IAN ADAMIan Adam, who died on 10 May, 2007, aged 64, was a talented voice coach and tutor to a series of public figures.Singers and actors, including Sting, Boy George and Kenneth Branagh, all made room in their schedules to work with Mr Adam whose ear for music stretched beyond theatre and Broadway.In the early 1970s, Mr Adam began giving his first voice lessons and before long had secured a reputation in both Europe and America as an excellent voice coach. For the next 30 years he never looked back, as his contributions and reputation grew bigger and bigger.He struck up famous friendships and was known for his dry sense of humour. He was still working with top performers in the weeks leading up to his death.Ian Adam was born on 12 March, 1943, in Fortrose, Scotland. It was in this town, most famous for its 13th Century Cathedral, where his love of music first surfaced.Coming from a musical family, he travelled to Switzerland as a youngster to work with a voice coach named Huessler. His trips abroad were only temporary and his life in Scotland involved studying at Robert Gordon’s College and singing as a tenor soloist.After leaving school, Mr Adam headed for the bright lights of London. He also spent a summer in Suffolk studying at Benjamin Britten’s school in Aldeburgh. At the end of the 1960s he became a member of the Scottish Opera, building up confidence as performer and singer.In 1973 Mr Adam was introduced to the actor Michael Crawford – known on TV as the hapless character Frank Spencer in Some Mothers Do ‘Ave Em. It was one of Mr Adam’s first working relationships as a voice coach. He soon taught Mr Crawford how to project his voice correctly.The impresario Andrew Lloyd Webber became an admirer of the Scotsman’s abilities and employed him as a voice coach on theatre productions including Starlight Express and Cats.One of the biggest stage productions in the 1980s was the Phantom of the Opera. Mr Lloyd Webber had cast Michael Crawford in the leading role and again he worked at perfecting Mr Crawford’s voice.The Phantom of the Opera was a huge success and left Mr Adam in great demand, not only in the UK, but across the pond in America. Performers were flocking to work with Mr Adam whose enthusiasm and devotion rubbed off on others.In the late 1980s, he was approached by the BBC to appear in his own TV show, “I’d Like to Teach the World To Sing”. Its aim, as the title suggested, was to encourage audiences, through a number of master - classes that if you put your mind to it, anyone could sing.He suffered heart problems in his 40s after being mugged, but his drive and determination to continue in theatre, kept his career on track for close to another 20 years.In 2000, actor Kenneth Branagh had committed to making an adaptation of “Love’s Labour’s Lost. Based in the 1930s and with musical song and dance throughout, Mr Adam was brought on board to help with the production.Aside from the West End productions and coaching of Hollywood stars, Mr Adam also spent a portion of his career in Sweden. He taught at the Royal Dramatic Theatre where he maintained a professionalism training others to sing.In the months leading up to his death Mr Adam was working with Director Tim Burton on his new film Sweeney Todd. He will be remembered for his influential role in British theatre.
Keep me informed of updates
