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Dennis Frere-Smith

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About Dennis

Professional, versatile, variety musical entertainer with over 30 years experience in #shows #cabaret#functions#variety#cruises#corporates
Singer
Norwich
Public liability insurance of £10 million
Verified profile

As a musician, singer and entertainer, I have performed all over the world in cabaret, hotels, theatres, onboard ship and in concert halls. My career began in Mecca dance bands and I 'cut my teeth' on the British club circuit, in the 80s, with my duo, Niki 'n' Diz. In 1994 I developed my solo act, Dennis Frere-Smith, adding a multi-instrumental element and more fun and audience participation. I pride myself in being able to draw on years of experience playing many different genres of music and having worked with top artistes and shows such as, Bruce Forsyth, Roy Castle, Jim Davidson, Dancing Years and The Dance Band Days. I am currently working as a professional in all areas of the industry using my name, Dennis Frere-Smith. My clientele are always delighted with my shows and I offer top class entertainment wherever and whenever you wish.

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Saved the day!
Booked for an Encore gig with less than 24 hours’ notice
Member of the Encore community forum
7th Anniversary
This act has been working with Encore for over 7 years
5 gigs
Experienced: 5 bookings through Encore
Musicianship
Genres:
1940s era music, Jazz, 1920s era music, 1930s era music, 1950s era music, 1960s era music, Cabaret, Blues, Swing, Pop, Covers, Tribute, Classical, Fanfare, Musical theatre, Baroque, Country, Dixieland, Modern jazz, Easy listening, Light music, Acoustic, Vintage, Rock 'n' Roll, Pop rock, World music, Bossa nova, Latin, Reggae, Samba, Tango, Military, Traditional church music, Christmas, Folk, Latin jazz
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Instruments:
See all instruments
Event types:
Private event, Wedding, Funeral / Memorial service, Church service, Hotel / Restaurant event, Bar / Club / Venue event, Corporate event, Charity event, Concert, Recording session, Theatre / Show, Cruise, Birthday party, Christmas party, New Year's Eve
See all event types
Other skills:
Arranger, Orchestrator, Transcription, Musical comedy, Fluent improviser, Fluent sight-reader, MC, Instrumental teaching, Music therapy, Theory teaching, Composition teaching, Community music worker
See all skills

