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Wet Wet Wet
A Lengthy Association With Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy
Glasgow 23 November 2007
After bursting on to the British music scene with the first of their numerous hit singles in 1987, a year later Wet Wet Wet received the new music award at the Silver Clef awards in London, an event held to raise funds for the charity Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy.
It was then that the band were first introduced to the brilliant work of trained therapists who use methods developed by composer Paul Nordoff, and special education teacher Clive Robbins, to help people express themselves and communicate through music.
Graeme, Tommy, Neil and Marti and their management have continued their support for the charity ever since. In November 1992, Wet Wet Wet staged a one off concert with the Wren Orchestra at the prestigious Royal Albert Hall in London. Proceeds of over two hundred thousand pounds from the concert plus the subsequently released album and video of the show were donated by the band to Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy.
This money was used to help create a research library at the Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy Centre in London and most importantly to help set up an outreach music therapy unit in Scotland, ultimately leading to ‘Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy in Scotland’ being established as a registered charity in 1996.
The band’s efforts were truly recognised by the charity in 1996 when Wet Wet Wet became the first (and only) artists to receive both the Silver Clef award and the Scottish Silver Clef award. That same year, they were instrumental in the production of a gala charity performance of “The Phantom Of The Opera” at the Edinburgh Playhouse in aid of Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy in Scotland.
2004 saw the band become the first artists to perform a live and electric set at the Tartan Clef awards in Glasgow, receiving the main award of the evening, the Tartan Clef award.
Wet Wet Wet returned to the stage for Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy in Scotland on 24th November 2007 at the biggest Tartan Clef awards event yet, being held in Glasgow’s revamped ‘Old Fruit Market’ venue. The band opened the show with a bang, they performed their first single ‘Wishing I Was Lucky’ and their latest single ‘Too Many People’.
Wet Wet Wet frontman Marti Pellow says “Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy is about improving the quality of life for people cut off from the usual world. Music, as an international language breaks down barriers and provides many individuals with a way of communication”. Drummer Tommy Cunningham adds “Music has given us a lot in life, and its great to be able to use music to give something back, we are very proud of our association with Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy, particularly here in Scotland”.
Wet Wet Wet are honoured to have received the following recognition from Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy throughout their career: -
1988: New Music Award, London
1995: Silver Thistle Award, London
1996: Scottish Silver Clef Award, Edinburgh
1996: Silver Clef Award, London
2004: Tartan Clef Award, Glasgow
For more information Wet Wet Wet, please see: -
www.wetwetwet.co.uk
Forthcoming Events
Tartan Clef Music Awards 2008
Tartan Clef Music Awards will be held at the fantastic Old Fruit Market in Glasgow’s Merchant City, on Saturday 22nd November 2008.