Winifred Atwell; Matt Monro; Alma Cogan
4 of 5 portraits of Winifred Atwell
Winifred Atwell; Matt Monro; Alma Cogan
by Bob Collins
bromide print, 1962
7 7/8 in. x 9 3/4 in. (200 mm x 247 mm) image size
Given by Rudolph John Acton, 2003
Photographs Collection
NPG x136596
Sittersback to top
- Winifred Atwell (1914-1983), Pianist. Sitter in 5 portraits. Identify
- Alma Cogan (1932-1966), Singer. Sitter in 15 portraits. Identify
- Matt Monro (Terence Edward Parsons) (1930-1985), Singer and entertainer. Sitter in 2 portraits. Identify
Artistback to top
- Bob Collins (1924-2002), Photographer. Artist or producer of 220 portraits, Sitter in 5 portraits.
This portraitback to top
Shown alongside singer Alma Cogan, ‘the gal with the giggle in her voice’, this photograph records the friendship of the Trinidadian-born pianist Winifred Atwell and singer Matt Monro. Impressed by his voice, Atwell mentored the younger singer and helped him to secure a record deal. Parsons' stage name, Matt Monro, was taken from Atwell’s father.
Subjects & Themesback to top
Events of 1962back to top
Current affairs
After a series of by-election defeats, the prime minister, Harold MacMillan organises a drastic cabinet reshuffle, dismissing one third of his cabinet. Liberal MP Jeremy Thorpe's wry comment summed up the desperate action: 'greater love hath no man than this, than to lay down his friends for his life.'Britain suffers the 'Big Freeze' with no frost-free nights between 22nd December 1962 and 5th March 1963.
Art and science
The Beatles have their first hit with Love Me Do and release their first album Please Please Me.The new Coventry Cathedral is consecrated and creates a showcase for British artistic talent with the first performance of Benjamin Britten's War Requiem, a wall hanging by Graham Sutherland, stained glass by John Piper, and sculptures by Jacob Epstein and Elizabeth Frink.
International
The world comes to the brink of nuclear war with the Cuban Missile Crisis. In response to the USA's nuclear advantage, the USSR sent missiles to Cuba. The crisis lasted for 12 days before a deal was finally stuck between Khrushchev and Kennedy in which the Cuban missile bases were dismantled in return for the secret removal of US missiles from Turkey.Comments back to top
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