Barrie Ex Elland Westgate School Boy Made a Career in Music by John Bannerman MD
| Barrie Ex Elland Westgate School Boy Made a Career in Music by John Bannerman MD | |
|---|---|
 1974 Halifax.jpg Barrie Law in 1975 | |
| Born | |
| 🏳️ Nationality | British |
| 💼 Occupation | Singer and Actor |
| 👩 Spouse(s) | Lynda Law |
Barrie Law's singing talents were first recognised as a child when Mr Haugh, the choir master at Elland Parish Church in West Yorkshire, spotted that Barrie had an outstanding singing voice for his age.
Born on 22nd July 1944 in Halifax, Barrie spent six years as a member of this choir and that of All Saints' Church in Elland in 1950s. Over the weeks and months that followed, Barrie's voice was intensively coached, and by the age of 12 he was singing solo each Sunday backed by the parish choir. At the age of eighteen Barrie joined the choir of St Stephen's church in Copley, Halifax for several years, before moving from Copley to join the choir of St Paul's church, King Cross, Halifax
Barrie was married in April 1965, age 21, to Lynda Hellowell and started work at the John Mackintosh & Sons, confectionary company in Halifax, undertaking chemical research in the main laboratory and at Queens Road.
On 25th June 1971, he went to live in York. He lived in Heworth, York for a few months with a young girl called Carole Waller age 21 they had worked together for Mackintosh in Halifax. They idolised each other. But it was a relationship that lasted around ten months, they both parted. Knowing they still loved each other. Barrie says "I remember the tears in her eyes when I said I was returning to Halifax without her, I hurt her deeply, but did hope that time would heal what we both felt for each other, and that our friendship and memories would never fade over the years".
Barrie returned to Halifax, and started studies in music and voice coaching with a teacher from the London College of Music, over the next four years, and later another two years for opera voice coaching with London teacher Karl Lazenby.
Madam Mary King, an examiner with the London College of Music, once said to the Halifax Courier Press "he's a natural tenor - he knows the accent that makes a lyric line reach it's audience"; the New York Press said on his visit "his voice has warmth and power"
James Corrigan gave Barrie his first big break at Batley Variety Club after hearing him sing at a local club in Batley, West Yorkshire, later Law was introduced to Roy Orbison at Batley Club
He was signed up with John Bannerman Agency and the Denman Agency, and in the seventies and eighties, he worked for Opera North, Sadler's Wells Opera, and The Royal Opera House Tour in the mid-eighties, he faced his biggest challenge of all when he was booked for ten days to sing opera in New York.
Several weeks after his return to the UK, Yorkshire Television offered him acting work on a police drama called "Identerkill" followed by a film part in "Edge of Darkness" which was partly filmed in Leeds.
BBC Television signed him for the filming at Halifax Victoria Theatre in the "Bluebell" series, His singing career was put on hold when Granada Television booked him for "Coronation Street", and later Central TV on the "Jimmy Cricket Show". Barrie's TV work was taking over his singing career and the Bannerman Agency, who had spent a great deal training his tenor voice, wasn't too pleased that they were having to turn down singing engagements, as they had a different career in mind for him, one that didn't include TV and Film work.
In 1999 Barrie was approached by Tyne Tees Television to make a program about his work and the books he had written on the History of York and the horse drawn travelling Gypsy's, he agreed to the making of the program, and was interviewed by journalist and broadcaster Luke Casey. The program was screened later that year
Over the months that followed, Barrie tried to please both Agencies with his Singing and TV acting but the hours to work both were so demanding; Barrie in time was taken ill and had to rest, taking a long break.
Barrie retired at 60 and says he has done all the travelling he wants to "Over the last 30 years, I have met some very nice and interesting people both through my singing work and TV work including film stars from Hollywood, US president, vocal teachers and music conductors."
I would like to thank Granada and Yorkshire TV along with Central TV for the work and the support they gave me over thirty years, looking back I wouldn't change anything I have done. I am also grateful to the BBC for their support.
Karl Lazenby who became Barrie's voice coach and friend over 30 years, remembers the day he first met and heard Barrie at one of his singing lessons with John Bannerman, Barrie was singing "Che gelida manina" from "La Boheme", his tenor voice was outstanding, he had tremendous power in his voice, but there was still much more work to be done before the tenor was ready for the professional stage, I asked Barrie what he wanted from Singing. His answer was what I wanted to hear. "I want to sing opera"
Over the years that followed, Barrie worked hard in his training, and it was a pleasure to work with him, and we became good friends.
Harry Sokoiski voice coach worked with Barrie on his italian voice, along with Karl Lazenby, they both passed comment, his voice has found it's true vocation, his work in New York proved to him the long hours of training over the years had paid off, he was asked to make a return visit.
Law is now retired and living in York with his wife Lynda
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