Tribute To The Legends: Robbie Wiiliams & George Michael

Starring Tony Lewis and Rob Lamberti

It doesn't seem just eleven years ago since I won Joey Blower's Pubstars, in the Merry England Bar in Blackpool, and now here I am touring the world, and appearing on TV, having won a contest on Channel 4's T4 as their favourite Ribbie tribute and more recently appearing on BBC 1's The One And Only!

It all started on the Leigh Athletic F.C.'s annual Blackpool trip, on Joey's karaoke. That was way back in the November of 2001, but soon after I received a call from Chance Promotions. They had heard about my Pubstars appearance and offered me the job as their top tribute to Robbie. This was an offer too good to refuse and in March 2002 I took to the stage professionally, with my first ever performance as Robbie!

That was at a place called Park Hall in Charnock Richard, not more than twenty-five miles from my home town of Leigh. Shows piled in over then next few months, then in to my first Summer season in Blackpool at the Central Pier. So after an excellent debut season in the Legends show, things seemed to go from strength to strength, with a non-stop schedule from everywhere between Blackpool and the Carribean! Since then it's been pretty much non stop, regularly appearing in Holland, upon Ocean Village and being rebooked for performances throughout Europe! There's never been anything before trying to find the country's best Robbie but after beating more than sixty other hopefuls to become The One And Only Robbie Williams, there's been no looking back!

So, on with the show!

Rob Lamberti is a familiar face, so to speak, having forged a very successful singing career impersonating the pop star George Michael and in the process becoming something of a star himself.

Not only does Rob Lamberti sound like the real McCoy the resemblance is so great that when Rob appeared as George on Granada TVs Stars in Their Eyes in 1994, the programme's make-up department had to 'tone down' his natural appearance before the 'transformation' took place, so as not to give away who Rob would be impersonating.

"Believe it or not, it all began for me via Karaoke," reveals Rob

"I had been working in Northumberland in 1991 when Karaoke was just emerging on the entertainment scene. One evening unbeknown to me a friend had nominated me to go up and sing."

"I can still remember the tune, and although it was Simply Red's 'Holding Back the Years' I enjoyed singing so much that after that evening I'd get up and sing every week. It was actually the Karaoke compere who first commented that my singing voice was like George Michael's."

Not seeking stardom but simply enjoying being up on stage, Rob returned to Lincolnshire when his work contract ended, where there happened to be a karaoke competition being hosted at his local pub.

He entered performing perfect renditions of George Michael's 'Faith' and 'Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me' which went down a storm. The competition had been videotaped and it was friends who ensured that he was then seen and heard by the right people.