Striking a chord for Christmas in Dorset

8:12am Monday 17th November 2008

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TWO music lovers met during the delivery of a piano on Portland and a year later have created a Christmas song.

Elton John impersonator Ed Hintze of Weymouth Music shop delivered the piano to Stuart Fretwell’s home in Fortuneswell in the summer of 2007.

The men immediately struck a chord over their shared love of songwriters Elton John and Bernie Taupin and are now hoping their collaboration will be a festive hit.

Former English teacher Mr Fretwell wrote the Elton-inspired song December Star while Mr Hintze, who sings and performs it, put the words to music.

Mr Fretwell, 55, said: “It was quite ironic really, I’d actually managed to get an earlier version of this lyric to Sir Elton in 2004.

“He was staying in Caesars Palace Las Vegas and I heard it reached him but he only accepts lyrics from Bernie Taupin, so that was a bit of a non-starter.

“Now, I had the next-best thing, an ace Elton John sound-alike to work on it.

“I loved Ed’s voice right from the start, so I was delighted to hear his take on it.”

He added: “We both have faith in the song and it would be really nice if more people got to hear it."

One of the verses was written 37 years ago and Mr Fretwell said it had been ‘a long hard slog’ to get to a finished song.

Prior to teaming up with Mr Hintze, he also sent a demo to Sir Cliff Richard’s people but it was turned down.

Mr Hintze, 35, who is best known for being a runner-up on the BBC talent show The One and Only, said: “When I first went to deliver the piano Stuart showed me the lyrics and I came up with a tune pretty much straight away.

“I went off to do the BBC show and Stuart re-did some of the lyrics.

“The end result had more of a Christmas feel and it just seemed to work.”

The duo hope people will listen to their song online at www.dorsetecho.co.uk and give feedback.

If there is enough interest they will be looking to release it as a single or as part of an album.