Dennis' Song list

SWING and JAZZ NUMBERS
1. Almost Like Being in Love – Nat Cole
2. A Fine Romance – Johnny Mercer
3. All of Me – Michael Buble
4. Ain't What You Do It's the Way You Do It – original film
5. A Foggy Day in London Town - Buble
6. Autumn Leaves
7. Basin Street Blues
8. Beyond The Sea – Bobby Darrin
9. Blue Skies – Eva Cassidy
10. Bye Bye Blackbird - Ray Henderson
11. Cheek to Cheek – Fred Astaire
12. Come Fly With Me – Frank Sinatra
13. Continental – Fred Astaire
14. Don't Get Around Much Anymore – Michael Buble
15. Fly Me To The Moon – Michael Buble
16. Get Happy – Clare Teal
17. Have You Met Miss Jones - Buble
18. Hello Dolly – Louis Armstrong
19. Hello Young Lovers – Bobby Darrin
20. I Got Rhythm – original show tune
21. I'm Getting Married in the Morning – Frank Sinatra
22. In The Mood – Glen Miller
23. It Don't Mean a Thing - Ellington
24. It Had to Be You – original show tune
25. Just Friends – Bille Holiday
26. Lady is a Tramp – Frank Sinatra
27. Let There Be Love – Nat King Cole
28. Let's Face The Music and Dance – Fred Astaire
29. Let's Fall in Love -standard
30. Luck Be A Lady Tonight – Frank Sinatra
31. Mack The Knife – Bobby Darrin
32. Moondance – Van Morrison
33. Mister Bojangles – Sammy Davis Jnr
34. Nice and Easy – Frank Sinatra
35. Night and Day – Ella Fitzgerald
36. Old Black Magic – Frank Sinatra
37. On the Sunny Side of The Street – Gillespie
38. Slow Boat To China - standard
39. Straighten Up and Fly Right – Nat King Cole
40. Sweet Georgia Brown - standard
41. Take The 'A' Train – Ellington
42. Taking a Chance on Love – Frank Sinatra
43. The Sunny Side of The Street – Frankie Laine
44. There Will Never Be Another You - standard
45. You Make Me Feel So Young – Michael Buble
Slow Swing
1. A Certain Smile – Johnny Mathis
2. Cry Me A River – Michael Buble
3. Dream a Little Dream – Mamas and Papas
4. Fever – Bette Midler
5. Goodnight Sweetheart - Platters
6. I'll Be Seeing You – show tune
7. My Funny Valentine - Frank Sinatra
8. Send in The Clowns – Frank Sinatra
9. What a Difference a Day Made – Jamie Cullum
10. When I Fall in Love – Nat King Cole
11. Slow Boat To China - Frank Loesser
12. As Time Goes By - Dooley Wilson
13. Ain't Misbehavin - Fats Waller
14. Tenderly - Billy Holiday
15. Georgia on my Mind - Ethel Waters
16. Summertime - Gershwin
POPS
1. Congratulations - Cliff Richard
2. Things - Bobby Darin
3. I'm a Believer - Monkees
4. Daydream Believer - The Monkees
4. Sweet Caroline - Neil Diamond
5. You Were Made For Me - Freddie & the Dreamers
6. How Do You Do What You Do to Me? _ Gerry & The
Pacemakers
7. I Like It - Gerry & The Pacemakers
8. What Do You Want - Adam Faith
9. Delilah - Tom Jones
10. Happy Birthday Sweet Sixteen - Neil Sedaka
11. Oh Carol - Neil Sedaka
12. Breaking Up Is Hard To Do - Neil Sedaka
13. The Young Ones - Cliff Richards
14. Devil Woman - Cliff Richards
15. We Don't Talk Anymore - Cliff Richards
16. Livin' Doll - Cliff Richards
17. Summer Holiday - Cliff Richards
18. Batchelor Boy - Cliff Richards
19. A Teenager in Love - The Belmonts
20. Why Do Fools Fall in Love - Frankie Lymon
21. Sugar, Sugar - The Archies
22. If I Said You Had A Beautiful Body - Bellamy Brothers
23. You've Got What it Takes - Showaddwaddy
24. Under The Moon of Love - Showaddywaddy
25. Happy - Pharell
26. I Only Want To Be With You - Dusty Springfield
27. Halfway to Paradise - Billy Fury
