Liverpool choirboy Jack Topping releases his album ‘Wonderful World’ this week in the race to secure Christmas number one spot.
The 11-year-old is the youngest solo artist ever to sign to Decca records and is also the youngest ambassador for the charity Save the Children.
But the Metropolitan Cathedral singer insists he is still a normal child who does the things any other child his age would do, saying: “I’m just an ordinary person. My mum still tells me to tidy my room and do my homework!”
The pupil from St Edward’s College, West Derby, is up against Simon Cowell’s X-Factor winner this year. His album ‘Wonderful World’ includes 14 classical covers with his solo voice backed up by the stirring tones of the massed tenors and basses from the choir of the Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral.
It marks the history of Liverpool with his own versions of the Beatles songs Let it Be and The Long and Winding Road. However Jack confesses that his favourite song to sing off the album is You’ll Never Walk Alone.
Manager, Simon King of Decca Records, admits that he would like Jack to become a big star and will give it his best shot to get Jack to the top spot, saying: “Christmas is always a difficult time of year as there is lots of competition out there. This experience for Jack has certainly boosted his confidence, he is a choirboy who just does what he does and that is to make music.
“He is a very funny character and a pleasure to work with. A normal boy who enjoys football, TV and isn’t affected by meeting all the big stars. This is all about the opportunity for him and hopefully this will be the kick-start to his musical career.”
Jack recently made his big-stage debut at the Royal Albert Hall for the Classic Brit Awards and said he was overwhelmed with excitement.
“I was absolutely amazed when I sang in front of the Queen, it was a brilliant experience,” he said. “My dad said someone was clapping and smiling at me in the Royal Box and I asked who and he said it was the Queen!”
Having been with the choir for four years, he says his two aims in life are to have a career in music and to complete his grades in music and piano. Nevertheless, Jack still feels the pressure when performing on stage with venues ranging from the Metropolitan Cathedral to the Royal Albert Hall as well as Goodison Park for the Merseyside derby.
“The hardest thing to do is to remember the words of all the songs. I worry I’ll forget the words in front of people but I don’t mind singing in front of people,” he said.
Jack Topping’s album ‘Wonderful World’ is out now on Decca Records with proceeds from the single ‘Tomorrow’ going to Save the Children.