FRANK Sinatra, the man with whom he was so often compared, said of Matt Monro, “If I had to choose three of the finest male vocalists in the business, Matt would be one of them.”

Known as the man with the golden voice, Sixties’ legend Monro could count among his admirers some of the biggest names in showbusiness on both sides of the Atlantic, and remains one of Britain’s most-loved male singers nearly 30 years after his death.

Despite performing easy-listening ballads at a time when the charts were chock full of rock and roll, Monro’s warm and beautiful voice brought enormous pleasure to his millions of fans.

“To this day Matt Monro has a massive following all the world, but he never had a number one in Britain and that amazes me,” said vocalist Mike Lee, who celebrates a portrait of Matt Monro at Blackburn’s Thwaites Empire Theatre next Friday.

“Matt Monro had this incredible clarity in his voice. His pitch was right on the nose but, most of all, his voice was smooth and silky, like Sinatra’s. He was a very charismatic man. He loved the business and saw only the good side of everyone.

“But it was the accolades from his contemporaries like Sammy Davis Jr, Sinatra and Bing Crosby that gave him the biggest thrill of all.”

Like Monro, Lee hailsfrom the East End of London, where Monro was affectionately nicknamed the singing bus driver because one of his many occupations before he found fame was driving the Number 27 bus from Highgate to Teddington.

“Matt loved England and even when he was on the brink of finding mega-stardom in America he wanted to be here,” added Lee. “He was offered a million dollar record deal in the USA, but because he was so homesick he came back to London.”

Backed by the Mike Lee Trio, all Monro’s hits — From Russia With Love, Born Free, which became his signature tune, Walk Away and My Kind of Girl —will be complemented by rare film footage of Matt Monro performing.

“I always loved Matt’s music and this all started by chance really,” said Lee.

“I was putting on a Sixties’ show at the Royal Hippodrome Theatre in Eastbourne, and I sang some of his songs.

“The audience very kindly said my voice was just like Matt’s and I had his look, so I decided to do a nationwide tour. I don’t see it is a tribute act, it is more of a celebration of his life.”

An important influence on Monro’s early career was the pianist Winifred Atwell, who became his mentor and provided him with his stage name, while Michael Buble and Rick Astley have said Monro was a major influence on their work.

“Matt Monro was only 54 when he died, but a lot of young people turn up at the shows, so a new generation is discovering Matt Monro’s music and that makes me very proud.”

A portrait of Matt Monro, Blackburn Thwaites Empire Theatre, Friday, January 24. Details from the box office on 01254 685500.