28. A Thousand Stars in Your Eyes - Billy Fury
29. Tie A Yellow Ribbon - Dawn
30. Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie - Brian Hyland
31. Can't Take My Eyes Off You - Frankie Valli
32. Build Me Up Buttercup - The Foundations
33. The Night Has a Thousand Eyes - Frankie Valli
34. Take Good Care of My Baby - Frankie Valli
35. She Loves You - Beatles
36. A Hard Days Night - Beatles
37. Eight Days A Week - Beatles
38. I wanna Hold Your Hand - Beatles
39. Here Comes The Sun - Beatles
40. Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da . - Beatles
41. In The Summertime - Mungo Jerry
42. Twist and Shout - Beatles
43. Proud Mary - Tina Turner
44. Get Back - Beatles
45. When I'm Sixty-Four - Beatles
46. All My Loving - Beatles
47. Do You Love Me - The Tremeloes
48. Pretty Woman - Roy Orbison
49. Money, Money, Money - ABBA
50. Dancing Queen - ABBA
51. Waterloo - ABBA
52. Mama Mia - ABBA
53. Blue Moon
54. All My Lovin'-
BALLADS
1. All I Have to Do is Dream - Everly Brothers
2. Amazing Grace - Elvis Presley
3. Angels – Robbie Williams
4. And I Love You So – Don McLean
5. A Certain Smile - Johnny Mathis
6. Green, Green, Grass of Home – Tom Jones
7. For the Good Times – Kris Kristofferson
8. Blueberry Hill – Fats Domino
9. Elvis Medley – Love Me Tender/Can't Help Falling in
Love/Crying in the Chapel
10. How Great Thou Art – Stuart Hine
11. The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face – Ewan MacColl
12. Goodnight Sweetheart – Platters
13. Hello - Lionel Richie
14. Hey Jude – Beatles
15. Have I Told You Later That I Love You – Van Morrison
16. He’ll Have to Go – Jim Reeves
17. I Believe – Frankie Lane
18. Imagine - John Lennon
19. I Can't Smile Without You - Barry Manilow
20. I Made it Through The Rain - Barry Manilow
21. Lean on Me – Bill Withers
22. It’s Now or Never - Elvis
23. If – Bread
24. Raining in my Heart - Bread
25. Laughter in the Rain – Neil Sedaka
26. Let It Be – Beatles
27. Love You A Little Bit More – Dr Hook
28. Mandy – Barry Manilow
29. My Way – Paul Anka/Sinatra
30. One Day in Your Life – Michael Jackson
31. Please Release Me – Engelbert Humperdink
32. Smile – Charlie Chaplin
33. Somewhere Over The Rainbow – Israel Kamakawiwo’ole
34. The Rose – Bette Midler
35. The Wonder of You - Elvis Presley
36. Three Times a Lady – Lionel Richie
37. Unchained Melody – Righteous Brothers
38. Take These Chains From My Heart - Ray Charles
39. When You Wish Upon a Star – Bing Crosby
40. Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow – Amy Winehouse
41. Wonderful Tonight – Michael Buble
42. Words - Bee Gees
43. Yesterday - Paul McCartney
44. You Don't Have to Say You Love Me – Dusty Sringfield
45. You Raise Me Up – Westlife
46. I Can't Stop Loving You - Kitty Well
47. I Just Called to Say I Love You - Stevie Wonder
47. Killing Me Softly - Roberta Flack
47. You'll Never Walk Alone – Gerry & The Pacemakers
WALTZES
1. Moon River-Andy Williams
2. Can't Help Falling in Love-Elvis
3 .He'll Have to Go-Jim Reeves
4. There Goes My Everything-Engelbert Humperdink
5. The Last Waltz- Engelbert Humperdink
6. Are You Lonesome Tonight-Elvis
7. Answer Me-Barbara Dickson
8. That's Amore-Dean Martin
9. Roses of Picardy-Vince Hill
10. This Nearly Was Mine-South Pacific
11. What The World Needs Now-Carpenters
12 .Jean-from, Pride of Miss Brody
13. Now is The Hour-Vera Lynn
14. Molly Malone-Irish Traditional
