Glee star paired with Elton John for two songs on his new album. Actor has been involved in music theatre since he was a teen



Glee star Matthew Morrison sings Somewhere Over The Rainbow with Gwyneth Paltrow on his self-titled debut album, but the dream he dared to dream, that really did come true, is singing with the legendary Elton John. The two recorded an epic medley of John’s Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters and Rocket Man.

“I wanted to pay homage to one of my favourite songwriters,” says Morrison, who had the good fortune to be in the studio with John for the tracking. “It was pretty surreal. I don’t know how to describe it. I didn’t really take in the moment until maybe a couple of days afterwards, where I was like, ‘Did that actually happen?’ It felt like a dream.

“I listen to that song now and his voice is so awesome, and then his voice fades out and then mine comes in and it’s like, ‘Woah!’”

Sting also joins him on Let Your Soul Be Your Pilot but the rest of the songs are solely Morrison.

Some of the songs the 32-year-old co-wrote, including the album’s lead single, Summer Rain.

“I thought that the first single had to start in a really kind of light poppy fun place,” he says.

Morrison has worked in musical theatre since his teens and never before released an original album (he’s been on Broadway albums). He realizes his role on the hit TV series as teacher and glee club director Will Schuester has opened doors he wouldn’t normally have on a debut album, including bypassing club shows for theatres and an opening slot on the New Kids On The Block/Backstreet Boys tour.

“I have a whole band, an 11-piece band, a horn section,” he says of the costly configuration. “I want to do it right and luckily enough from being on Glee, I think I have more of a support system behind me.”

LMNT.
Matthew Morrison reveals he was once in a boy band called LMNT, complete with matching outfits, but quit before ever recording with them. “You know as a performer when you’re embarrassed to be onstage doing the wrong thing,” he explains. “It felt so contrived. It was back in 1999 or something where you couldn’t throw a stick and not hit someone in a boy band (laughs).”

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UK fans- just two reminders:

- Matthew's album "Matthew Morrison" is now available on the UK iTunes! Click here to buy it! And don't forget to rate and review!

- If you're in London, remember Matthew will be at Selfridges, Oxford Street, tomorrow at 5pm!
Due to limited time available, 300 wristbands will be available for access to the signing from the HMV store at Selfridges on the day of the event, from 9.30am.

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Check out some pictures of Matthew landing in Toronto this morning!



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Matthew Morrison a.k.a. Will Schuester from Glee has a break from shooting the series this summer.

He could sleep or hang out at the beach…or maybe find some time to date!!! He says he's a workaholic, no time for ladies now and we love him for it! Instead of taking some well-deserved time off, Matthew will be on the road promoting his debut solo album - appropriately titled Matthew Morrison. He’s also touring Canada with NKOTB and BSB.

I caught up with Matthew on his cell phone while he was driving to rehearsal for the summer tour. (He wouldn't tell me if he was on blue tooth or not!)

Taylor Kaye: We, of course, are excited because you’re coming to Toronto next week.
Matthew Morrison: Yeah I can’t wait, I’m a huge fan of Toronto. I love going there.

TK: What is it that you love about the city? Is it because you’re also a stage actor and we’re pretty big stage freaks here?
MM: Yeah, I mean, I didn’t actually do a show there, I kind of missed out on a show I was supposed to do there. But I’ve seen definitely a lot of friends in shows there. It’s one of my favourite cities to run around in. I’m a big runner, and I love just getting lost there. It’s really a great city just to kind of get lost in and see the sights.

TK: We’ll make sure you have a running map or schedule when you get here so it’s all cool and you run in the good areas.
MM: Yeah I don’t want to be in the crack district.

TK: When was the moment you knew you wouldn’t have to do any more odd jobs with your career? When you were like, “Alright, I don’t have to do this anymore.”
MM: I’m still looking for that moment.

TK: [Laughing] Come ON!
MM: No I’m serious! I still live like a starving actor. You wouldn’t even believe. My friends can attest to it. They’re like, “Dude, just buy the freaking more expensive toothpaste!” I still have that mentality, yeah I did very well, but I just have that mentality of a starving actor so I’m very, very frugal with my money. Good because I get to save a lot of money.

TK: Let’s talk about your album. You are touring with Backstreet Boys and New Kids on the Block…all guys. Ladies will just be screaming for two and a half/three hours, and you’re on for 45 minutes of the set doing your stuff.
MM: Yeah.

TK: That is huge. How did you hook up with that? Because you already had your tour set and then, what happened? How did this all come about?
MM: I had my tour all set and I was so excited about that, I had a whole hour and a half show put together. That’s why I’m going to rehearsal now because I’m still doing that show in a couple places. I’m going to London next week. But they came to my people and asked if I wanted to be a part of it, and you know, in my tour I would’ve been playing 2,000 to 3,000 people a night and this has been upped to 15,000 to 20,000 people a night and people would have had my CD and stuff on my tour, and I plan on eventually doing that tour at some point, but this was an opportunity I couldn’t pass up – to gain new fans. Because a lot of people, I don’t think, know me as a musician yet.

TK: When do you sleep because this project is your baby and I heard you worked on the album on weekends, like as soon as you were finished shooting Glee you’d go to the studio.
MM: I’m averaging about four to five hours a night.

TK: Wow.
MM: I know it’s so stupid I’m like killing myself literally I think, but it’s not because I don’t want to sleep it’s just the time I have to sleep. But when I sleep I sleep really hard, because I’m ready for sleep. I miss my bed.

TK: You’ve got lots of special guests on your album; can you tell me the story of Elton John?
MM: I had gone to his Oscar party, he has an Oscar party every year in LA, supporting the Elton John Aids Foundation, and I went to that and it’s a big hoopla and I got to meet him for the first time. He was such a fan of the show and we just got to talking, and we actually hung out two other times after that.

He invited me to his White Tie and Tiara ball he throws in London. And at that point I was like, “God, I’m just going to ask him to be on the record. The worst he can do is say no and that’ll be fine.” So my hands were all sweaty and stuff when I knew I was going to go do it, so nervous. And I went up and asked him and he was like, “Yeah sure.” And it was like so easy, that was it! Of course he said yes but I wondered if he was actually going to follow through, and he was more persistent about it than I was. He was like, “When are we going to do this? Let’s do it.” And I was like, “Wow, you are on it.”

TK: You’re like, “Dude I’m shooting, we’re going to do it; we’re going to do it. I love you, Sir Elton.”
MM: I know, I was like, “I don’t have time for you right now Elton!”

TK: We had a listener email us, “Matthew, you’ve got great hair. Would you consider yourself metro [sexual] and how long do you spend on your ‘do?”
MM: I don’t know if I’d consider myself metro. I like to dress up and look nice and stuff, but I don’t spend any time on my hair. I literally do four squirts of Lubriderm, the body lotion, and rub it through my hair, and that’s it. I spend maybe 10 seconds on my hair.

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In addition to the appearances on UK TV already announced (here, here and here), here are a few more dates when you can see Matt on TV or listen to him on the radio!

Tonight (May 30th):

ET Canada

Tomorrow (May 31st):

- 98.1 CHFI at 7am ET

- Chum FM at 8:20am ET

Wednesday, June 1st

CBC Arts Canada

Friday, June 10th:

Channel 4's Comedy Gala 9pm-11.45pm

Saturday, June 11th

- Graham Norton radio show on BBC Radio 2 11am-1pm

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