Keith Jack

Keith Jack (born March 2, 1988) was the runner-up on the BBC reality talent show "Any Dream Will Do", which offered the chance to be the next West End Joseph for the hit musical "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice. He lost out to Lee Mead in the final on June 9, 2007.

Early life

Before his appearances on "Any Dream Will Do" was studying vocal and performance skills at http://www.stagequest.co.uk in Edinburgh and an HNC in Musical Theatre at Telford College also in Edinburgh. [cite news | title=Any Dream Will Do - Keith profile | url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/joseph/josephs/keith.shtml | publisher= BBC ] Since winning the 2006 "Chicago Rock Café Rock Idol" contest, held in the English West Midlands, he has been a student of celebrity vocal coach Carrie Grant, best known for belonging to Sweet Dreams, which came sixth in the 1983 Eurovision Song Contest and working on UK television talent contests, including "Fame Academy", "Comic Relief does Fame Academy" and "Pop Idol". [http://www.midlothianadvertiser.co.uk/news?articleid=1903884] [http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/entertainment/therazz/daily/tm_headline=join-keith-s-dream-with-rock-idol&method=full&objectid=19317296&siteid=66633-name_page.html/] [http://www.bbc.co.uk/joseph/joseph/news/2007/05/23/44852.shtml/] Keith Jack attended St.David's High School in Cousland (Dalkeith) where he performed in various christmas concerts and other precarious events.

Any Dream Will Do

Since the start of "Any Dream Will Do", Keith Jack was noted as a strong contender. His vocals, in particular, were praised very highly. The main criticisms thrown at him were his diction and his physical appearance: some judges thought he looked 'too young' to play Joseph. However, by the end of the series, Keith was widely regarded as the strongest singer on the programme. John Barrowman and vocal coach Zoe Tyler in particular were full of praise. Barrowman said: "That was brilliant, brilliant, brilliant, son! You have a voice of gold." [http://www.bbc.co.uk/joseph/joseph/news/2007/06/02/45272.shtml] . Tyler commented: "When I hear you sing now, you knock me for six" [http://www.bbc.co.uk/joseph/joseph/news/2007/06/09/45572.shtml] .
Denise van Outen described Keith as a "Young John Barrowman", while Bill Kenwright called Keith's talents "frightening". The panel was particularly impressed with his performances of Love Is All Around, Always on My Mind, Could It Be Magic and For Once in My Life.

After Any Dream Will Do

'The StageQuest student and former supermarket worker performed at 30 June 2007's "Picnic in the Parliament" concert outside Scotland's national assembly. "As my first performance since the final, I am proud it will be not only in Scotland but on a day celebrating Scottish talent,” the Scottish Parliament's website quoted him as saying. [http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/nmCentre/news/news-07/pa07-067.htm/]

On 28 June 2007, The Scotsman published an article stating that Keith was entering a record deal with Louis Walsh, the fruition of which was to be an album of pop, classical and theatrical music. [http://news.scotsman.com/entertainment.cfm?id=1010042007] Alas this was not meant to be, and Keith asked Adam Quest (StageQuest), his mentor and vocal coach of some 14 months to try and broker a new recording deal on his behalf. Within a week Keith was signed to John Mclaughlin's (Sandy Tomm, Busted, 911, Attic Lights, Teenage Fanclub) record label X-Phonics in Glasgow.

From October 2007, Keith has been in Bill Kenwright's national touring production of Joseph, starring as the Narrator, alongside fellow Any Dream Will Do contestants Craig Chalmers (who will be playing Joseph) and Chris Barton (who will be playing Benjamin). For some matinees, Chris Barton plays the narrator or Joseph.

Keith Jack is due to record his debut album early in 2008. A charity single of "When a Child is Born" is due to be released via download on 10 December 2007. http://keithjack.com/

In August 2008, Keith performed in the premier of the musical Only the Brave at the Edinburgh Festival. [cite web|title=Only the Brave, the Musical - Official Website | url=http://www.onlythebrave.co.uk] . In June 2008 he performed in the "Choices for Life" tour, which is for children in Primary 7 across Scotland.

His debut CD was released on 22nd of September and entitiled "This Time". He is touring England and Scotland in September and October 2008 to promote the album.

Keith Jack's performances on "Any Dream Will Do"

Show One- Crazy Little Thing Called Love by Queen

Show Two- Who Am I by Will Young

Show Three- Crocodile Rock by Elton John

Show Four- Love Is All Around by Wet Wet Wet

Show Five- Always on My Mind by Elvis Presley

Show Six - Brown Eyed Girl by Van Morrison as well as That's Life by Rat Pack (group number; performed with Ben Ellis and Lewis Bradley)

Show Seven- Let Me Entertain You by Robbie Williams

Semi Final- Could It Be Magic by Barry Manilow and Only You from the musical Starlight Express (duet; performed with Ben Ellis)

Final- For Once in My Life by Stevie Wonder, Moondance by Van Morrison and Always on My Mind (encore). [http://www.bbc.co.uk/joseph/news/index.shtml]

References