MATTHEW LONG was born in Birmingham, UK. He was influenced musically by his grandparents' record collection at a tender age, and has always enjoyed a wide variety of sounds and styles. As a singer, he is most at home with a tender ballad or a heartfelt show stopper, though his taste in music ranges from classical and operatic to present day chart entries. The 28-year old has applied himself to a variety of media-related work since leaving school in 2005. One of the highlights of this work has been an ongoing series of radio specials celebrating the legacy of Italian-American crooner Perry Como. He has also provided liner notes for CD releases and worked as Research Assistant on the PBS Television documentary of American Songbook composer, Jimmy Van Heusen - 'Swinging with Frank and Bing' - produced by Burns Media Productions. In 2012, Matthew embarked on a solo singing career, recording his first single, 'Dancing With You', in the Spring. He sold out at a venue in his home town of Shirley, Birmingham, with a show celebrating 'The Great Crooners'. He sang to an audience of nearly 200, with a live backing from a trio led by Leicester-based musician, Alan Warner. Subsequently, Matthew launched his first regional tour. In 2015, backed by a jazz quartet, he sang songs made famous by such illustrious stars as Nat King Cole, Frank Sinatra, Perry Como and Matt Monro. In 2017, Matthew is excited to be embarking on another first: 'What's 50 Years? ... Between Crooners', a rich collaboration with his good friend and colleague, John Walton. JOHN WALTON started out as a singer and songwriter, the pinnacle of his early career being the recording at EMI's famous Abbey Road Studios of his own song 'Miniature Hard Luck Story'. This was produced by the then Head of A & R at EMI, Nick Mobbs, famous for his inspired production of the 'Yes' albums. Like many crooners in the 70s, however, John had to learn to diversify. He was a qualified teacher with a BA degree from Hull University who, in the ensuing years, worked variously as a corporate and educational video producer, youth theatre director, radio actor, voice-over man, drama advisory teacher and lecturer in media. However, in 2000, although still in demand for a range of voice work, he decided, after an 18-year break from singing, that it was time to 're-visit his misspent youth'. Since then, he's directed and performed in his satirical revue, 'Professor Maurice Mollusk's Amazing Unicycling Wombat', released two crooning albums, and a third album for the Leeds-based Jazz singer, Anya Faull, for which he wrote eight songs. He's also written a screenplay for a Bollywood-style musical. John has always been passionate about crooning which he regards a 'an art that conceals art'. In other words a significant factor of the technique is to make it sound effortless. He is delighted to be working with kindred spirit Matthew Long, over 50 years his junior, and also very enthusiastic about any productive inter-generational partnership. He's looking forward to the possibility of putting together a tour associated with the album, which they've entitled 'Two Crooners And An Age Gap'. (see Facebook group page).