Earl Okin

Biography

Earl Okin (b. 1947) is a London singer-songwriter, musician, and comedian with a long international career. Born on the 31st January 1947 in Carshalton, Surrey, he has lived in Notting Hill since he was five years old, holds a degree in Philosophy from the University of Kent at Canterbury (1968), and worked as a schoolmaster for eleven years before going full time. He was signed to the same company as The Beatles in 1966, and recorded his first single at Abbey Road in 1967. Some of his songs...

Earl Okin (b. 1947) is a London singer-songwriter, musician, and comedian with a long international career.

Born on the 31st January 1947 in Carshalton, Surrey, he has lived in Notting Hill since he was five years old, holds a degree in Philosophy from the University of Kent at Canterbury (1968), and worked as a schoolmaster for eleven years before going full time.

He was signed to the same company as The Beatles in 1966, and recorded his first single at Abbey Road in 1967. Some of his songs were covered during the 1960s by Cilla Black, Georgie Fame, and Helen Shapiro.

During the 1970s, Okinl became a well-known name in folk clubs, but also started to perform as support act in large venues, beginning with folk acts such as Ralph McTell and Fairport Convention. He progressed to opening for such varied performers as Jean-Luc Ponty and Van Morrison. however, it was the 1979 tour with Paul McCartney and Wings which prompted him to go full time. He also began to perform in jazz festivals.

In 1981, Okin appeared on The Parkinson Show and also, due to the comedy that he used in his folk-club act, was invited by Nigel Planer to perform at The Comic Strip comedy club. This led to his second career on the alternative comedy circuit, where he remains a headline act. However, his act continues to be a musical one.

In 1983, he also began to perform at the Edinburgh Fringe where he performed over 500 shows but has never neglected either his songwriting or development as a jazz singer/musician, with a special interest in the Brazilian music known as Bossa Nova. He gives concerts in Brazil from time to time, as well as touring his one-man show, a mixture of music and comedy.

He performs on television in several countries, but especially Brazil, Australia, and Germany. He has also performed at most major venues in London, from the Royal Albert and Festival Halls to The Palladium and Wembley Arena. Apart from self-published LPs, he has had CDs issued by BMG in Germany and Austria and SONY in the U.K.

He has recorded two CDs, one of jazz and bossa nova, Bossa Britanica, and, more recently a CD of his songs in various genres called Songs from a Garden Shed.
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