December 28th 2009

Well, this has been one of the most amazing years of my life, both personally and professionally. Personally because of getting married to the love of my life, Helen, who then bore me my first child, our precious and beautiful daughter, Marcella; and professionally because of the release of my first self-penned album; being invited to contribute to the 'Bandaged Together' album for BBC Children In Need; the success of my Christmas song 'What A Day'; and the honour of being asked by Sir Terry Wogan to be his Musical Director/House Band for his new radio show next year, starting on Sunday, 14th February.

I want to take this opportunity to thank EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU (you know who you are!) from the bottom of my heart for your kind emails; your kind myspace, facebook, YouTube and forum comments; for your wonderful reviews of my music all over the internet; for seeking me out and buying or downloading my albums and singles; and for all the campaigning you do on behalf of me and my music to radio stations and newspapers and by word-of-mouth to people you come in contact with. Thank you for your continued support and for helping to have made this such an unforgettable year for me, personally and professionally.

I wish you ALL a very happy, healthy and peaceful 2010 and I look forward to seeing you at my gigs this coming year.

With much love

Elio. x

December 18th 2009

Along with 15 million other people this morning, I tuned into BBC Radio 2 at 7.30am to listen to Sir Terry Wogan's very last 'Wake Up To Wogan' breakfast show. And what an emotional 2 hours it turned out to be. I'll bet you that not one of those 15 million pairs of eyes remained tearless at hearing such a national treasure sign-off for the very last time on a show that for the last 27 years has been a part of the fabric of this country. And to have been included in this show of all shows is quite honestly the biggest honour of my career to date.

And by some strange coincidence, Terry's last show happened upon the same day as my last gig with Albert Lee and Hogan's Heroes tonight at the 100 Club in Oxford Street, London. After a fantastic 3 years and 3 months playing with Peter Baron, Brian Hodgson, Gerry Hogan and the genius that is Albert Lee, tonight's gig marked the end of an incredible era for me in which I became a bigger and better musician because of those guys. An experience for which I'm truly grateful. But tonight also marked the beginning of a new and exciting chapter in my career, employed by the BBC as Musical Director for Terry Wogan's new radio show next year, as well as concentrating on my own material and playing in no-one else's band but my own.

Click here to listen to Sir Terry Wogan introduce 'What A Day' on his last breakfast show

December 11th 2009

At the beginning of this year and with the release of my debut album coming up, I made a decision to devote all of my professional time to my own music from hereon in. And when I informed Albert Lee in June that the gig at the 100 Club in London, on December 18th would be my last with him and Hogan's Heroes, it was with the very intention that I was going to concentrate on my band, my tours and my music.

But when Sir Terry Wogan specifically asked me if I would like to be his Musical Director and my band be his House Band for his forthcoming new radio show in 2010, there was no way I was going to turn down that sort of incredible, once-in-a-lifetime offer.

And so, this morning Terry announced the news to the nation on 'Wake Up To Wogan'. It is the biggest honour to have been asked and a duty that I can't wait to fulfill.

And yes, December 18th is not only significant because it will be Terry Wogan's last ever breakfast show but also that same evening will be my last gig with the great Albert Lee and his band, Hogan's Heroes.

December 2nd 2009

My Christmas song 'What A Day', which I recorded over 3 years ago, finally flew the nest today when I heard that it had made it onto the BBC Radio 2 Playlist. This feels like a real high point in my career and to say I'm overjoyed is the biggest understatement.

Click here to download the single from iTunes

Click here to buy the Limited Edition CD Single

Click here to view photos of the making of ‘What A Day’

November 9th 2009

The 'Bandaged Together' double album, raising money for this year's BBC Children In Need, is OUT NOW... Available only at Tesco, the iTunes Music Store and http://www.charitygoods.com it features many great people like Brian May, Peter Gabriel, Midge Ure, Beth Rowley, Clare Teal, Nick Mason, Imelda May, Bryan Ferry and Sir Terry Wogan. I'm extremely proud to be a part of this album as it's for a cause very close to my heart.

Click here to buy the album

November 5th 2009

I attended the launch of the 'Bandaged Together' album today which is due for release on Monday, 9th November. Really great to see Sir Terry Wogan again after 5 years or so and to get the chance to thank him in person for his support. It was great also to meet some of the other artists and performers on the record such as Clare Teal, Hayley Westenra, Pee Wee Ellis, Sharon Corr, Nick Mason, Lee Mead, Finbar Furey, one of the music arrangers, Richard Mainwaring and the producer, AD Chivers.