15. Old Bull & Bush-Cockney Medley
16. When Your Old Wedding Ring Was New-Tony Christie
17. True Love-Bing Crosby
18. Three Times a Lady-Lionel Richie
19. Edelweiss-Sound of Music
20. My Favourite Things-Julie Andrews
21. Christmas Waltz Medley-Silent Night/Away in a
Manger/Greensleeves
ROCK CLASSICS
1. Come on Eileen – Dexys Midnight Runners
2. Final Countdown-Europe
3. Hi Ho Silver Lining-Jeff Beck
4. Satisfaction-Rolling Stones
5. Bits ‘n’ Pieces-Dave Clark Five
6. Brown Eyed Girl-Van Morrison
7. Pinball Wizard-The Who
8. All Right Now-Free
9. Maggie May-Rod Stewart
10. You Really Got Me-Kinks
11. 5-4-3-2-1-Manfred Mann
12. Nah Nah Hey Hey-Steam
13. I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For-U2
14. Proud Mary-Tina Turner
15. Lady Madonna-Beatles
16. Hard Days Night-Beatles
17. Lola-Kinks
Rock 'n' Roll/Jive
1. Rock Around the Clock - Bill Haley
2. Hound Dog - Elvis
3. All Shook Up/Teddy Bear – Elvis
4. Blue Suede Shoes-Elvis
5. Walk Right In - Rooftop Singers
6. Come on Ev'rybody – Eddie Cochran
7. Down By The Riverside – Trad
8. Bill Bailey – Brenda Lee
9. Frankie and Johnny – Trad
10. Jailhouse Rock – Elvis
11. American Patrol-Miller
12. Pennsylvania 6500-Miller
13. Singin’ the Blues-Melvin Endersly
14. See You Later Alligator-Bill Haley
15. Green Door-Shakin’ Stevens
16. This Ole House-Shakin’ Stevens
17. Hippy Hippy Shake-Swinging Blue Jeans
18. Twist & Shout-Beatles
19. Return to Sender-Elvis
20. Bye Bye Love-Everley Brothers
21. That’ll Be the Day-Buddy Holly
22. Every Day-Buddy Holly
23. It Doesn’t Matter Anymore-Buddy Holly
24. Oh Boy/Peggy Sue-Buddy Holly
25. Whole Lotta Shakin’-Jerry Lee Lewis
26. Great Balls of Fire-Jerry Lee Lewis
CHRISTMAS SONGS
1. Ding! Dong! Merrily on High - Trad
2. It’s The Most Wonderful time of the Year - Andy Williams
3. It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas - Michael Bublé
4. The Christmas Alphabet - Dickie Valentine
5. Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer - Gene Autry
6. Rocking Around the Christmas Tree - Brenda Lee
7. Jingle Bell Rock - Bobby Helms
9. Jingle Bells - Trad
10. Wooden Heart - Elvis Presley
11. Mistletoe and Wine - Cliff Richard
12. Walking in a Winter Wonderland - Felix Bernard
13. Santa Claus is Coming to Town - Bing Crosby
14. Sleigh Ride - The Ronettes
15. So Here it is Merry Christmas - Slade
16. All I Want For Christmas is You - Mariah Carey
17. All I Want For Christmas is My Two Front Teeth -
18. Last Christmas - Wham
18. We Wish You a Merry Christmas - Trad
20. The Twelve Days of Christmas - Trad
21. The Virgin Mary Had a Baby Boy - Boney M
22. I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus
23 What Child is This? Josh Groban
24. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas - Ralph Blane
25. Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire - Nat King Cole
26. When The Red Red Robin Comes Bob, Bob, - Dean Martin
27. Away in a Manger
28. Silent Night
29. O Come All ye Faithful
30.It Came Upon a Midnight Clear
31. The Holly and the Ivy
32. Joy to the WORLD
33. While Shepherds Watched
34. The Rocking Carol
35. We Three Kings
36. Once in Royal David’s City
37.The First Nowell
38.God rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
39. Deck The Halls
40. Good King Wenceslas
41. Good Christian Men Rejoice
42. Amazing Grace
43. Auld Lang Syne
Customer questions

