John Moakes was born in Nottinghamshire and grew up in a big band environment travelling the country with his father, Lennie Moakes, a trumpet player with the world famous Syd Lawrence Orchestra. Watching and meeting renowned singers like Matt Monro and Tony Bennett inspired John to enter the music business himself. Consequently, John was just eighteen when he joined his first cruise ship and it wasn’t long before he was fronting his own band on board and organising Captain’s parties, tea dances, black and white balls, and other musical entertainment.
All this experience has stood John in good stead and he now has over twenty years experience in the world of big band entertainment, working extensively around the world with, amongst others, P&O Cruises and Princess Cruises on liners including Cunard, QEII, QMII, Aurora, Oriana and Arcadia. He has also appeared on numerous occasions at various Warner, Saga and CenterParcs venues plus many private corporate and wedding events. Although John works frequently as a solo performer in this country and abroad, he also has a vast amount of experience fronting big bands such as the Memphis Belle Swing Orchestra, the New Squadronaires and the Glenn Miller Tribute Orchestra. This experience comes out in John’s confident, relaxed, easy-going style, which enables him to engage with his audiences – big and small.
