Earl Okin
Encyclopedia
Earl Okin is a London
singer-songwriter
, musician and comedian.
Born in Carshalton
, Surrey
, he has lived in Notting Hill
since he was 5 years old, holds a degree in philosophy
from the University of Kent at Canterbury (1968) and worked as a schoolmaster
for 11 years before going 'full time'.
He was signed to the same company as The Beatles
in 1966 and recorded his first single at Abbey Road
in 1967. Some of his songs were covered during the 60s by Cilla Black
, Georgie Fame
and Helen Shapiro
, the latter recording now popular within the world of Northern Soul
.
During the 70s, Okin started to perform as support act in large venues, beginning with Folk
acts such as Ralph McTell
and Fairport Convention
, he progressed to open for such varied performers as Jean-Luc Ponty
and Van Morrison
. However, it was the 1979 tour with Paul McCartney and Wings which prompted him to go 'full time'. He also began to perform in jazz festivals.
In 1981, he appeared on The Parkinson Show and also, due to the comedy that Okin used in his Folk club act, was invited by Nigel Planer
to perform at The Comic Strip
. This led to his second career on the 'alternative comedy' circuit where he remains a headline act. However, his act continues to be a musical one. He has never performed stand-up.
In 1983, he also began to perform at the Edinburgh Fringe
where he performed over 500 shows but has never neglected either his songwriting or development as a Jazz singer/musician, with a special extra interest in the Brazilian music known as Bossa Nova
. He gives concerts in Brazil from time to time, as well as touring his one-man show, a mixture of music and comedy, literally worldwide.
He performs on TV in several countries, but especially Brazil, Australia and Germany.
He has also performed at just about every major venue in London from the Royal Albert and Festival Halls
to The Palladium and Wembley Arena
, etc.
Apart from self-published LP
s, he has had CDs issued by the Bertelsmann Music Group in Germany and Austria and Sony
in the UK.
He is currently unsigned, but has completed two CDs, one of Jazz and Bossa Nova, 'Bossa Britanica' and, more recently, using modern technology, a CD of his songs in various genres called, after the recording studio, 'Songs From A Garden Shed'.
He is also very much a part of the recent rebirth of interest in the modern take on Variety show
s.
His most recent trip found him performing in New York at Birdland
, The Apollo
and other Jazz venues, but, not forgetting his comedy side, also at Caroline's.
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
, musician and comedian.
Born in Carshalton
Carshalton
Carshalton is a suburban area of the London Borough of Sutton, England. It is located 10 miles south-southwest of Charing Cross, situated in the valley of the River Wandle, one of the sources of which is Carshalton Ponds in the centre of the village. The combined population of the five wards...
, Surrey
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
, he has lived in Notting Hill
Notting Hill
Notting Hill is an area in London, England, close to the north-western corner of Kensington Gardens, in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea...
since he was 5 years old, holds a degree in philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
from the University of Kent at Canterbury (1968) and worked as a schoolmaster
Schoolmaster
A schoolmaster, or simply master, once referred to a male school teacher. This usage survives in British public schools, but is generally obsolete elsewhere.The teacher in charge of a school is the headmaster...
for 11 years before going 'full time'.
He was signed to the same company as The Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
in 1966 and recorded his first single at Abbey Road
Abbey Road Studios
Abbey Road Studios is a recording studio located at 3 Abbey Road, St John's Wood, City of Westminster, London, England. It was established in November 1931 by the Gramophone Company, a predecessor of British music company EMI, its present owner...
in 1967. Some of his songs were covered during the 60s by Cilla Black
Cilla Black
Cilla Black OBE is an English singer, actress, entertainer and media personality, who has been consistently popular as a light entertainment figure since 1963. She is most famous for her singles Anyone Who Had A Heart, You're My World, and Alfie...
, Georgie Fame
Georgie Fame
Georgie Fame is a British rhythm and blues and jazz singer and keyboard player. The one-time rock and roll tour musician, who had a string of 1960s hits, is still a popular performer, often working with contemporaries such as Van Morrison and Bill Wyman.-Early life:Fame took piano lessons from the...
and Helen Shapiro
Helen Shapiro
Helen Kate Shapiro is an English singer and actress. She is best known for her 1960s UK chart toppers, "You Don't Know" and "Walkin' Back to Happiness".-Early life:...
, the latter recording now popular within the world of Northern Soul
Northern soul
Northern soul is a music and dance movement that emerged from the British mod scene, initially in northern England in the late 1960s. Northern soul mainly consists of a particular style of black American soul music based on the heavy beat and fast tempo of the mid-1960s Tamla Motown sound...
.
