Time for the talking to stop for on-tour Peter

8:16am Thursday 13th September 2007

At the pre-arranged time for our telephone interview Peter Grant was due to do a "pre-record" for a radio station.

An hour later he rang back. The young Guiseley-born singer was profusely apologetic. "Sorry about the mix-up, man, there must have been a cross-booking."

That is what can happen when you have a new album coming out and you are also in the middle of touring. Doing the work is not enough: you have to promote it diligently as well.

I remarked that he must have been doing a lot of promoting because his voice sounded throaty, rough.

He said he had just done a two-week radio bash, consisting of a mixture of 50 interviews and performances, mitigated by "a hell of a lot of partying."

But does the personal promotion interview, like this one, make much difference?

"I think it does. Whether it's a record or a gig, getting round and letting people know you want them to hear your music definitely helps," he said.

Ten months ago, shortly before his first concert at St George's Hall, his first album with the seemingly contradictory title of New Vintage was out and selling well.

"It's still gold. The last time I heard it was up to 140,000 something. It knocked me out, getting into the Top Ten. I just didn't expect it to happen so quick."

However the-then 18-year-old had been performing at gigs for six years before attention was drawn to his accomplished singing style by jazz singer Clare Teal.

How did it go, his St George's debut?

"It was a full house and was a great night. It was jumping, man. It's going to be great on the 27th, I can hardly wait."

His second St George's appearance is in support of his second album, Traditional.

"Everyone thinks we did it on purpose because it's old-school jazz and swing. It's not. The first track is called Traditional, it was written by producer Chris Neil. It's about how people seem to rush through the stage of falling in love. There are some great lines"

And he rapidly ran through some which had the rhymes "rain, champagne and train."

Half the songs on the album are cover versions such as Let The Good Times Roll, This Guy's In Love With You, On And On. The remainder are originals, some of them written by Chris Neil, James Macmillan and Don Black. Mr Black's song is called September.

"He has been composing original film scores, incidental music and hit songs for as long as I can remember. He poured them out for the late Matt Monro, whom he managed for a while.

"Don Black is one of the most interesting and amazing people I have ever met, and he's such a nice guy."

It makes a refreshing change to know that people with Don Black's reputation in the music business are actually nice guys as well.

On the subject of celebrity, in the self-indulgent, self-destructive age epitomised by the talented Amy Winehouse and the not so talented Pete Doherty, how does Peter Grant, now 20, deal with the tempters and users who cluster round the rich and famous?

"You do come across a lot of these people; it's strange. You've got to know who your friends are and have them around you. You've got to have good management. You have to forget about people who try to get on your bandwagon," he said.

Of course, but how does he do this?

"You get people who turn up who are genuine fans and it's great to speak to them about the music and the album. "Others come up to you in clubs and want you to go along to their place. They try to make you feel special, but they are only doing it for their own benefit.

"Really, I just want to sing my music and play my records and have a good time doing it."

He's relishing the prospect of hitting the road promoting the new album.

"I've learned loads from being on the road, I've developed as a performer and I love being out there with the band," said Peter. "We have a laugh. That comes across in our banter on stage."

Life has been a bit of a whirlwind since Peter scored a six-album record deal with Universal; he's been championed by Michael Parkinson, appearing on his TV chat show; he's played at legendary jazz venue Ronnie Scotts' and last Christmas he starred with Merrill Osmond in a variety show at Leeds Grand Theatre.

He got into swing music as a child, learning the piano and singing in public with his father, a tenor, at the age of six.

"People like Frank Sinatra and Mel Torme weren't cool artists for a kid my age to listen to but that didn't bother me, I just loved the music," he said.

He later started performing on the club circuit. "I played pubs, clubs, weddings and cruise ships, it was great experience. I was a 12-year-old singing The Lady Is A Tramp."

After a season performing at Blackpool Tower producer Don Reedman spotted him. The next thing Peter knew he was in Abbey Road recording his debut album.

Despite his teenage success he manages to keep his feet on the ground. And for a lad who combines a voice worthy of Tony Bennett and looks that wouldn't be out of place in a Paul Smith advert, it's not a bad thing to be grounded.

• Peter Grant is at St George's Hall on September 27, starting at 7.30pm. The box office number is (01274) 432000. He's also at the City Varieties music hall in Leeds on Tuesday, November 13, at 7.30pm. For tickets ring 08456 441881.

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