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Meet Barrie Law, the Polymath |
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There is no dearth of
people possessing immense talent in this world. However, the unfortunate
truth is that many of them do not put in the required effort to reap the
benefits of their abilities. Yet there are certain people amidst the
crowd who are not intimidated to follow their dreams and put extensive
efforts into turningthem into reality. English singer and actor Barrie
Law is one such individual. Born on 22nd July 1944, Barrie Law had a terrific career in the world of theatre. His singing talent was first recognized as a young boy when he attended the Church of England School in Westgate, Elland. There Barrie Law’s choirmaster of the Church of St. Mary’s Elland, Mr. Haugh, spotted and recognized the remarkable voice he possessed for his tender age. Soon Barrie Law was inducted into his choir. |
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Beginning of Music Career |
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Barrie Law began his
singing career in 1971 when he performed with Halifax Light Opera
Society as a Tenor. A year later, he joined Gilbert & Sullivan,
acquiring a Tenor role in The Pirates of Penzance. Barrie Law’s singing
career had begun to take shape by this time. To further enhance his
singing skills and diversify his portfolio, Barrie Law started receiving
voice and music coaching from an instructor from the prestigious London
College of Music for the next four years. He also worked under the
astute guidance of the renowned London voice coach, Karl Lazenby.
In the following years, Barrie Law received more singing gigs in various clubs so he could pay for his voice coaching classes. He received recoignition for his talent and diligence, and he was offered an assignment at Scarborough Futurist Club in 1973. After a year, Law participated in a music show at Wakefield Theatre Club, where he sang an opera aria from La Boheme. Law’s His spectacular performance caught the attention of the famous backstage London agent John Bannerman who then booked Barrie Law for a five-year contract. Despite his steady rise to fame in the world of performance arts, Barrie Law’s inherent soft nature never ceased to mesmerize those around him. Early in his career, Law performed a song for a seven-year-old kid, Darren Asquith, suffering from severe brain damage and in need of immediate treatment. In 1976, Barrie Law helped to send the nine-year-old girl Tracy Brown to Switzerland for critical treatment for RetinusPigmentosa, also known as tunnel vision. Law suffered from vision loss when he got involved in a car accident at the age of 29 and lost the sight in both his eyes. At the time, he wasn’t sure whether he would be able to see the world again. But his treatment at a hospital in Halifax returned his sight within six months. Barrie Law’s traumatic personal experience made him more sympathetic towards the cause. Barrie Law received his first major break at Batley Variety Club in the mid-70s when the public heard his magical voice at the local club in Batley, West Yorkshire. Later in 1976, he was made a member of the General Secretary of Equity and was signed with the John Bannerman Agency and the Jack Denman Agency. Barrie Law’s most significant break occurred when he performed at the opera in New York. Opera Career Barrie Law’s opera career flourished after his tremendous performance at the New York opera. He remained with the Halifax Light Opera from 1973 to 1975, where he was part of several critically-acclaimed shows. Some of the most terrific performances of Barrie Law’s opera career included La Bohem Opera (1978), Carmen Opera (1979), The Marriage of Figaro (1985), and Madam Butterfly (1986). Barrie Law’s inquisitive nature also pushed him to venture into the world of television. After returning to the United Kingdom, he received an acting gig offers in the police drama Identerkill from Yorkshire Television. His remarkable performance in the show earned him a part in the Edge of Darkness film as a police officer. Barrie Law also made his debut appearance in Emmerdale Farm with actor Frederick Pyne. Barrie Law was part of 37 episodes of Emmerdale over the span of 28 years. In 1986, BBC Television signed Barrie Law at Victoria Theatre, Halifax, in the Bluebell series. Later, he paused his singing career when Granada Television engaged him for Coronation Street. Soon afterward, Central Television booked him for Jimmy Cricket Show. Personal Life Barrie Law tied the knot with Lynda Hellowell in April 1965 at 21. Currently, he lives in York with his wife and four children, Mark, Andrew, Richard, and Louise. Of his four children, Richard followed in Barrie Law’s footsteps. After gaining considerable experience in stage acting and television work, Richard acquired the leading role in the Ghoul Keeper at York Theatre Royal. Apart from enjoying success in the world of stage and the silver screen, Law was also a talented photographer. He took his first photograph at fifteen, published in the Radio Times July 1959 edition. With his eclectic talents, Barrie Law is a source of inspiration for those who aim to make the most of their lives. |
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