Rat Pack star Gary Williams is following up his popular Kitchen Cabaret-lockdown shows by launching a crowdfunding appeal to pay for a new album of classic songs.
Launching on Kickstarter on 28 May 2020, the singer who has been entertaining home-bound fans during lockdown with a daily performance of songs on request and interviews (‘Covid Conversations’) with over 30 artists from across the world, is hoping to raise £2,500 to record a special ‘lockdown’ album, ‘On Days Like These’.
Announcing his appeal, the singer who is famous for his portrayal of Frank Sinatra in the West End hit The Rat Pack said: “This is such a dark time for so many people that it would be lovely to come out of it with a new album of beautiful songs to make the world just a little bit brighter.”
Like many performers, Williams found his usually packed itinerary of cabaret shows, concerts and cruises emptied over-night due to the Covid-19 crisis.
Commenting on the shock of finding all his shows cancelled or postponed, Williams said: “At first I was in shock, I went from booking flights and planning tours to staring into an abyss. The virus is devastating for so many people and the entertainment industry has been especially hard hit.”
Explaining his decision to interview fellow artists across the world for inspiration and advice on how to cope with lockdown, the singer explained: “I was looking for positive messages from friends in the arts who were being proactive, learning new skills and re-connecting with old friends. It was great, but before too long I was beginning to miss music, so I started singing a song every day from my kitchen at home and sharing it on social media.”
Williams’ Kitchen Cabaret has allowed the artist to keep performing and interacting with fans while homebound. Describing the series which has developed from an online post on social media into a daily event, Williams said: “People often request songs that I’ve never sung before and there have been some lovely surprises and very moving moments.
“A lady I know from cruise ships asked me to sing a song for her husband who was in hospital with the virus. I did the dedication and a few days later he passed away. It was desperately sad and a stark reminder of how grateful we must be for our health and well-being.”
Williams’ Kitchen Cabaret set-list so far ranges from ‘Moon River’ and ‘My Funny Valentine’ and the offbeat ‘You’ve Got a Friend’ from Toy Story to tracks including Matt Monro’s haunting ‘Walk Away’.
Angela Thomas
www.kickstarter.com/projects/garywilliamsmusic/on-days-like-these
www.garywilliams.co.uk/kitchencabaret
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