MICHAEL WALSH BALLADS. I first met legendary balladeer Charlie Landsborough in the mid-1990s. It was a heart-stopping, memorable experience.

The Cavern for the Discerning Mature

The internationally renowned Atlantic Pub on Liverpool’s Regent Road (Dock Road) was dubbed The Cavern for the Discerning Mature.

That evening, the bar was packed with visitors who had travelled from all over the world to the well-known venue. With about 500 visitors, the venue was noisy.

Back then, all that was needed for an epic performance was a singer-songwriter and his guitar. If there were amplifiers or even a need for electronic support, I have forgotten.

But Never Forgotten

Never forgotten was what followed after Charlie Landsborough called in. Invited to sing, Charlie humbly took to the stage.

Perching on a bar stool, he embraced his guitar. The first notes of his tearful lament, ‘I Will Love You All My Life’, stilled the audience.

You could have heard a pen drop

When Charlie’s first note sounded, the audience of over 500 drinkers stopped talking; they stopped drinking; we were all spellbound as Charlie Landsborough sang his soft lament.

Charlie Loved my Songwriting

Overwhelmed, I soon afterwards sent Charlie a copy of my songwriting verse: ‘The Oldest Love Letter.’

As several nights later I turned the key in my front door, I could hear the telephone ringing.

Dashing upstairs to my writing room, I lifted the phone just too late. The call switched to the answering machine, and I heard Charlie’s voice.

‘Michael, I have received a copy of your ballad, The Oldest Love Letter’; I must tell you, Michael, I am most impressed by your songwriting.

Delight followed by Frustration

RIGHT: Mike Walsh autographs a fan’s copy of his songwriting

Bleakly, I gazed at the ‘empty phone in my hand’ and at the now silent answering machine.

However, encouraged by Charlie’s endorsement of The Oldest Love Letter, I later had the ballad transcribed to YouTube.

Then, later on, The Oldest Love Letter, with the help of an AI music background, became a very popular YouTube ballad that you, like Charlie Landsborough, can hear here and now. Let readers know what you think

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