Moni Tivony aka Lionel Richie

Moni Tivony has been singing in public since the age of 16. Starting with karaoke at local bars, then as part of a Motown group called Soul Kool, Moni is best known for his Lionel Richie impersonation featured on BBC1’s The One and Only, where he came 3rd.

You started singing at karaoke when you were 16?
I knew I could sing from an early age; I loved it and so did those who heard me.

How long have you dreamed of being a celebrity?
It isn’t that I wanted to be a celebrity, it has always been about the singing and I have dreamed of that since a very early age. I sing in the car, on the bus, in a shower; it is second nature to me.

What is the best thing about performing?
Giving people enjoyment. It is nice to share something so important with so many people. Most are shocked when they first hear me; this white, ginger guy, as I sound like a black, soul singer, which to me is the biggest compliment.

How did your path lead to The One and Only?
It was by chance. My mum told me about the application form but I was working on my album at the time and I had written a song for Peter Andre and worked as a backing vocalist for Liberty X. I was doing my own thing and I didn’t want to give that up to impersonate someone else but the day before the closing date I thought ‘why not?’

Whose idea was it for you to perform as Lionel Richie?
Mine – you only had so many artists to choose from on the application form; I personally think I sound more like Stevie Wonder but I love Lionel Richie and chose him. My mum is also his biggest fan; she loves the fact that I impersonated him on the show.

Have you met him?
I haven’t, although he did send me a good luck message before the final and he said he wants to meet up the next time he is in the U.K.

Did you get to see The One and Only’s winner ‘Dusty Springfield’ in Vegas?
I didn’t as I have been really busy with gigs in Germany and Algeria…I am having a great time and will carry on until it dries up.

Do you think the best person won?
Definitely, Kate was great as Dusty Springfield; she performed really well.

I see Lionel Richie is your friend on MySpace – how did that come about?
Lionel’s U.K. and U.S.A. fan base look after all of his fan mail and MySpace page. The British fans told the US fans about me and they requested my ‘friendship’, which I was over the moon about. Some of the fans appeared as ‘Super Fans’ on The One and Only; it was great to meet them.

What are you up to this summer?
I am hoping to release a single and album under my own name. The single is called ‘That’s What the Girls Like’ and I am hoping that it will be released in July. It is a great track, which I worked on with Maxi Priest and producer 2Play. It has an R n’ B vibe with reggae influence, it is really up tempo and upbeat; you can hear it on my MySpace page.

How are you feeling about performing at this year’s Trust Thamesmead Community Festival?
I am really excited. It will be the first time I have ever done anything on this level. I know I will get butterflies but that is all a part of being a performer; I am hoping it will turn on the heat and let me do my thing on the day.

A sport question to tie-in with the Trust Thamesmead Community Festival’s sport theme…

What is your favourite sport and why?
I love football and swimming; I competed in local gala tournaments and won six gold medals when I was 11/12 years old; I was even scouted out but music took over.