Biography

Gordon Cree was born in Ayrshire and started making music in public at a very young age. At age seventeen he was accepted as a student at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama where he studied singing with Marilyn J. Smith and piano with Lily Geddes. After leaving the RSAMD, he went on to study singing with many other teachers including Patricia McMahon and, perhaps most significantly, arranging, orchestrating and conducting with Brian Fahey - former musical director of the BBC Radio Orchestra and arranger for Chappell & Co., EMI and Shirley Bassey. His piano playing also came under the watchful eye and subsequent noticeable influence of the legendary Australian pianist, Peggy O’Keefe.

Gradually Gordon has gained recognition and maintained significant respect in an incredibly large number of fields in music and the arts: singer in concert, recital, oratorio, theatre and cabaret, piano soloist and accompanist in concert, recital, orchestras and jazz ensembles, conductor in concert, musical theatre and choral projects, well-known theatre organist (having appeared at the legendary Blackpool Tower Ballroom,) arranger/orchestrator in every corner of the musical spectrum from symphonic to big band, and a much-loved character actor, master of ceremonies and after-dinner speaker.

He continues to be honoured and active in public life being a life member of the Scottish Showbusiness Benevolent Fund, The British Music Hall Society, The British Ring of the International Brotherhood of Magicians and in 2008 he was honoured to be made a freeman of the City of Glasgow in recognition of his services to music.

It is said that a “Jack-of-all-trades” can never be a master of any, but there are few who would challenge Gordon Cree to a duel in many of his fields.



Selected theatre credits include:

1 Pantomime (2000) Kings Theatre, Edinburgh
1 Pantomime (2002) Palace Theatre, Kilmarnock
2 Pantomimes (1998-1999) Carnegie Hall, Dunfermline
7 Pantomimes (2000, 2003-2008) Ayr Gaiety
Pride of the Valley (1997) Palace Theatre
Jimmy Logan Show (1998) Palace Theatre
A Touch of White Heather (1998) Palace Theatre
A Touch of White Heather (1998) Queen’s Hall, Dunoon (Summer Season)
Scottish Memories (1998) Stardust Room, New York City
An Evening with Jimmy Logan (2001) Pitlochry Festival Theatre
Gaiety All-Stars (2002-2008) Ayr Gaiety
Gaiety Whirl (2003-2007) Ayr Gaiety
The Not Forgotten Show (2006) Tower of London
Dad’s Army Onstage (2006) Ayr Gaiety
Gala Showtime (2006 & 2007) Cleator Moor Theatre
Duggie Chapman’s Matinee Music Hall (2007) Grand Theatre, Wolverhampton
Burlesque Spectacular (2007) The Sage, Gateshead
Matinee Music Hall (2008) Pavilion Theatre, Wintergardens, Blackpool (Summer Season)
All Star Gala (2008) Blackpool Opera House
Gala Showtime (2008) Blackfriars Theatre, Boston
Roy Hudd Show (2008) Theatre Royal, Margate
An Evening with Gordon Cree (Ongoing) Tour

Selected Concert Credits Include:

All in an April Evening (1999) Glasgow Royal Concert Hall
Music for a Summer’s Evening (2005-Ongoing) Darvel Church
Scottish National Orchestra (Various)
Scottish Festival Orchestra (Various)
Scottish Philharmonic Orchestra (Various)
Gordon Cree Concert Orchestra (Numerous)
A Christmas Gala Concert (2007) Kilmarnock Grand Hall
The Mikado - Concert Version (Pooh-Bah) (2006) Ayr Town Hall

Selected Televsion and Radio Credits include:

Take the Floor (numerous) BBC Radio Scotland
Silver Stars (1998-2003) STV
North Tonight (1999) Granada Television
A Bunch of Thyme (2000) BBC Northern Ireland
Grampian Tonight (2001) Grampian Television
The Kelly Show (2001 & 2002) Ulster Television
Majestic Music Hall (2006) West Sound Radio
Golden Memories (2008) Heartland FM

Selected Cruise Credits include:

The National Trust for Scotland
Fred Olsen
Page & Moy

Very Abridged Arranging Credits:

The Wizard of Oz (2001) Denny Theatre, Dumbarton
Friday Night is Music Night (Various)
A Christmas Gala Concert (2007)
10 Full Pantomime Productions
4 Full Summer Seasons
Pride of the Clyde (additional arrangements)
In Town Tonight (additional arrangments)
The 50/50 Concert (2001 - 2008)
Moira Anderson
Joan Savage
Brenda Cochrane
Mari Gordon-Price
Jimmy Logan
Cheryl Forbes
Peter Morrison
Joan Hinde
Joan Savage