Many workers at Austin and Pickersgill’s in the 1980s will remember him singing at the yard, where he worked as a plater.

His voice has left such an impression on the North East clubland that he has just been voted the best male vocalist in the region for the third time in succession.

Shaun picked up his top award last Thursday at a special event in Gateshead. He has performed at many clubs in the North East and regularly travels abroad to sing for holidaymakers in Spain.

Shaun prefers singing live with backing musicians and has made the popular ballads, from famous names such as Sinatra, Tom Jones and Al Martino – his speciality.

One of the biggest influences in his life, says Shaun, was his mother Kathleen, who died in December, 1999, at the age of 51.

For further information telephone 01253 899988/899333 or email jean@personalityxtra.com.

  THE BAND,FORMED BY DON FARDON AND BASSIST PHIL PACHAM, WAS PUT TOGETHER TO RELIVE THE EARLY DAYS OF THE ROCK PHENOMENA THAT STUNNED THE WORLD IN THE LATE 50’s AND HAS AN INCREDIBLE PEDIGREE;

In the late sixties, he had two Number  One hits in South Africa ‘Little Arrows” and “Little Yellow Aeroplane”. Both were country slanted and ‘Little Arrows’, along with the album of the same name, with the song Good Morning. He completed two successful tours of South Africa.  One with Sandy Shaw, ad one with the New Seekers

As one of four artists along with Tom Jones, actually achieved No 1 in the American Billboard Country charts. He also reached No 24 Englebert Humperdinck, and Gilbert O’Sullivann in the renowned stable of the late Gordon Mills, Leapy began to enjoy the same champagne lifestyle as a result of this success as they did.  However, at the height of his fame, having returned from one of his successful tours of South Africa, Leapy’s career entered a dark downturn when, on a quiet Sunday afternoon, he was persuaded to go to the Red Lion in Sunningdale with the late Diana Dors husband, the troubled actor, Alan Lake, and became embroiled in a pub fight which ended up with a short spell at Her Majesty’s Pleasure.   In his biography part two, Leapy recalls the amazing event that took place on his arrival at the prison, when the vocal strains of “Little Arrows” rose over the prison walls.  News of his arrival had reached the ears of the other inmates and this was their welcome chorus!!   All this behind him, for several decades, Leapy has often worked voluntarily with young people who have got into similar troubles.

Still a household name in many countries with  a huge personality, Leapy, (Lee Graham) started his career at 15 when he formed his own “Urchins” skiffle group in his hometown of Eastbourne and before long was topping the bill at the Metropolitan Theatre. 

An acting career followed with  performances on the West End stage in “Johny The Priest”; “Sparrows Can’t Sing”, and “’Oh Dad, Poor Dad, I’ve Locked you’re Momma in the Cupboard and I’m So Sad” amongst others.

Since the late eighties, Leapy  has been wowing audiences nightly in Spain. Appearing in Cabaret at various hotels in Mallorca and the Spanish Mainland.   Occasionally he has returned to Germany, Holland, or the UK to appear in TV or , with a skiffle-to-sixties sing-along trip down memory lane which has audiences young and old joining in with gusto.

 In addition to his very popular cabaret act, Leapy has many other talents. 

He is a well known journalist and writes a weekly column for the Euro Weekly newspaper for which he has been voted ‘Journalist of the Year’ by the readers for his outspoken and uncensored views. 

He was also voted Balearics Capital Radio’s most popular radio presenter over a 10 years run.

He is a brilliant cook, and his travelling ‘Flying Curry Circus’, in which he cooks 3 varieties of curry for  100 guests and then sings and tell anecdotes to his customers is legendary on Mallorca. And makes hin a valable contributer to the TV Cooking shows.

His great personal charm and warm way with people also makes him an ideal celebrity performer to have on board ship or as a pantomime artist.

When he finds time to relax, Leapy heads for the river with a fishing rod and can of worms, and loves to spend time with his children.  He also enjoys his Charity work and for many years has supported the Robert Windsor Charity Golf Tournament which raises money for the needy children of Mallorca.

He has two autobiographical books out, a third in the works, and you can see more details about him on his website www.leapylee.co.uk 

Little Arrows fame