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Earl Okin

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Earl Okin

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Biography

Earl Okin (31st January 1947) is a London singer-songwriter, musician and comedian with a long international career.

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, Earl became a well known name in Folk Clubs', but also 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 Earl 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 mucial one. He has never performed stand-up.

Among his friends and fans are performers such as Frank Skinner, Sacha Baron Cohen, Billy Connolly etc.

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 world-wide.

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 LPs, he has had CDs issued by BMG 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 shows.

His most recent trip found him performing in New York at Birdland, The Apollo and other legendary Jazz venues, but, not forgetting his comedy side, also at Caroline's.

User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License and may also be available under the GNU FDL.

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33 followers

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Biography

Earl Okin (31st January 1947) is a London singer-songwriter, musician and comedian with a long international career.

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, Earl became a well known name in Folk Clubs', but also 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 Earl 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 mucial one. He has never performed stand-up.

Among his friends and fans are performers such as Frank Skinner, Sacha Baron Cohen, Billy Connolly etc.

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 world-wide.

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 LPs, he has had CDs issued by BMG 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 shows.

His most recent trip found him performing in New York at Birdland, The Apollo and other legendary Jazz venues, but, not forgetting his comedy side, also at Caroline's.

User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License and may also be available under the GNU FDL.

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