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The first song I was captivated by
My earliest recollection is entering a room at kindergarten where they were spinning Yellow Submarine by the Fab Four. I was mesmerized by the sonic landscape, and Lennon yelling: “Full speed ahead!” When it reached the hook, I recall believing: “This must be music!”

The first single I acquired
When I was eight years old, I won a competition at school to select a new vinyl to play at the small dance we had on Friday afternoons. My teacher took me to Woolworths, and I chose Come Back My Love by the group Darts. The first record I purchased with my own pocket money was Mull of Kintyre by Paul McCartney's Wings from a record shop in Colne. It was number one at the time, and I selected it when my father pointed out that it was by one of the Beatles.

The tune I do at karaoke
I honestly cannot stand karaoke and avoid it at all costs. But if I had to, I’d go with Summer Wind by Ol' Blue Eyes.

The track I inexplicably know every lyric to
I just discovered that I have memorized almost the entire lyrical content to The Boy in the Bubble, You Can Call Me Al, and each track on Graceland by the legendary songwriter.

The ideal tune to put on at a gathering
It hinges on which phase of the event 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 work through Prince, the Rolling Stones and David Bowie, and when it hits its peak, Phat Planet by the electronic act, Born Slippy .NUXX by Underworld, and Ascension by the virtual band, which is an massive track.

The song I can never hear
I strangely detest Mr Brightside by the Killers.

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

The record that changed my life
When I was 12 and just learning to learn the guitar, I’d only listen to early rock and roll, and was obsessed with The King, the rock pioneer, Jerry Lee Lewis, the New Orleans legend, Buddy Holly and Eddie Cochran. Then my childminder brought round Let There Be Rock by AC/DC. It was still guitar music, but it was high voltage rock ’n’roll. Instantly after he dropped 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 track that makes me cry
Virtually any music leaves me emotional. Aretha Franklin, The Chairman of the Board, Presley and the Beatles all make me cry because of the harmony and pure beauty of the singing. But The Ocean by the Sheffield crooner hits me hard without fail.

The music I’d like performed at my funeral
Elvis. If I’m cremated, I’ll have Burning Love. If I’m laid to rest in the ground, I’ll have Way Down.