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The genial British singer Russell Watson has enjoyed an enduring popularity since his first hit album, \u2018The Voice\u2019, dominated the charts in 2000. His story has taken him from working men\u2019s clubs to some of the world\u2019s biggest stages, and while he\u2019s enjoyed plenty of hits, he\u2019s overcome some heavy knocks to be where he is today. Here, Russell chooses some of the music that has most influenced him as a performer and lover of music.<\/em> <\/p> I grew up in Salford, Mum was a stay-at-home Mum, my Dad worked 12-hour night shifts, which meant that predominantly I was listening to Mum\u2019s favourite songs. She was into everything from Cliff Richard to John Denver, but she was a big classical fan as well. <\/p> There was one chap that she listened to in particular, and I think he probably slotted into the, for want of a better word, the \u2018crossover\u2019 category, and his name was James Last<\/strong>. She had a couple of albums, but she had \u2018The Best Of\u2026\u2019 on repeat. There was one piece in particular, Einsamer Hirte<\/em>, which I think means \u2018The Lonely Shepherd\u2019; it\u2019s a very famous piece and I just remember listening to that as a kid and thinking it was very beautiful.<\/p>