LISTEN: Singer Katie Melua pays touching tribute to Heysham man by revealing their poignant duet

Monday, 27 May 2024 10:23

By Greg Lambert @greglam72

One of Britain's most successful singers has paid a touching tribute to a talented man from Heysham by revealing a duet they sang together.

Katie Melua has posted a recording of Ron Carey and herself singing 'River'.

This was part of a touching tribute from the acclaimed singer-songwriter, following Ron's death earlier this month.

Ron, himself an accomplished songwriter and performer, wrote 'River' and asked Katie to play and record it on her iPhone with him, when they met.

"I met Ron at the Arvon songwriting course, which I was part of with (poet) Fiona Sampson," said Katie, posting on her Facebook page.

"He was taking part in our songwriting retreat, and he wrote this song 'River' and asked me to play and record it just on my iPhone during one of our tutoring sessions. He said he had lots more in him.

"I found his industrious spirit inspiring and I was really moved by 'River'. We were planning and hoping to finish the recording we started, but sadly that wasn't to be.

"I heard from his son Michael recently that when he was younger he didn't have the means to study music at university, but during his retirement he enrolled at Lancaster University on a music degree.

"Ron, thank you for sharing your deep love of songs and music, for 'River' and for lighting the way in true style. R.I.P."

LISTEN to Ron Carey and Katie Melua's duet of his song 'River'.

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Katie (pictured below) is one of Britain's best-known and successful singer songwriters, famed for albums including 'Call off the Search' and 'Piece by Piece', and singles 'Closest Thing to Crazy' and 'Nine Million Bicycles'.

Jeannette Carey, Ron's daughter, posted on Katie's page in reply, saying: "Thank you so much for this Katie, you gave my Dad Ron and our family so much joy with this.

"Your kindness will never be forgotten, Dad held on until this could be at least completed to this stage and it made him so happy, I’m so proud of him."

Ron passed away earlier this month, aged 83.

He was well-known across the Lancaster and Morecambe area as a singer, appearing regularly at concerts, shows and open mic nights, and continuing to perform in recent years while having treatment for Acute Myeloid Leukaemia.

His own composition 'Technological Man', a song about coping with modern technology, was a particular favourite with audiences.

In 2016 he auditioned for TV talent shows The Voice UK and Britain's Got Talent.

Ron was also a dedicated member of the local Rotary, initiating many community projects and raising money for charity.

Many tributes have been paid to Ron since his death.

Local singer Rachel Mercer, posting on Facebook, said: "Ron was a lovely kind hearted man who gave a lot of time and energy to worthwhile causes such as Rotary and many other charities.

"Ron absolutely loved to sing at any occasion, performing with the Big Band at Lancaster Uni, Rotary events and a regular spot at The Pier.

"He regularly used to stop by and see me at the Strathmore and The Parisian Bar at the Winter Gardens and perform some standards or his own music.

"Ron was a talented songwriter and wrote his own musical ‘Across the Bay’ which he performed at Lancaster Grand Theatre. Ron also wrote lots of comedy songs related to the changes in society such as 'Technological Man’ and some beautiful ballads dedicated to his wife Christine."

The Pier Hotel in Morecambe posted: "We’re all extremely sad to hear of the passing of one of our lovely regulars, Ron Carey.

"Ron was a loyal supporter of our karaoke sessions, he sang many a number, including his own compositions.

"We’ll miss him very much and want to send our sincere condolences to all of his family, friends, and all that mourn his loss.

"Sleep tight Ron."

In 2023, Ron released his life story to raise funds for St John's Hospice.

'Something Was Happening' covers his childhood in Barrow during the war, his move to Overton and then Heysham, and his love for singing.

Described as a "social history of one man’s life and times from 1940 to the present day" it tells the stories of people he was privileged to meet and is peppered with anecdotes and unpublished photos.

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