Charlotte’s Web Spain, Review: In My Father’s Footsteps by Stephen Lloyd-Morgan

Review: In My Father’s Footsteps by Stephen Lloyd-Morgan

Welsh tenor and Costa del Sol resident, Stephen Lloyd-Morgan, has this morning (1st July 2012) released his new album in support of Spanish and Welsh cancer charities Cudeca and Tenovus.

In My Father’s Footsteps is dedicated to the memory of his father Bryant, who passed away 18 months ago having been diagnosed with cancer only five weeks previously. Its primary purpose is to raise money for the Cudeca Hospice in Spain and Welsh cancer charity Tenovus – with all sales income being donated.

The album was released this morning, 1st July 2012, on iTunes and all leading download stores, including Amazon MP3 & Spotify. CDs are available from Amazon on Demand and a limited number are available directly from the Cudeca Hospice and Tenovus shops. Stephen was very clear when deciding which charities he wanted to support with the album and why:

“The treatment and care of those suffering from cancer is something that is very important to me. It is a cruel disease that rips the heart out of families, mine included. There is no discrimination; it can hit anyone and at any age. Anything that can be done by any of us to raise money to improve the odds, whether in terms of treatment or palliative care is similarly vitally important. Cudeca and Tenovus both provide a vital service to cancer sufferers on the Costa del Sol and in Wales. Tenovus gave my family an amazing amount of support while my Dad was in hospital; and this is my way of giving something back – trying to give back what I can!”

The choice of recording studio also brought the personal story full circle for Stephen: he recorded In My Father’s Footsteps at the famous Pop Factory Studios in The Rhondda, South Wales. Not only are they located in Porth where Stephen was born, but the building was originally the Corona Popfactory and depot where his father once worked as a delivery driver.

“I had a very close bond with my father, and I think I owe much of my love of music to him,” says Steve. “He was a singer and bass guitarist in the 60s band The Zendars, who supported The Who, so when I was growing up there was always an eclectic mix of music around me.”

As a Daddy’s girl, I would love to make my Dad as proud as Stephen’s father would have been if he could hear this new album today. It’s made all the more special when you consider the thought that has gone into the selection of music and that all proceeds are being donated to such worthwhile charities.

That aside, I have hugely enjoyed listening to the album this morning. Chasing Cars, one of my favourite songs, is just as brilliant as the original with a charming Welsh lilt – close your eyes and you could be listening to Tom Jones (that’s a compliment by the way!) The superb mix of contemporary and more classical music will appeal to listeners of all nationalities and ages. I loved Canto Della Terra (and by the way had no idea that Starry Starry Night was called Vincent or was about Vincent Van Gogh).

Stephen wanted to create an album of two halves: one half includes the popular classical, musical theatre and crossover-opera that Stephen is best known for, certainly on the Coast. The other half is a mix of tracks from the 60s through to the 80s that were his Dad’s favourites and with which Stephen grew up, including covers of songs by The Everly Brothers, Bread, Simon & Garfunkel, Don McLean and Tom Jones.

I don’t know Stephen personally although I have seen him perform live once or twice. But having listened to his album this morning, I really feel like I have been granted a personal insight into his love and dedication to his father’s memory.