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I'd been writing and recording songs from 1972 to 1986
(see pictures & listen to some songs)
and I also thought it was very amusing changing the words of well known songs and playing them to anyone who'd listen...
these were usually very rude, which went down well on 'lads weekends away'.
It was about 1991 when an old mate of mine called Mike Brocklehurst introduced me to karaoke......
Mike had a very good singing voice, so he was as keen as me to seek out karaoke venues.That's how we met Stuart Dutton....... he loved to sing and had a great voice.
It soon became apparent that not many of these KJ's (Karaoke Jockeys) knew much about sound & mixing,
so in 1992 Stuart & I decided to get our own gear as a vehicle for us to sing and be in control.
We put in £5,000 each to buy a Pioneer system (laser discs were over £100 each!!!).
Although Pioneer were market leaders in karaoke players & discs, their amplifiers & speakers were not
good enough for larger venues, so we went to HW Audio in Bolton and spent another £10,000.
This was way over the top for karaoke, but as I said, we wanted the best gear for ourselves,
but it meant we had to do over 200 gigs before we were to break even. We kept upgrading the equipment and buying the latest discs, and eventually we made up another karaoke system
suitable for smaller gigs, so with Mike Brocklehurst's help we could do 2 gigs on the same night.
In 1993 we did 187 gigs, and in 1994 we did 247 gigs. Our busiest year was 1995........
I still find it hard to believe that we actually did 298 gigs that year.
That was too many really, it killed the enjoyment somewhat, so in 1996 we did less gigs (207) for more money....
we had an advert in Yellow Pages that said, "If you can find someone more expensive, we'll match their price".
In 1997 & 1998 we were just averaging 3 gigs a week, and started doing gigs as a duo.
On our karaoke shows, Stuart & I would always start off with a few songs, then invite our regular singers up,
then we'd do a couple more songs in the middle, then some more karaoke, then we'd finish off the night
with some great rock songs that we did well together.
We were fairly famous for "Taking Care of Business", "Unchain My Heart", "Caroline", "Just A Gigolo".
Because we were set up for quality rather than the average way karaoke was done, we had great singers
travelling miles to show off on our equipment, which brought in a good audience who wanted to see them perform.
We had Steve Swarbrick, Keith Myerscough, Frank Driver, and Mike to help us, which was lucky because
Stuart discovered he had cancer in his eye and was being treated from March 1999.
I did the gigs with Steve for a few months until Stuart returned, and then he had to take it easy.
A smokey pub wasn't the healthiest place to be at the best of times, and I've always wondered
if the smoke could have caused the cancer in the first place.
We only did 95 gigs in 1999 because I just wasn't interested when Stuart wasn't around.
Our highest paid gig was 31st December 1999, Millennium Eve at the Summer Palace...... £1750.
Stuart had more time off in 2000, so we only did 67 gigs, but quite a lot of them were as a duo.
A similar story in 2001 until August when Stuart discovered he had secondary cancer in his liver.
He was having tests and missed a few more gigs, sometimes he'd call in just to sing a couple of songs.
The last time was at our first duo gig at the Blue Pig, Steve stood in, and Stuart turned up to do a 'guest spot'.
He loved it, and so did the audience, but he left early because he felt tired. Three days later it was 9/11, and 4 weeks later it was 10/11...... Stuart died on Thursday 11th October 2001.
I'm writing this four and a half years later and I'm in tears!!!!!
Published: 20th November 2001
Karaoke Kings!
 Chris Statham, left, and Stuart Dutton before Stuart became ill.
KARAOKE king Chris Statham is dedicating a night of songs to the other half of his popular musical duo who died of cancer last month.
Fellow singer Stuart Dutton lost his battle with the disease that he had been fighting since 1999, leaving Chris devastated.
The pair have been putting on a show together for over 9 years and are well known in the clubs and bars of Stockport.
Chris, 52, from Bank Road, Bredbury, said: "We met while going to other karaoke nights and it was something we had in common.
"Then we got our own gear in 1992 and started doing the nights ourselves. We specialised in quality singing and concentrated on having good equipment. It wasn't just a messing about type show."
Stuart's cancer was first diagnosed after he developed a tumour behind his eye, which he eventually had to have removed, and then secondary cancer of the liver.
He was one month into his course of chemotherapy when he died.
Chris is going solo for the time being but finding it difficult to carry on.
