TonyfromLuton - Wind Beneath My Wings
TonyfromLuton
Apr 16, 2025 09:53am
<p><img src="https://singsnap-cdn.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com/message-board/threads/TXN1/209e4d65cf_364M_media.gif"></p><p><span style="background-color: rgb(254, 254, 254); color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Joe, who came from Hull and settled in Blackpool, was unique in his ability to present a vocal act in the voices of stars as varied as Frank Sinatra, Shirley Bassey and Neil Diamond, to name but three.</span></p><p><span style="background-color: rgb(254, 254, 254); color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">For more than 30 years he played seasons and concerts at Blackpool's three main theatres - the Opera House, the Grand and the North Pier.</span></p><p><span style="background-color: rgb(254, 254, 254); color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">In 2007 he received the Variety Club's Lifetime Achievement Award and in 2012 the MBE in the Birthday Honours List.</span></p><p><span style="background-color: rgb(254, 254, 254); color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Joe died in 2019 after a long battle with cancer.</span></p><p>Longthorne appeared on television in 1981, through the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London_Weekend_Television" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 204);">London Weekend Television</a> series <em>Search For a Star</em>, on which he performed as a singer and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impressionist" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 204);">impressionist</a>. His success on the show led to appearances at the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London_Palladium" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 204);">London Palladium</a> and a month-long season at London's <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talk_of_the_Town_(nightclub)" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 204);">Talk of the Town</a> nightclub. He played the London Palladium many times.</p><p>In 1988, he presented his own television series, <em>The Joe Longthorne Show</em>.</p><p>Longthorne appeared regularly on several TV programmes in the 1980s, including <em>The Les Dennis Laughter Show</em> and <em>The Royal Variety Performance</em>.He performed in theatres in the United States and at the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sydney_Opera_House" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 204);">Sydney Opera House</a>. Longthorne also released three <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Music_recording_sales_certification" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 204);">platinum</a> albums for <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telstar" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 204);">Telstar</a>: <em>The Joe Longthorne Songbook</em>, <em>Especially For You</em> and <em>The Joe Longthorne Christmas Album</em>.</p><p>Longthorne was known for his renditions of songs in the style of Dame <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shirley_Bassey" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 204);">Shirley Bassey</a>. His other impersonations included <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_Sinatra" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 204);">Frank Sinatra</a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sammy_Davis_Jr." rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 204);">Sammy Davis Jr.</a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johnny_Mathis" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 204);">Johnny Mathis</a> and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Jones_(singer)" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 204);">Tom Jones</a>.</p><p><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Variety,_the_Children%27s_Charity" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 204);">The Variety Club</a> awarded him its Lifetime Achievement Award in 2007; this placed him amongst past recipients such as <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_Sinatra" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 204);">Frank Sinatra</a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judy_Garland" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 204);">Judy Garland</a>, and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ella_Fitzgerald" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 204);">Ella Fitzgerald</a>.</p><p>Longthorne was appointed a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Member_of_the_Order_of_the_British_Empire" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 204);">Member of the Order of the British Empire</a> (MBE) in the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2012_Birthday_Honours" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 204);">2012 Birthday Honours</a> for services to charity. </p><p>I personally absolutely loved him, he was a fantastic entertainer, who gave everything he had, to each and every song he sung, in every performance !! I loved his impressions...(though I thought my Sinatra was better than his) Ha ha !!! He actually came in and listened to me in a night club in Blackpool, in the mid 90's, and was very complimentary !!</p><p>Anyway...Here is my vocal tribute to JOE LONGTHORNE ...I hope you enjoy my final song of this journey.</p><p>Take Care until the next time,</p><p>Tony.</p><p>THE FABULOUS...JOE LONGTHORNE...</p><p><img src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/ace/standard/976/cpsprodpb/A139/production/_131637214_mediaitem131636981.jpg" alt="Joe Longthorne"></p>