What do your clients love most about your performances?

When I perform trumpet for ceremonies and commemorative occasions, my clients appreciate my smart turn out. A recent example was a military family wedding where I wore my Regimental badge and Guards tie. At cabaret and party events everyone always remarks at my white Tuxedo that usually start with.

Which venues have you performed at in the past?

I have performed at London hotels, Heathrow hotels, Royal venues, cruises, European tours for NAAFI entertainments, Theatre shows, Holiday centres, Care centres, Retirement venues and private and corporate functions. Companies include, Royal Albert Hall, and Festival Hall, London, Hammersmith Palais, Lyceum on the Strand and the Cunard line.

Which artists have you been most influenced by?

Frank Sinatra, Fred Astaire, Dean Martin, Bruce Forsyth, Tom Jones, Michael Buble, Andy Williams, Englebert Humperdink, Bobby Darin, Luciano Pavarotti, Paul McCartney, John Lennon, Maurice Andrè, Louis Armstrong, Miles Davis and Dizzy Gillespie.

What is the most high profile gig you've performed?

Buckingham Palace for the Investiture ceremonies and Garden parties.

What if my timings change after I've booked you?

I always try to be flexible in order to assist the smooth running of the event. Usually, any changes can be discussed in the run up to the day. I am used to dealing with slight adjustments on the day as well-particularly if the event is outdoors.

Can you provide an iPod/DJ service before and between your sets?

I do not provide a DJ service but always have a selection of playlists for before, during and after my performance, if required.

How much time do you need to set up?

My set up time varies according to the size of the venue but is between 25 and 40 minutes.

Can I pick the pieces you play from the set list?

Yes, I am pleased to be able to discuss playlists with you at any time.

Do you bring all the equipment you need to perform?

Yes, I have a Bose S1 PA system and AKG wireless mics. I also play trumpet, pBuzz, ukuleles and pBone, depending on the type of event.

Can you learn specific pieces before the event?

Yes, I am often asked to provide a special song or other musical item for a celebration or commemoration.

Dennis' Prices

Note: prices may vary based on travel distance. For an exact quote, click “Check availability”.

Standard Prices
Performance durationPrice
Short performance (up to 15 min)£75
Up to 1 hour£165
Up to 2 hours£290
Up to 3 hours£440
Packages
Drinks reception
Two performances of up to 45 mins each during your drinks reception
£185
Wedding ceremony
This includes music before the service begins, music during the signing of the register, and music as guests leave.
£250
Wedding ceremony + Drinks reception + Dinner
- Music before the service begins, music during the signing of the register, and music as guests leave. - 2 x 45 min performances at the drinks reception. - 2 x 45 min performances as dinner is being served.
£400
Dennis
Full starFull starFull starFull starHalf star
4.6 out of 5
9 verified reviews
Satisfaction
Full starFull starFull starFull starHalf star
4.5
Professionalism
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4.7
Communication
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4.7
Punctuality
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5.0

Dennis' Reviews

From Encore customers:

MC
Marilyn C
1 year ago
Full starFull starFull starFull starFull star
5 out of 5

Dennis by his appearance (wore a suit)his manner (charming and chatty) and his choice of songs brought our ladies (mostly in their 80s) back to the past including them in ballroom dancing and a medly of songs from that era. He arrived well ahead of time and had set up by the time everyone arrived. He stayed for lunch conversing with a table of happy ladies.

SM
Siobhan M
1 year ago
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5 out of 5

We found Dennis to be highly professional and experienced in performing at my dad's funeral he was wonderful and it was a fitting tribute to my dad as Dennis played the last post and rouse , would definitely recommend,

Reply from Dennis
1 year ago

Thank for your kind review, Shiobhan.

LW
Lisa W
2 years ago
Full starFull starFull starFull starFull star
5 out of 5

Dennis did two jobs for me, one after the after. Both parties were thrilled with him and said how good he was. Dennis called prior to the events to confirm everything and was happy to take request. Would definitely book again.

Reply from Dennis
1 year ago

Thank you for your kind review, Lisa.

AF
Amanda F
2 years ago
Full starFull starFull starFull starFull star
5 out of 5

No problems, thanks

Reply from Dennis
1 year ago

Thank you, Amanda.

Read all 6 reviews

From other customers:

TM
Trina M
4 years ago, for a Bar / Club / Venue event in Wymondham
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5 out of 5

Thank you Dennis for visiting Melton House care home.  I was surprised and delighted by the fact that you got everyone participating with singing along and playing percussion instruments. You went down an absolute storm with all of them. One of our ladies that usually sleeps through any performance was alert and singing to the songs. I loved that you gave them the encouragement to sing a few of the words into the microphone. That was very special, and they seemed to really enjoy that. We at Melton House think that you were superb and would not hesitate to recommend you. Kind Regards Trina Activities Leader

DC
Dee C
5 years ago, for a Private event in Glen Rd
Full starFull starFull starFull starEmpty star
4 out of 5

Completely engaged with the elderly and young alike that were present.

Read all 14 reviews