Ross Kirk Music

"A Live Radio 2"

The History of Ross Kirk

Ross was born in Nottingham on the day after Apollo 11 was launched to the moon. His father was a cornet player and for a short time owned a live music venue, so music has always been in Ross's veins. He learned trombone at school and toured with the school band around the Midlands.

After leaving school, Ross continued with the trombone for a while with a Jazz band in the late 80s, but it wasn't until the mid nineties that Ross picked up the guitar. He taught himself when living in a run down flat with no electricity - a long story - and found his knowledge of music from his school days very helpful in mastering the new instrument. He found he very much enjoyed playing, but never imagined it would be anything more than a hobby.

It was only a when a work colleague gave him an old twelve string guitar that Ross really found a unique sound that he never dreamed he had the ability to create. Ross started playing in public at friends' parties and such and not too much later decided to move to Ireland for "a change of scenery". Here he met many musicians, went to gigs and really started thinking he could give a career in live music "a go". Sometime along the way Ross had attempted singing, never thinking that he had any musical voice to speak of, but was surprised to hear people say that they liked it!

He moved back to the UK in 2004 and within a short while became friends with the landlord of the Star Inn in Bath, who gave him his first paid gig. Since then Ross gave up his "real job" and has made a name for himself singing and playing far and wide. His popularity has meant that as well as his own gigs, he has been hosting a regular open mic night in Wells since 2006. Obviously this had to stop because of the pandemic, but Ross hopes to get them up and running again very soon.

Things are going in leaps and bounds, after a lot of help from friends in the States, Ross had his first gigs in Illinois in the U.S. in the spring of 2011. More international gigs beckoned, he played the Amalfi Coast in Italy in the summer of 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017. Now he has his eyes on places even further afield! As an extra string to his bow, Ross also now performs as Frank Martino, singing swing and jazz favourites from Frank Sinatra, Nat "King" Cole, Dean Martin, Vic Damone and more! See www.frankmartino.co.uk for more information.

As for being professional, Ross loves every minute of it...In his own words, "To do something you love, that others enjoy and you get paid for, well, it's the best job in the world!"