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The earliest track I was captivated by
My most primal memory is entering a room at nursery school where they were spinning Yellow Submarine by the Fab Four. I was enthralled by the sonic landscape, and John Lennon yelling: “Full speed ahead!” When it got to the chorus, I recall believing: “This must be music!”

The first 45 I purchased
When I was eight years old, I won a contest at school to choose a new vinyl to play at the small dance we had on Fridays. My instructor took me to Woolworths, and I picked out Come Back My Love by the group Darts. The first record I bought with my own pocket money was Mull of Kintyre by Wings from a record shop in Lancashire. It was No 1 at the time, and I chose it when my father pointed out that it was by one of the Beatles.

The song I perform at sing-along
I honestly do not enjoy karaoke and dodge it at all costs. But if I had to, I’d go with Summer Wind by Ol' Blue Eyes.

The song I oddly know every lyric to
I not long ago realised that I can recall almost the entire lyrical content to The Boy in the Bubble, You Can Call Me Al, and the entire album on Graceland by the legendary songwriter.

The ideal song to blast at a gathering
It depends on what stage of the evening you are at. Early doors it would most likely be I Heard It Through the Grapevine by Marvin Gaye. As the night wears on, I’d move on to the Artist, the Stones and David Bowie, and when it really kicks off, Phat Planet by Leftfield, Born Slippy .NUXX by the techno pioneers, and Ascension by Gorillaz, which is an absolute banger.

The number I can never listen to
I strangely cannot stand Mr Brightside by the Las Vegas band.

The ideal song to make love to
Come Together by John, Paul, George, and Ringo.

The album that altered my perspective
When I was 12 and just learning to study the six-string, I’d only listen to classic rock and roll, and was fixated on The King, Chuck Berry, Jerry Lee Lewis, the New Orleans legend, the glasses-wearing icon and the rockabilly star. Then my babysitter played Let There Be Rock by AC/DC. It was still guitar music, but it was high voltage rock ’n’roll. Instantly after he put the record on the record player, I was captivated.

The song that wakes me in the AM
What’d I Say parts 1 & 2 by The Genius.

The piece that gets me emotional
Virtually any music makes me touched. The Queen of Soul, The Chairman of the Board, Presley and the Fab Four all stir my emotions because of the tune and sheer perfection of the vocals. But The Ocean by Richard Hawley gets me going without fail.

The track I’d like played at my funeral
The King. If I’m cremated, I’ll have Burning Love. If I’m laid to rest in the ground, I’ll have Way Down.