Gordon Cree is one of the few dedicated variety and music hall performers of his generation. A gentle-natured man standing 6' 3" in his stocking soles, Cree is an all-rounder in the truest sense of the phrase. He originally studied at the Royal Academy of Music, holding qualifications in classical singing from there, Guildhall and London College of Music. He was originally groomed for the operatic stage, but the call of the theatre was more than he could resist. It is true to say that his true showbusiness identity has never been precisely definable, since he has managed to divide his time between being a working pianist/musical director and a performer in his own right.Although billed as a singer, those who venture to see him at work can also expect to laugh quite a lot too; not that he does gags as such; he is just funny. He is once quoted to have said, "In order to make it as a mere singer, you have to have either a world-class voice or damn good looks: I have neither. Therefore, my only means of survival is to have a good enough voice and be funny, different or preferably both."Gordon Cree is well known in the business for his gentle manner, and amiable approach to those around him. One artiste who toured with him in the USA later said, "His four main weaknesses are theaters, dogs, children and flowers. He can't pass a theater without going in, he can't pass a dog without patting it, he can't pass a baby without talking to it and he can't pass a flower without smelling it and telling you it's name. If you're ever going across town with him on foot, prepare for a long trip!"Gordon kept a low profile around the 2002/2003 time; it is rumoured that he suffered a broken heart when the love of his life, Michelle left him unexpectedly. Those around him worried very much about him, but in the Autumn of 2003, The Duke of Darvel was back with a vengeance, although it is said that he has still never lost much of that sadness, which is apparent in many of his ballads.
