click the link below, and you will be taken to the full list.

https://podd6d.podbean.com/

Dad’s YouTube channel frequently features rare television performances, interviews and shorts, but don’t worry if you weren’t with us from the very beginning, as the channel still has all the ones you may have missed.  In fact, Aviator, our partners on the site, have managed to unearth and license several rare finds, and they will be coming to you very soon.

Anyway, dad’s YouTube channel is totally free, and it would be amazing to hit the 200,000-subscriber mark this year, so please tell all your friends to visit us and help us grow so that I can keep dad’s legacy of songs burning bright. If everyone told just one person to subscribe, it would make a huge difference to our numbers. Please don’t think we make money out of new people subscribing; in fact, it costs us money to run everything, but it’s the prestige of making the channel as popular as it can be. We have just hit 198k so get subscribing.

Don’t forget to visit dad’s very own YouTube channel – https://www.youtube.com/c/MattMonroOfficial

I know I say this every month, but please let us know if you have any rare footage (even if you taped it illegally, lol), jingles or photos of dad. Come on, all you diehard fans, get looking in your attics. Even if you have reel-to-reel tapes, we have the equipment to listen to them. Fingers crossed.

I’m sure a lot of you go to car boot sales or second-hand record shops, so be on the lookout for any discs with the name Terry Parsons, Terry Fitzgerald or Al Jordan. I will make sure that any monies you lay out will be returned to you.

And if you ever come across a 10” LP on the Manhattan or Solitaire labels originating from the UK or Canada called Popular Hit Parade, 8 Top Hits or something similar that features ‘Strange Lady in Town ’, do let us know.

I am very lucky to be able to spread dad’s musical legacy through the talks I give at sea. Because of ill health, I decided not to take on any cruise work this year and go back in 2027. I do hope I get to meet some of you then.

3 January – 2027 – Ambassador Ambience – Caribbean

Once again, I hope you have a happy and healthy year, and I look forward to touching base with you all very soon. In the meantime, stay safe and keep spreading the MM legacy.

Much love

Michele xx