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The earliest song I became enamored with
My earliest recollection is walking into a room at kindergarten where they were blasting Yellow Submarine by the Fab Four. I was mesmerized by the audio textures, and Lennon bellowing: “Full speed ahead!” When it arrived at the hook, I distinctly thought: “This must be music!”

The inaugural record I purchased
When I was eight years old, I was victorious in a competition at school to choose a new record to play at the small dance we had on Fridays. My teacher took me to a local store, and I opted for Come Back My Love by Darts. The first single I bought with my own pocket money was Mull of Kintyre by Wings from a music store in Lancashire. It was No 1 at the time, and I chose it when my dad pointed out that it was by one of the Beatles.

The song I sing at sing-along
I frankly cannot stand public singing and avoid it at all costs. But if forced, I’d go with Summer Wind by Frank Sinatra.

The track I oddly know each line to
I not long ago discovered that I can recall pretty much every word to The Boy in the Bubble, You Can Call Me Al, and each track on Graceland by Paul Simon.

The perfect song to play at a gathering
It depends on which phase of the party you are at. At the start it would most likely be I Heard It Through the Grapevine by the soul legend. As the evening progresses, I’d transition into the Artist, the Stones and David Bowie, and when it really kicks off, Phat Planet by the electronic act, Born Slippy .NUXX by the techno pioneers, and Ascension by Gorillaz, which is an undeniable hit.

The number I can not bear
I for some reason detest Mr Brightside by the Las Vegas band.

The ideal track to get intimate to
Come Together by John, Paul, George, and Ringo.

The album that altered my perspective
When I was twelve and starting to play the six-string, I’d only listen to early rock and roll, and was fixated on The King, the rock pioneer, the killer, Fats Domino, the glasses-wearing icon and Eddie Cochran. Then my childminder brought round Let There Be Rock by AC/DC. It was still guitar music, but it was powerful rock music. Instantly after he put the vinyl on the record player, I was captivated.

The track that gets me up in the AM
What’d I Say in its full glory by Ray Charles.

The song that gets me emotional
Most music leaves me emotional. The Queen of Soul, Frank Sinatra, Elvis and the Beatles all make me cry because of the harmony and utter beauty of the voices. But The Ocean by Richard Hawley hits me hard consistently.

The track I’d like to be played at my funeral
The King. If I’m given a cremation, I’ll have Burning Love. If I’m laid to rest in the ground, I’ll have Way Down.