Al Matthews

b. 21 November 1942, Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA. An all-round entertainer, Matthews began singing in New York street groups before progressing to the folk scene. He was a member of bands who supported artists including Bob Dylan, Tom Paxton and Peter, Paul And Mary, before moving to France where as a leading member of Petit Conservatoire de Chanson, he became a familiar voice on radio and television. Between 1965 and 1971, he served in Vietnam becoming the first black marine to be promoted to sergeant while still in the field. He returned to Europe and became successful on the English folk scene, and was later signed by CBS Records. A UK Top 20 hit followed with ‘Fool’. It also reached the Top 10 in 15 European countries. Although he continued to record, Matthews never matched his initial chart entry. In 1979, he became the first black disc jockey on BBC Radio 1. Throughout the 80s and 90s he turned his career entirely towards acting, starring in movies including Yanks, Superman III, Aliens, and Tomorrow Never Dies.