HISTORY OF SINGER'S NIGHT
SINGERS' NIGHT was founded by outstanding singer/songwriter/pianist and educationalist Estelle Kokot at the Pizza Express, Earls Court in 1996. Estelle employed the finest instrumentalists and that tradition has continued. In 1998 Singers' Night moved to the Tatty Bogle Club in Kingly Court, Soho W1. Chris Legee took over the management of the events in 1999.
Chris introduced Showcases, highlighting individual singers and established events at the prestigious Pizza On The Park, Knightsbridge, now Live On The Park. They included Sunday afternoon open mic sessions and evening performances featuring vocalists from Singers' Night. There have also been open mic events at the Battersea Barge in Vauxhall and the Quecumbar in Battersea. Chris organises workshops, so far there have been more than sixty, taught by top vocal jazz personalities including: Lianne Caroll, Lee Gibson, Sheila Jordan, Barb Jungr, Stacey Kent, Claire Martin, Tina May, Mark Murphy and Ian Shaw.
In 2000 Michael Klein, engineer, Director of Heartbeat Sound and a singer/songwriter, himself, joined Singers' Night to look after our sound. BB Bennett & Lesley Grant look after the door. Angela Carrington, Anne Robson, Alex Friend, Tim Ryan and Conrad Simpson all have contributed to the success of our events as have the wonderful, singers, instrumentalists and guests who have supported us, many from 1996 right up to the present day.
The Tatty Bogle Club closed in 2004. After stopping at the Old Coffee House and the Sanctuary in Soho, Singers' Night moved to its present home NELSON north of Soho in NW1. The management of NELSON love and support our music and make us feel very much appreciated and welcome.