<P> He was born Terence Edward Parsons in Shoreditch, London and attended Duncombe School in Islington, and Elliott School, Putney . He was first noticed while serving in the British armed forces in Hong Kong . </P> <P> A regular guest (and frequent winner) of Radio Rediffusion's Talent Time show, he was invited by then - host Ray Cordeiro to perform in his own one - off show, on the condition that he would bow out of future Talent Time episodes to make way for others . Agreeing to the deal, he performed his first on - air concert for Rediffusion on June 27, 1953 . </P> <P> By 1956, Monro had become a featured vocalist with the BBC Show Band . An important influence on his early career was the pianist Winifred Atwell, who became his mentor, provided him with his stage name, and helped him sign with Decca Records . </P> <P> In 1957 Monro released Blue and Sentimental, a collection of standards . Despite the album's critical acclaim, Monro languished among the young male singers trying to break through at the end of the 1950s, many of them emulating Frankie Vaughan by recording cover versions of American hits . (Monro even recorded a version of Vaughan's "Garden of Eden" during this period .) A short recording contract with Fontana Records followed . </P>

Who sang gonna build me a mountain