He said: "He was the one of us that had the really good voice. We blended well together, but he was the best singer."
Chris and Stuart, who was 46 when he died, met hundreds of performers over the years and Chris is hoping to get as many as possible to come and sing a song in tribute to Stuart.
The special night will be held at The Crown in Hawk Green, Marple where the duo became a weekly favourite for the last nine years.
All the money raised will go to Cancer Research and Chris will be singing some of his friend's favourite tunes.
He said: "We'll do the songs that Stuart was well known to do, maybe 'Just a Gigolo' by Dave Lee Roth & 'Unchain my Heart' by Joe Cocker."
Stuart lived in Hadfield where his family own a flower shop currently run by his mum, Sylvia.
Chris, a former builder, says: "It will be hard without Stuart. It is a difficult time at the moment. We're still at The Crown every week. Steve Swarbrick has been helping us since Stuart got ill.
"It was Stuart's wish that we continue doing it."
The tribute and celebration night in memory of Stuart will be held on Saturday, November 24 starting at 8.30pm.
First published by the Stockport Express
Christie Hospital press release
12th December 2001
KARAOKE KING'S £4,000 LEGACY
The tragic death of 46-year-old karaoke king Stuart Dutton, from Hadfield, Glossop, has prompted donations totalling £4,050 to Manchester's Christie Hospital.
The first £2,050 came from a tribute evening organised by Stuart's karaoke partner, Chris Statham, at the Crown Inn, Hawk Green, Marple, where the duo often performed.
"People came from as far afield as London and Newcastle-on-Tyne especially to sing in memory of Stuart, who died from cancer in October," says Chris, from Bredbury.
At the height of their karaoke fame the duo performed in many Stockport pubs and clubs, but the Crown Inn was a regular venue. Chris still performs there with Steve Swarbrick, of Woodley. It was after Chris and Steve put on a karaoke evening at Marple Golf Club that a further £2,000 went into Christie's coffers. The evening was one of several social functions that businessman Peter Humphries and about 30 friends - all regulars of the Railway pub in Rose Hill, Marple - had organised just to get together and enjoy themselves.
"Chris told us about his fundraising for Christie's. We had raised cash at some of our functions and had about £2,000 in the kitty, so we decided that should go to Christie's too," says Peter.
He felt it would be a better use of funds than when the group invested in a racing greyhound called Rhino Shunter.
"All it did was shunt our money down the drain," adds Peter. "At least the cash we re giving to Christie's will do some good."
All £4,050 has gone into the Christie's against Cancer Fund to finance the work of scientists and clinicians who are researching and developing new ways to treat, and prevent, cancer.
Christie Hospital press release
21st November 2002
More Cash For Christie's In Karaoke King's Memory
Singer Stuart Dutton, known as 'the karaoke king', was just 46 when he died from cancer last year. But his singing partner Chris Statham ensures that his legend lives on - by raising cash for Christie Hospital in Stuart's name.
Chris, from Bredbury, has just added another £1,000 to the cancer centre's coffers from a karaoke evening at the Stock Dove pub, Romiley.
"All the singers taking part were specially invited, so they were all very good, and each paid £10 to sing," says Chris. He also boosted the evening's proceeds by selling CDs featuring Stuart, who lived in Hadfield, Glossop.
Photo: Gill Tushingham, chair of Stockport Campaigners for Christie, accepts
the cheque from Steve Swarbrick (left) and Chris Statham.
Last year a tribute evening organised by Chris, plus donations from others entertained by his karaoke performances, brought in more than £4,000 for Christie's.
The latest event was co-organised by Steve Swarbrick, from Woodley, who helps him run a regular Wednesday karaoke evening at the Stock Dove in Romiley.
Chris and Steve presented the £1,000 to Gill Tushingham, chair of Stockport Campaigners for Christie fundraising group.
Says Christie regional appeals officer Sarah Bate: "We are very grateful for Chris's continued support. It's not easy to carry on raising funds when you have lost a friend or relative because the reminders can be painful, yet we know it can also help to keep good memories alive. We do appreciate the effort, both practical and emotional, that people make for us in such circumstances".
http://www.stockportexpress.co.uk/news/s/8/8155_karaoke_kings.html
http://christie.man.ac.uk/PressRelease/2001/12122001.htm
http://www.christie.nhs.uk/PressRelease/2002/21112002_1.htm
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