It was also really lovely to see Norman and Hellen Bach again who organised the whole thing and work tirelessly all year round raising thousands (if not millions) of pounds for Children In Need. Bandaged is their brainchild and is set to grow bigger and bigger with every passing year.

Photos to follow

October 3rd 2009

For the third year running, me and the band were once again invited to travel up to St. Andrews to perform this evening at the Dunhill Pro Celebrity Golf Links Championship dinner. And for the third year running we had the privilege of having Huey Lewis, Ronan Keating, Tico Torres (Bon Jovi), Don Felder (Eagles) and multi-platinum selling country music artist Clay Walker join us on stage to perform some of their biggest hits and more. This event gets better every year and it's a great honour to be asked.

Photos to follow

September 28th 2009

'Take You Home', the second single from my album, 'A Seat At My Table', was released today and I'm pleased to say got numerous plays around the UK, one of which was on Manx Radio as part of an interview with Bob Harrison.

Click here to listen to Elio on Manx Radio

Also today, Darren Loveday and I finished mixing my version of a little known Elvis Presley song called 'Confidence' for this year's 'Bandaged Together' album in aid of the BBC's Children In Need appeal.

As a massive Elvis fan I've always known that 'Confidence' was not one of his greatest recordings, to say the least, and in fact is generally regarded as one of the lowest points in the King’s illustrious recording career. But I loved it as a kid and always imagined that one day I'd like to try a cool and fun reinterpretation of it. Being asked to be part of the Children in Need album gave me the perfect excuse to give it a go and I hope I've succeeded in creating a foot-tapping record that children can enjoy and one that leaves their Mums and Dads with a smile on their face. I hope Elvis would have loved it too!

Click here to listen to a clip of Elio's version of 'Confidence'

September 22nd 2009

With mine and Adrian Fry's arrangement written (over numerous phone calls) the Ladies and Gents of my band assembled at Miloco Studios in London to begin the recording of 'Confidence' for this year's 'Bandaged Together' album in aid of the BBC's Children In Need appeal. By the end of the session we had enough 'in the can' to take it away and finish the track over the next few days (with the help of Jeff Knowler at Paceland Studios) at Darren Loveday's studio, The Ranch in North London.

Click here for photos

September 21st 2009

Went to the world famous Pinewood Studios to film my guest appearance on a new CBBC programme 'ZingZillas' to be aired sometime in 2010. My former keyboard player and friend, Chris Banks has composed all the fantastic music for the series which will feature a different guest and genre for every episode. Chris, who recently composed all the music for the hugely successful CBBC series 'Space Pirates', played keyboards for the award winning British pop band, Busted, right up to their break up in 2005.

September 14th 2009

Off the road for a few days, my trombonist Adrian Fry and I set about writing the arrangement for 'Confidence'.

September 9th 2009

Whilst on tour in Soest, Germany with Albert Lee & Hogan's Heroes (and at the request of Sir Terry Wogan himself) I received a call from chief TOGS, Norman and Hellen Bach, asking me if I would like to contribute a track to this year's 'Bandaged Together' album in aid of the BBC's Children In Need appeal. Of course I was extremely flattered and readily accepted the offer. After two or three song suggestions, we agreed on my suggestion of a rather rare and long forgotten Elvis Presley song called 'Confidence' taken from his 1967 movie, Clambake.

September 7th 2009

Had a lovely chat with Bob Harrison on his Manx Radio show on the Isle Of Man, which will be transmitted on September 28th. As well as playing 'Addicted To The Phone' and 'Take You Home', Bob was (as far as I know) the first presenter to play 'Lazy Days' also from my album 'A Seat At My Table'. I'm honoured to say that 'Lazy Days' features the playing of two legends of the music world, guitarist Albert Lee, with whom I've been touring for the past 3 years, and the man who played Bass guitar in Elvis Presley's live band between 1969 and the King's death in 1977, Jerry Scheff. THAT was some recording session, I can tell you!

Click here to listen to Elio on Manx Radio

August 25th 2009

I had a great time chatting via the telephone to George Jones today live on his Belfast U105 radio show. He was very kind about my new single 'Take You Home' saying that it reminded him of the great Louis Jordan which I took as a huge compliment. Thanks George.

Click here to listen to Elio on Radio Belfast U105

August 7th 2009

The secret is well and truly out now!

