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The first song I became enamored with
My first recollection is walking into a room at kindergarten where they were playing Yellow Submarine by the Beatles. I was mesmerized by the audio textures, and John Lennon shouting: “Full speed ahead!” When it reached the refrain, I recall believing: “This must be music!”

The very first 45 I bought
When I was eight, I was victorious in a competition at school to choose a brand new record to play at the weekly dance party we had on Friday afternoons. My instructor took me to a local store, and I chose Come Back My Love by the group Darts. The first single I bought with my own allowance was Mull of Kintyre by Paul McCartney's Wings from a record shop in Colne. It was topping the charts at the time, and I selected it when my father pointed out that it was by one of the Beatles.

The song I perform at karaoke
I candidly cannot stand karaoke and dodge it at all costs. But if I had to, I’d choose Summer Wind by Frank Sinatra.

The piece I inexplicably know all the words to
I recently discovered that I can recall virtually every word to The Boy in the Bubble, You Can Call Me Al, and each track on Graceland by Paul Simon.

The best song to put on at a gathering
It hinges on which phase of the event you are at. Early doors it would probably be I Heard It Through the Grapevine by the soul legend. As the evening progresses, I’d move on to Prince, the Rolling Stones and Bowie, and when it gets lively, Phat Planet by Leftfield, Born Slippy .NUXX by Underworld, and Ascension by Gorillaz, which is an absolute banger.

The track I can never listen to
I strangely loathe Mr Brightside by the Las Vegas band.

The ultimate track to get intimate to
Come Together by John, Paul, George, and Ringo.

The record that transformed me
When I was 12 and starting to study the six-string, I’d only listen to 1950s rock ’n’roll, and was consumed by The King, the rock pioneer, the killer, the New Orleans legend, the glasses-wearing icon and the rockabilly star. Then my childminder introduced me to Let There Be Rock by the Australian rockers. It was still guitar music, but it was electrifying rock music. As soon as he placed the record on the turntable, I was hooked.

The tune that gets me up in the AM
What’d I Say in its full glory by Ray Charles.

The track that gets me emotional
Virtually any music leaves me touched. Aretha Franklin, The Chairman of the Board, Presley and the Beatles all stir my emotions because of the tune and sheer beauty of the vocals. But The Ocean by the Sheffield crooner hits me hard consistently.

The song I’d like to be played at my memorial service
The King. If I’m cremated, I’ll have Burning Love. If I’m buried, I’ll have Way Down.