During the 70s, Okin started to perform as support act in large venues, beginning with Folk
Folk music
Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
acts such as Ralph McTell
Ralph McTell
Ralph McTell is an English singer-songwriter and acoustic guitar player who has been an influential figure on the UK folk music scene since the 1960s....
and Fairport Convention
Fairport Convention
Fairport Convention are an English folk rock and later electric folk band, formed in 1967 who are still recording and touring today. They are widely regarded as the most important single group in the English folk rock movement...
, he progressed to open for such varied performers as Jean-Luc Ponty
Jean-Luc Ponty
Jean-Luc Ponty is a French virtuoso violinist and jazz composer.- Early years:Ponty was born into a family of classical musicians on 29 September 1942 in Avranches, France. His father taught violin, his mother taught piano...
and Van Morrison
Van Morrison
Van Morrison, OBE is a Northern Irish singer-songwriter and musician. His live performances at their best are regarded as transcendental and inspired; while some of his recordings, such as the studio albums Astral Weeks and Moondance, and the live album It's Too Late to Stop Now, are widely...
. However, it was the 1979 tour with Paul McCartney and Wings which prompted him to go 'full time'. He also began to perform in jazz festivals.
In 1981, he appeared on The Parkinson Show and also, due to the comedy that Okin used in his Folk club act, was invited by Nigel Planer
Nigel Planer
Nigel George Planer is an English actor, comedian, novelist and playwright.Planer is perhaps best known for his role as Neil Pye in the cult BBC comedy The Young Ones. He has appeared in many West End musicals, including Evita, Chicago, We Will Rock You, Wicked and Hairspray...
to perform at The Comic Strip
The Comic Strip
The Comic Strip is a group of British comedians, known for their television series The Comic Strip Presents.... The core members are Adrian Edmondson, Dawn French, Rik Mayall, Nigel Planer, Peter Richardson and Jennifer Saunders, with frequent appearances by Keith Allen, Robbie Coltrane and...
. This led to his second career on the 'alternative comedy' circuit where he remains a headline act. However, his act continues to be a musical one. He has never performed stand-up.
In 1983, he also began to perform at the Edinburgh Fringe
Edinburgh Fringe
The Edinburgh Festival Fringe is the world’s largest arts festival. Established in 1947 as an alternative to the Edinburgh International Festival, it takes place annually in Scotland's capital, in the month of August...
where he performed over 500 shows but has never neglected either his songwriting or development as a Jazz singer/musician, with a special extra interest in the Brazilian music known as Bossa Nova
Bossa Nova
Bossa Nova may refer to:*Bossa nova, a style of music*Bossa Nova , a dance form associated with the music*Bossa Nova , a 2000 film*Bossa Nova - album by John Pizzarelli...
. He gives concerts in Brazil from time to time, as well as touring his one-man show, a mixture of music and comedy, literally worldwide.
He performs on TV in several countries, but especially Brazil, Australia and Germany.
He has also performed at just about every major venue in London from the Royal Albert and Festival Halls
Royal Albert Hall
The Royal Albert Hall is a concert hall situated on the northern edge of the South Kensington area, in the City of Westminster, London, England, best known for holding the annual summer Proms concerts since 1941....
to The Palladium and Wembley Arena
Wembley Arena
Wembley Arena is an indoor arena, at Wembley, in the London Borough of Brent. The building is opposite Wembley Stadium.-History:...
, etc.
Apart from self-published LP
LP record
The LP, or long-playing microgroove record, is a format for phonograph records, an analog sound storage medium. Introduced by Columbia Records in 1948, it was soon adopted as a new standard by the entire record industry...
s, he has had CDs issued by the Bertelsmann Music Group in Germany and Austria and Sony
Sony Music Entertainment
Sony Music Entertainment ' is the second-largest global recorded music company of the "big four" record companies and is controlled by Sony Corporation of America, the United States subsidiary of Japan's Sony Corporation....
in the UK.
He is currently unsigned, but has completed two CDs, one of Jazz and Bossa Nova, 'Bossa Britanica' and, more recently, using modern technology, a CD of his songs in various genres called, after the recording studio, 'Songs From A Garden Shed'.
He is also very much a part of the recent rebirth of interest in the modern take on Variety show
Variety show
A variety show, also known as variety arts or variety entertainment, is an entertainment made up of a variety of acts, especially musical performances and sketch comedy, and normally introduced by a compère or host. Other types of acts include magic, animal and circus acts, acrobatics, juggling...
s.
His most recent trip found him performing in New York at Birdland
Birdland (jazz club)
Birdland is a jazz club started in New York City on December 15, 1949. The original Birdland, which was located at 1678 Broadway, just north of West 52nd Street in Manhattan, was closed in 1965 due to increased rents, but it re-opened for one night in 1979...
, The Apollo
Apollo Theater
The Apollo Theater in New York City is one of the most famous, and older, music halls in the United States, and the most famous club associated almost exclusively with Black performers...
and other Jazz venues, but, not forgetting his comedy side, also at Caroline's.