This morning Sir Terry read out two emails he'd received about the BBC 'Children In Need' donation number at the end of 'Addicted To The Phone'. One of those emails was from a listener who had heard my interview on BBC Radio Leeds and the other was from Ian James himself who had conducted the interview. They both informed Sir Terry of my "little thank you" to him and he played 'Addicted To The Phone' highlighting the tones at the end. He declared "We didn't know that. He kept that from us" which is true. I didn't want him to know that when he received my album back in March because I didn't want THAT to sway his decision to play my music. I also didn't know that he was going to choose 'Addicted To The Phone' as the first track from my album to play on his show, so it felt twice as thrilling to hear Sir Terry Wogan debut my new album playing THAT song. It is a strange ole world.

He was also kind enough to wish me and Helen congratulations "on the birth of Marcella". Thank you very much Terry and thank you also to his producer, Alan Boyd.

Click here to listen to the clip

August 2nd 2009

I was interviewed this morning by the lovely Ian James on his show for BBC Radio Leeds. We talked about the birth of my daughter Marcella, my time at the Leeds College Of Music, the release of 'Take You Home' as my next single AND he asked me about the telephone dial tones at the end of my single 'Addicted To The Phone'. He was the very first person in a professional capacity to ask me if the tones were an actual phone number and if they were, what was it? After my shock at FINALLY being asked that question, I was very happy to reveal that the number was the BBC 'Children In Need' donation number.

I chose to use that number, when we were making the record, as a hidden little respectful thank you to Sir Terry Wogan for all the support he's given me over the past few years. Only a handful of my friends knew about it as I was hoping that people would try to decipher what it was and end up calling the number and being lulled into a situation where they may feel like donating. Emotional blackmail on my part, I know, but it was done with the best intention. I have no idea if anyone did actually work it out, call and donate. But good on you Ian and thank you for being interested and inquisitive enough to ask.

Click here to listen to the clip

By the way, Ian James is a great guy and one of those fantastic broadcasters who really cares about the music he plays and his effervescent presentation style really brings his shows to life. As well as on BBC radio stations around the country, you can hear him on Reactive Radio where he presents a superb programme called 'Glitterball' every Friday and Saturday night at 9pm. It's one of the best 'Party Music' radio shows you'll ever hear and he manages to do it without playing ANY of the same old stuff you always hear... which I love! Yes, I may be biased because Ian is a great supporter of my music but he's been going for years and he is a well-liked man and highly respected, so to have his support is a big honour. Check out Reactive Radio on www.reactiveradio.co.uk 

July 28th 2009

I became a Dad today when my beautiful wife Helen gave birth to our beautiful daughter Marcella at 8.02pm.

July 24th 2009

Dutch radio station, Radio 501, have picked up on my single 'Addicted To The Phone' and have made it their record of the week this week. And on Radio 501 that means they are going to play the track EVERY HOUR FOR SEVEN DAYS!!!

Because of this, they contacted Rosa Records asking if I would do a telephone interview with them. Of course, I was more than happy to oblige and we did the live interview tonight on the 'Arwin & Tobith Show'. Apparently, I was the very first international guest on their radio station.

Click here to listen to Elio on the Arwin & Tobith Show

July 21st 2009

After 23 years in the making, it was such a thrill tonight to hear Desmond Carrington debuting 'Take You Home' to the nation on his BBC Radio 2 show 'The Music Goes Round' and to beautifully round it off with his elegant and very generous plug. An enormous thrill and a great honour.

'Take You Home' is going to be the second single to be released from my album 'A Seat At My Table' on September 28th.

The song and I go back a long way...

It was one of the very first songs I ever wrote back in 1986 when I was 18 years old. I originally conceived it as more of a Rock And Roll song as opposed to the swinging Shuffle that it has become and in that same year I recorded a demo of it. I sent the demo to Shakin' Stevens' management in 1987 as I thought it might suit him as a Rock And Roll song. I didn't hear anything back from them.

So on the 14th May 1988, aged 20 years old, having got through two auditions singing the song, I performed it in my heat for 'Bob Says Opportunity Knocks' on BBC1. This was my national television debut. I won that heat, which automatically put me into the live final in June of that year, where I performed the song again. Strangely enough, after that debut performance and almost a year to the day after I'd sent it to them, I received a letter from Shakin' Stevens' office thanking me for sending my song to them but Shaky had "decided to pass on it". Coincidence or not? I'll never know.

