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The earliest song I was captivated by
My earliest recollection is walking into a space at nursery school where they were playing Yellow Submarine by the Beatles. I was captivated by the sound effects, and John Lennon yelling: “Full speed ahead!” When it arrived at the hook, I remember thinking: “This must be music!”

The first 45 I acquired
When I was eight, I won a contest at school to pick a brand new record to play at the weekly dance party we had on Friday afternoons. My instructor took me to a local store, and I opted for Come Back My Love by Darts. The first single I purchased with my own pocket money was Mull of Kintyre by Wings from a music store in Lancashire. It was topping the charts at the time, and I selected it when my dad noted that it was by a former member of the Beatles.

The track I sing at sing-along
I candidly actively avoid public singing and avoid it at all costs. But under duress, I’d choose Summer Wind by Frank Sinatra.

The piece I inexplicably know all the words to
I just became aware that I have memorized almost all the lyrics to The Boy in the Bubble, You Can Call Me Al, and every song on Graceland by the legendary songwriter.

The best song to put on at a gathering
It hinges on what stage of the evening you are at. For the beginning it would probably be I Heard It Through the Grapevine by Marvin Gaye. As the evening progresses, I’d move on to Prince, the Stones and David Bowie, and when it gets lively, Phat Planet by Leftfield, Born Slippy .NUXX by the techno pioneers, and Ascension by Gorillaz, which is an absolute banger.

The song I can no longer bear
I inexplicably loathe Mr Brightside by the Las Vegas band.

The best song to get intimate to
Come Together by John, Paul, George, and Ringo.

The LP that changed my life
When I was twelve and beginning to learn the guitar, I’d only listen to early rock ’n’roll, and was obsessed with The King, the rock pioneer, Jerry Lee Lewis, the New Orleans legend, the glasses-wearing icon and the rockabilly star. Then my childminder brought round Let There Be Rock by the Australian rockers. It was still rock’n’roll, but it was powerful rock ’n’roll. The moment he put the record on the record player, I was hooked.

The tune that motivates me in the morning
What’d I Say parts 1 & 2 by Ray Charles.

The piece that brings me to tears
Virtually any music makes me emotional. The Queen of Soul, Frank Sinatra, Elvis and the Fab Four all make me cry because of the harmony and pure brilliance of the vocals. But The Ocean by the Sheffield crooner hits me hard every time.

The song I’d like performed at my memorial service
The King. If I’m cremated, I’ll have Burning Love. If I’m laid to rest in the ground, I’ll have Way Down.