David Hughes

David Hughes (born Geoffrey Paddison; 11 October 1925 – 19 October 1972) He had an early break in 1948 appearing with Ginger Rogers and Lizbeth Webb in Carissima, a West End musical. In 1951, he appeared on Henry Hall's "Guest Night". He was introduced by Hall as "the young Welsh tenor", as his stage name "David Hughes" which was his father's Christian names was typically Welsh. He appeared often in the 1950s on television and radio. The composer was Mátyás Seiber and the lyrics by Norman Newell, who also wrote hits for Ken Dodd ("Promises", 1966), Shirley Bassey ("Never Never Never", 1973) and Matt Monro ("Portrait of My Love", 1960).

He also co-starred in the musical Scapa Flow at the Adelphi Theatre alongside Pete Murray and Edward Woodward. He participated in the UK heat of the Eurovision Song Contest in 1960, A Song For Europe, finishing in second place with the song "Mi Amor".

The opera singer Shortly after appearing in the musical Seagulls Over Sorrento (1962), and on 23 November, 1970 as a tenor.

On 8 October 1972, he fell ill while singing the part of Pinkerton at the London Coliseum. He collapsed in the wings near the end but managed to complete the character's offstage vocal lines, which complete the opera. He died the following day, from heart failure, at the age of 47.

Namesake He chose his father's two Christian names to use as his stage name. "By the Fountains of Rome" (single) (1956) UK No. 27 Here in My Heart (compilation) The Best of David Hughes (compilation) David Hughes. Songs you Love (1968) (Compilation) Great British Song Stylist (compilation)

Stage musicals Summer Song (1956) Plain and Fancy Scapa Flow (1962) Here in My Heart

Classical music 16th–18th Century Songs of Love Favourite Opera / Operetta Arias and Songs You Love EMI TWO 319, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Louis Fremaux, recorded in Birmingham Town Hall The Merry Widow