After the final, in which I finished 6th out of 13 acts, I signed a management deal and went onto perform the song again on BBC 1's 'Michael Barrymore's Saturday Night Out' and in shows around the UK.

I never got the record deal I wanted and so I never got to properly record 'Take You Home'... until now!

Encouraging him to srart with a black canvas (but with the brief that I wanted it to ‘swing’ in a Louis Prima meets Bobby Darin type of way) I asked my wonderful trombonist, Adrian Fry to create a fresh, brand new Big Band arrangement for the song, as I wanted to finally make my definitive recording of it for this new album. I’ve known Adrian since we were teenagers growing up in Eastleigh, Hampshire and he has been in my band since I formed it in 1993. He is regarded within the UK Jazz scene as one of the best instrumentalists and arrangers around, the latter of which is clearly evident on the track.

I decided to add the Andrews Sisters style backing vocals to this record which were beautifully sung by the 3 girls; my wife, Helen McNee and regulars in my band, Kirstie Roberts and Sue Acteson.

Finally, the gorgeous woman's voice you hear at the end of the song (as the 'Movie Starlet') is that of Victoria Stilwell, formally of CH4 and now Animal Planet's 'It's Me Or The Dog'. Hence her "down boy" line which we thought would be rather amusing! Victoria has been a very good friend of mine for many years and as well as being a brilliant dog trainer and TV presenter, she is also a great actress and singer. Adrian and I thought it would be a fun idea to bring the characters in the song to life over that lovely final chord and Victoria certainly delivered the goods!

It feels amazing that 23 years after I wrote 'Take You Home' it has been selected as my next single and here it was tonight playing to the nation in the manner in which I had always hoped it would. Thank you to Desmond Carrington and his producer, Dave Aylott.

One last thing, I dedicate 'Take You Home' to two great Gentlemen who are no longer with us; Stewart Morris, who was the producer of 'Bob Says Opportunity Knocks' and who auditioned me and put me on the show and to the late and truly great Bob Monkhouse who was and will always be a hero of mine.

Click here to listen to the clip

June 26th 2009

Like everyone else around the world, I'm absolutely stunned at the news of Michael Jackson's death. Later tonight, I'm appearing and singing live on Claudia Winkleman's radio show on BBC Radio 2 but somehow feel my 'cause' to be rather insignificant when compared to the passing of such an incredible musical legend. Michael Jackson R.I.P.

Click here to listen to Elio and Claudia Winkleman

June 20th 2009

I'm driving over to Cardiff tomorrow to be a guest on Owen Money's (believe it or not, that's not his real name!) radio show for BBC Wales on Sunday, June 21st. His show 'Money For Nothing' starts at 2.30pm and I'm going to be on between 3pm and 4pm GMT talking and playing live. For those of you not in the local area, you can listen live at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/radiowales. Claudia Winkleman's Radio 2 show next Friday 26th June.

Click here to listen to Elio and Owen Money

June 8th 2009

I'm going to be a guest on the Billy Butler radio show for BBC Merseyside on Tuesday, June 9th (tomorrow) sometime between 2 and 5pm GMT. For those of you not in the local area, you can listen live at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/liverpool/local_radio/.

I'm also lined-up to appear on Owen Money's radio show on BBC Wales on Sunday June 21st and on Claudia Winkleman's BBC Radio 2 'Arts Programme' on Friday, June 26th.

Click here to listen to Elio and Billy Butler

May 11th 2009           

QAs well as the remaining high street record shops and the usual online stores, the album is available to buy from the

Qshop page on this site.

QThank you to all of you for your continued support. Elio x

May 6th 2009

'Addicted To The Phone', taken from the new album 'A Seat At My Table', will be released as a single on Monday, June 15th. The album is out this coming Monday, May 11th. Pre-order it now from the shop page.

April 28th 2009

As you may have already heard on BBC Radio 2, Sir Terry Wogan and his producer, Alan Boyd,

did me the honour of being the first to feature 'Addicted To The Phone' from my forthcoming new

from the shop page. 'Addicted To The Phone' will be released as a single as a download only, the

date of which will be confirmed very soon.

Click here to listen to Sir Terry Wogan debuting ‘Addicted To The Phone’ on BBC Radio 2

Let me take this opportunity to thank you all for your very kind emails regarding the radio play.

I do read them all and appreciate them very much. I hope you enjoy the rest of the album when you

eventually receive it and look forward to meeting you all on the road at some point.