HE’S spent more than half-a-million pounds, and made media headlines around the world in his quest to keep the music of Mantovani alive.

Paul Barrett, a retired businessman who lives in Poole, uses hand-picked musicians to painstakingly recreate the 48-piece orchestra, led by his idol, renowned for its cascading strings sound, that proved so popular back in the 1950s and 60s.

Now Paul is back with another lavish tribute to Annunzio Paolo Mantovani, who lived in Branksome Park in Poole shortly before his death in March 1980.

He has recruited many of Europe’s top musicians to perform his ninth gala concert, Strictly Mantovani, with a particular focus on the dance-floor dazzlers recorded by the Anglo Italian bandleader in the 1950s, 60s and 70s.

Although Mantovani is not widely known today, the bandleader was Britain’s most successful album act before The Beatles and the first act to sell over a million albums.

The 2019 blockbuster is a brand new Mantovani show full of all his golden hits featuring special guest singers Rossano Sal and Jemma Truss with virtuoso pianist Sam Hanson.

Paul, a one man percussionist, will also perform on the night.

READER COMPETITION:

We have five pairs of tickets worth £56 each to give away for Strictly Mantovani at Bournemouth Pavilion at 7.30pm on Sunday, April 28. Winners will also receive a free DVD of Magic of Mantovani live. For details on how to win, pick up a copy of today's paper.