Richard Ellis Hawley – Care Home Keyboard Entertainer

I provide lively, nostalgic and highly engaging entertainment for care homes, retirement communities and sheltered housing across the North East and beyond.

My show is built around the Yamaha Tyros 5 and features the exciting sound of the famous Blackpool Tower Wurlitzer, alongside piano, theatre organ, orchestral and big-band styles. The result is a full, colourful show that can move from a traditional singalong to a ballroom favourite, a musical-theatre number or a well-known pop hit within the same performance.

My repertoire covers music from the 1940s to the present day, with most genres catered for. This includes wartime favourites, traditional songs, light classics, swing, big band, rock and roll, country, musical theatre, film music, easy listening, pop, hymns, dance music and familiar hits from every decade.

Each show is carefully adapted to suit the residents, the occasion and the atmosphere in the room. Some audiences enjoy joining in with well-known songs, while others prefer to sit back and enjoy the theatre-organ sound and instrumental arrangements. I am equally comfortable providing a lively afternoon show, a relaxed background performance, a themed event or music for a special celebration.

The Blackpool Tower-style section is often one of the highlights of the performance. It brings back the atmosphere of seaside holidays, ballroom dancing and traditional entertainment, using the rich Wurlitzer sound to perform familiar marches, singalong favourites, dance tunes and classic melodies.

Music has been part of my life for more than 40 years. My background includes extensive experience in brass bands, keyboard performance, church organ playing, weddings, funerals, community events and professional entertainment. This experience has taught me how to read an audience, vary the pace of a programme and choose music that creates a genuine connection.

I am a Fellow and Associate of the Musicians’ Guild and a member of the Musicians’ Union and the Independent Society of Musicians. I was also named North East Keyboard Entertainer of the Year in 2018 and 2020.

I understand that care-home entertainment needs to be professional, warm and adaptable. I arrive prepared, provide my own equipment and work closely with activity coordinators to make sure the performance suits the residents. Requests can be included in advance, and themed programmes are available for Christmas, Easter, Remembrance, Valentine’s Day, summer events, birthdays and national celebrations.

My aim is simple: to create an enjoyable musical experience that brings back memories, encourages participation and gives residents something positive to talk about afterwards.

Whether your residents enjoy Vera Lynn, Elvis, The Beatles, Abba, musical theatre, country, hymns, ballroom music or the unmistakable sound of the Blackpool Tower organ, I can build a show around them.

Act Details

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