Stephen Lloyd-Morgan´s Manager Nick Holland reflects on an amazing and very busy 2010.

Although life in Marbella and the Costa del Sol is never dull, at the beginning of January we certainly thought the year was off to a very slow start. How wrong could we have been!

Just two weeks into the year the devastating earthquake struck in Haiti, and the next 3 months of our lives became the busiest ever.

Firstly Steve was invited to sing at the Hotel Incosol on 1^st February for their `Solidario Con Haiti´ fundraising Gala, followed on the 5^th by the TRE Haiti Gala at La Quinta. An event spearheaded by Maurice Boland, I am still not sure if I volunteered to help organise the event alongside good friend Patti Senker, or if I was “volunteered”! We were truly overwhelmed by the self-less generosity of so many people that made this event and others possible, not to mention the Charity single “The Prayer for Haiti”, of which we are still very proud!

Combined efforts on the Costa raised over €30,000 for the Children in Haiti, and we were delighted to receive acknowledgement of everyone´s effort from HM The Queen , HRH The Prince of Wales and the Spanish Ambassador Giles Paxman among many others! www.slmlive.com/haiti

On the 6^th February Steve was invited to sing again at Hotel Incosol for the first of the “Marbella Marbella” events! Another great evening that spearheaded Dario Poli´s campaign to revitalise the good reputation of Marbella which we will wholeheartedly continue to support. http://www.marbellamarbella.es/

March to May included Steve singing at other charity events, The Children for Peace Gala at the Hotel Incosol, sharing the stage with Monterserrat Caballé, and meeting the amazing President and Vice-President of the Charity Debbie Mace and Lamia Khashoggi. We hope to be supporting the charity again in 2011! http://www.thechildrenforpeace.com/

Also in May Steve was delighted to be invited to support and sing again at the Gala for The Alzheimer’s Association and then The Children with Leukaemia Charity.

We move on into June and of course The Max Clifford and Rhys Daniels Trust Butterfly Ball at the Hotel Puente Romano, invited along for the second year; this was another fantastic fundraising evening where Steve performed with the Marbella Concert Orchestra! Steve again receiving rave reviews! www.slmlive.com/butterflyball

June & July Steve sang at the Marbella Art Festival, Gala Benéfica Fundación Cesare Scariolo at the Don Pepe, The Cudeca Summer Party at the Botanical Gardens Malaga, and the Fabio Capello Gala in aid of The Severiano Ballesteros Foundation.

 

Although it might appear a year of events supporting charities close to our hearts, which more recently included Steve singing with the Welsh Llynfi Valley Ladies Choir in aid of Cudeca and another amazing evening at The Essential Marbella Awards (www.slmlive.com/essentialawards ) in aid of the Malaga Children´s Home as well as the TRE Telethon in aid of Cudeca; Steve´s other performance highlights was singing at the National Musuem of Art in Barcelona and The Summer Events Concerts in Castillo de la Duquesa, and rounding off the year a marvellous evening at the Hotel Don Carlos just before Christmas.

Also In September Steve was delighted to accept an invitation to be a part of the Golden Book of the 100 of Marbella, which celebrates Marbella and its entrepreneurs, professionals, businessmen and women who have been contributing to the growth and development of Marbella in the past and particularly in 2010. Steve has been recognised for `his great voice and talent which have made him a true ambassador for Marbella and also for his numerous charity performances´.

Although Steve never takes part in all of these charity events to seek any kind of recognition, he nevertheless greatly appreciated this acknowledgement. Steve sang at the Gala to launch this year´s book in October. Steve has also been invited to be a part of the 100 of Gibraltar 2011, and will again sing at various Gala´s in January, February and March. www.slmlive.com/marbella100

And of course if this wasn´t enough, Steve has a full-time career as well, which this year has taken him abroad on several occasions, including a couple of weeks in Singapore.

At this point I must really pause, as in October sadly we heard the devastating news that Steve´s Dad Bryant had been diagnosed with Cancer. Tragically less than 5 weeks later on 4^th November he passed away. I would not want to say more here other than to express how overwhelmed we both were at the tremendous outpouring of kindness and support we have received by so many!

Perhaps to now end the year on a positive note, we were delighted to announce that Steve will now be represented in the UK by top London Agent Louise Gubbay who is one of the fastest growing agents in the UK, specialising in representing professional actors for Musical Theatre, Theatre, TV, film and commercials.

Louise made a flying visit to Spain to see Steve perform at this year´s Essential Marbella Awards Gala at the Hotel Puente Romano, immediately after which she invited Steve to be her client! http://www.louisegubbay.com/

“When I heard Stephen sing I felt we could have been in the Royal Albert Hall,” says Louise, who immediately recognised the Welsh tenor’s talent. “He really ‘feels’ each song he performs,”, “I want to get Stephen in the West End and he also deserves a record deal,”  – Sur In English

So as we move into 2011 I can see that we are going to be in for an equally busy, exciting and diverse year!

It was not until I started writing this did I appreciate exactly the extent of Charity events that Steve has been involved with this year, or in fact the amazing new group of friends and associates we have been very fortunate enough to meet!

We would like to thank everyone for their tremendous support and wish you all a very peaceful, Merry Christmas, and a prosperous and Happy New Year 2011!

Nick Holland

Management & Promotion, Stephen Lloyd-Morgan

www.slmlive.com