Charlie pledges to sing praises of Birkenhead (From Wirral Globe)

Charlie pledges to sing praises of Birkenhead

12:00pm Saturday 25th August 2012 in News By Craig Manning

Charlie Landsborough

BIRKENHEAD-born country music star Charlie Landsborough joined a campaign to sing the praises of his home town.

The internationally-acclaimed singer/songwriter is the latest high profile recruit in the We Love Birkenhead campaign.

The 70-year-old grew up in the town and despite touring all over the world has no intention of ever leaving.

The campaign was launched by Derek Millar, commercial director of the Grange and Pyramids Shopping Centre, in a bid to champion the Wirral town as a place in which to live, work and visit.

Derek has already enlisted the help of Tranmere Rovers’ manager Ronnie Moore and Birkenhead MP Frank Field.

On his involvement Charlie said: “The greatest asset to the town is its people and I love it for its lack of pretention, kindness and humour. The town has always had great characters.

“Then we have the music which has always been an important aspect of life in the town and helped me to learn my trade.”

Charlie spent much of his early career playing in local pubs around Birkenhead including The Pacific and he credits the town with giving him ‘a musical apprenticeship’.

But he also loves the town for its great range of shops, art gallery, parks and its terrific location adding: “We have Liverpool across the river and the rest of the Wirral with all its great scenery all on the doorstep.”

Charlie has performed at most major concert halls and theatres including the London Palladium, Labatts Apollo, Birmingham Symphony Hall and returns to the Liverpool Philharmonic Hall later this year.

He is a prolific song writer who has inspired the likes of Pat Boone, Foster and Allen, Jack Jones and Daniel O’Donnell to cover his songs and he has sold well over a million albums.

Next month he will co-host the 2012 British Country Music Awards.

Derek Millar said: “We were really delighted to borrow Charlie’s well known and much loved voice for our campaign, particularly as he is still a resident.

“He talks with such fondness and affection for the town and is able to put into words so well what it is that we all feel so genuinely proud to be a part of.

“The campaign with the shopping centre at the heart of it is really beginning to gain momentum now and I really do thank Charlie for being a part of it.”