I’ve never forgotten those words. They were spoken by the late John Greer, when I called him to express my admiration for a young singer, whose record John had played that night, on his radio show.

In the ten years since that conversation, I’ve come to know Warren pretty well, and I can confirm that John’s description was ‘bang on’. 

Warren admits that it was at these shows, that he first felt the early spark of desire to become a singer himself.

Early signs that his ‘dream’ might one day come true, were helped by good reactions to his school and social evening performances, which included impersonations of his other favourite, Elvis, as well as Don and Merle.

However, that ‘spark’ became a ‘fire’ in Newcastle, England, when Warren went off to university.  

Newcastle became a special place in his life for several reasons. It was there that he bought his first guitar, and where he used that guitar to help with living expenses, by busking.  

It was also there, beside that famous bridge over the Tyne, that he proposed to his lovely wife Sharon. A girl from ‘back home’ whom he had met, strangely enough, in the ‘other’ Newcastle, in County Down. 

His singing career continued, after his education was completed, when he returned home. He issued a couple of albums on cassette, then moved on to CDs with ‘The Promise’ and ‘Chain of Love’.

With his voice maturing all the time, and a great reaction to these albums, he caught the attention of Sharpe Music, who invited him to return to the studio, to ‘lay down’ the tracks for this new album, ’Teach Me To Dream’. Warren did not rush it.  He took a long time choosing  the best songs he could find, and, with producer William Mawhinney, worked really hard to perfect each track.

The result is, in my opinion, one of the finest albums ever made on these shores. 

There are three kinds of singers. Those who can’t sing a song, those who can sing a song, and those who ‘live’ a song. Warren is definitely in the latter category.

Just listen to the love for his children, which shines out in his rendition of ‘If I Didn’t Teach You To Dream’, the fun side, when he shows his Elvis influence on ‘It Don’t Get Better Than This’ and, if there’s ever been a better recording of a pure love song, than Warren’s version of ‘The Keeper of the Stars’, I’ve yet to hear it.   It’s not hard to guess who was on his mind as he sang that one.

His belief in God is beyond doubt, when you listen to the two gospel tracks, ‘I’m Not Homeless’ and ‘Forever He Is Mine’.

The gorgeous duet, with a message, ‘I Will, If You Will’, which he performs with Barbara Allen, and the song which paints a picture, for me, of a lonely student, returning from England after five years, to the arms of those who loved him, in County Down, ‘Back Home Again’. 

There are quite a few singers, on this island, who are more famous than Warren Smyth is, at the moment. But none are more talented.   

        Davy Kennedy.

Track Listing

Beautiful Lady

It Don't Get Better Than This

The Keeper Of The Stars

I'm Not Homeless

If I Didn't Teach You To Dream

I Will If You Will

It Must Be Love

Could I Have This Dance

Back Home Again

Forever He Is Mine

Meet Me In Montana

Love And Honour

You Lied To Me

Look At Us