Geoff Eales is a very talented pianist, with a long and varied career in the music industry.  He always makes the effort to be friendly to the fans and seems to get as much affection as Michael does sometimes when he appears outside the theatre.  Everyone knows him, but I don't think that anyone will know just how long and varied his career has been.

Geoff was born in 1951 in Aberbargoed, Gwent in South Wales and started to learn piano at the age of 8.  He showed a great interest and talent throughout his school years in all different types of music.

TALENT:  Geoff was awarded a diploma (LRAM) for his classical piano playing at an early age.  After leaving school he studied at Cardiff University gaining a First Class Honours Degree in Music (BMUS) after three years.  This was followed a year later with a Masters Degree in Musical Composition.  Subsequently, Geoff was awarded a PhD in music (composition and research into the music of American composer Aaron Copland).

CAREER:  After a period of life on the open seas working on the luxury cruise lines, Geoff joined the Joe Loss Orchestra in 1977.  He remained with Joe Loss for two years where he toured the UK extensively. The end of 1978 saw Geoff joining the BBC Big Band and Radio Orchestra.  This was to prove a busy time in Geoff's career, staying with the BBC Big Band for over four years and making well over a thousand broadcasts.  Geoff worked with many talented artists during this time, such as Rosemary Clooney, Rosemary Squires, Henry Mancini and Marian Montgomery.

By 1983, when Geoff left the BBC he had earned himself the reputation of being one of the foremost, respected pianists on the London studio scene.

From then on Geoff found he could branch out and was not only able to continue and be in great demand as a session pianist, but also he could now work as an arranger, composer and musical director.

EARLY 1980'S TV/FILM:  In 1983 Geoff was the musical associate/arranger/pianist for the hit TV series "The Hot Shoe Show" featuring Wayne Sleep and Bonnie Langford.  1984 saw Geoff engaged as the technical musical adviser on the successful TV mini series "Ellis Island", starring Faye Dunaway and Richard Burton.  Geoff had the difficult challenge of teaching two actors to make it seem as if they were playing the piano pieces that Geoff had actually recorded himself.

MID 1980'S - US AMBASSADOR'S HOME:  The mid 1980's saw Geoff's career go along another new route.  He was the resident pianist at the American Ambassador's home - Winfield House - in Regent's Park.  He entertained famous politicians here, such as George Bush, Margaret Thatcher and royalty, Princess Margaret, they were all frequent visitors.  A favourite memory of Geoff's is playing at a party thrown for guest of honour, Leonard Bernstein.

Around the same time Geoff was engaged many times as pianist/musical director at The Ritz in Picadilly, accompanying, artists such as Marian Montgomery, Adelaide Hall and Liz Robertson.

LATE 1980'S/EARLY 1990'S - MUSICAL THEATRE:  Geoff's career again went down another new path in the late 1980's when he played at many concerts dedicated to the music of Andrew Lloyd Webber, which featured the new talent of Sarah Brightman and Michael Ball.

In 1989 Geoff continued his association with Lloyd Webber when he was employed by the Really Useful Company in Aspects of Love, the new Lloyd Webber musical, again starring Michael Ball at the Prince of Wales Theatre in London's West End.

Geoff remained in Aspects until June 1992 when the show finally closed, however his close association with Michael Ball has continued and is as strong as ever.

In late 1992 Geoff began working on another West End Show "Kiss of the Spider Woman", starring Chita Rivera.  After the show closing in 1993, this marked a very busy four year period of Geoff's life in the world of musical theatre.

1990'S - VARIETY - CONCERTS/TV SHOWS:  1993 saw Geoff working with Michael Ball again on Michael's first TV series.  These shows saw Geoff and Michael working with such stars as Tammy Wynette, Ray Charles, Michael Bolton and opera singer Montserrat Caballe.

In 1994 Geoff had a very busy year, he worked on the Come Dancing shows in Bournemouth for the BBC, The Brian Conley Show at LWT, a studio recording with Julie Andrews, Andrew Lloyd Webber concerts at St Paul's Cathedral and Sudeley Castle, The Royal Variety Show at The Dominion Theatre, London and a UK Tour with Shirley Bassey.

The following year, 1995 was exactly the same for Geoff and just as busy, more Andrew Lloyd Webber concerts, studio albums with Elaine Paige and Sarah Brightman and a favourite moment for Geoff when The Geoff Eales Trio made an appearance at the VE Day celebrations in London's Hyde Park.

In 1995 Geoff's passion for Jazz music was ignited when he met the American jazz singer Marlene VerPlanck, after working with her Geoff was enthusiastic to explore the jazz side of his musical nature more.  This led to eventually Geoff recording his own debut jazz album, Mountains of Fire in July 1998 and this was released on the Black Box label in March 1999.

For the last four years Geoff has frequently accompanied Marlene as part of the Roy Babbington Trio on her UK tours.  Geoff's musical path of late has been one of jazz, but he has still found the time to do other things as well.

1996 saw him working with Jose Carreras on his Passion album, with Ruthie Henshall on her album and Lesley Garrett on her Soprano in Hollywood album.  Geoff also worked as Musical Director on Ned Sherrin's Review of Revue series for BBC Radio.

In 1997 Geoff worked with Millicent Martin and the late Anthony Newley, took part in the Prince's Trust Gala Concert and again accompanied Michael Ball on his sell-out UK tour.

There seems to be nothing that Geoff cannot do or no musical challenge too big for him.  Over the last couple of years Geoff has undertaken many different roles, Musical Director for Larry Adler and Salena Jones (Including shows in Japan, supporting Salena Jones).  Appearance at London's Green Room (Cafe Royal) accompanying big band vocalist Lynn Roberts.  He has appeared at the Edinburgh Festival with Larry Adler and most recently Geoff has again been working with Michael Ball on his sell-out UK Spring 1999 tour, and also with Michael for a series of concerts in Belfast and Dublin in September.

The future looks great for Geoff with many different plans in the offing.  Geoff plans to explore and develop his love of jazz music and hopes to release his second solo album next year (2000).
 
For more information about Geoff please visit his own website at www.geoffeales.com.  This website is run by Pat Lyra and you can also e-mail Geoff via Pat at geoff@geoffeales.com.