BIN THERE, done that!
JOHN ENTERTAINS WITH DUSTMAN SONG... BUT IT’S A SLOW DAY AT CITY X FACTOR AUDITIONS
A RENDITION of Lonnie Donegan’s 1960 hit My Old Man’s A Dustman was one of the highlights of The X Factor auditions in Coventry.
John McGowan, 61, of Holbrooks, belted out the classic number one hit to a judge at the West Orchards Shopping Centre yesterday – but there was little fanfare to speak of in a low-key start.
John, a member of Coventry Male Voice Choir, said: “I had a brain haemmorhage in 1995, and it changed my life.
“Now I’m still rocking and thought ‘why not?’ I could get on TV. It went okay. There was only one person judging but they didn’t say anything. I’ll soon find out!”
He was one of only a handful of people who turned up for the morning session of the open auditions tour, but more were expected after the schools finished for the afternoon.
Also trying her luck was Tracey Shield, 44, who was born in Cov- entry and is now living in Ascot. She said: “I’m here seeing family so thought it would be good to have a go. “I’m a professional singer so doing this to try and further my career.” She said afterwards: “I really can’t say how it went. “I can be buzzing to sing in front of hundreds of people but singing in front of them two, my knees were trembling.
“I did The Voice last year and left thinking I did well and felt buzzing and didn’t get through. It was a good experience though.”
Another hopeful was Angie Underwood, 31, of Radford.
She said: “I like singing and thought it was the perfect opportunity, my family have given me a nudge.
“Since I was a little girl I was singing, I’ve got a few ideas of what I can sing.
“I wanted to have a go when it first started out but I didnt feel good enough and didn’t have the courage.
She said later: “I think it went ok, my heart was trembling.”