Happy 70th Birthday Van Morrison!

"Van the Man" Morrison

George Ivan Morrison was born on 31st August 1945. Although best known for his 1967 hit Brown Eyed Girl, it’s only in the twenty-five or so years he has had his talents suitably recognised: In that time he’s won 2 Grammies, 1 Brit, BMI ICON and Ivor Novello awards, been inducted into the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame, Songwriters Hall of Fame and Irish Music Hall of Fame, given an OBE in 1996 and if that wasn’t enough, he was knighted this year for his services to popular music.

Hailing originally from Northern Ireland, “Van the Man" left school at 15 to follow his musical dreams, fronting R&B band Them before venturing into his solo career, and is still going strong and touring today at the age of seventy. Strongly influenced by American singers like Ray Charles, Lead Belly and Jelly Roll Morton, he himself has been inspirational for the likes of Bruce Springsteen, Bono and Elvis Costello. 

For me, Morrison's voice has bettered with age: soulful, raspy and truly unique. Although I had a range of hits to choose from, I had to cover my favourite, Sometimes We Cry. This beautiful ballad is usually sung as a duet, and even though I love Morrison’s original version of 1997, his collaboration with Tom Jones for the album Reload is something special. Do check them both out, as well as listening to mine below!