Ronson 'paid £1m for birthday show'

10:23pm Friday 27th June 2008

A haulage tycoon paid rockstar Mark Ronson a reported £1 million to perform a 45-minute set at his daughter's 21st birthday, it has emerged.

The music producer was a surprise guest at Freya Dawson's £4 million celebration at the family's Cotswolds' mansion earlier this month.

The doting father, worth a reputed £250 million, transformed the family seat in Stow-on-the-Wold, Gloucestershire into a decadent Moulin Rouge-style club.

The triple Grammy award winner even serenaded Ms Dawson, herself a budding musician, with Happy Birthday before performing with his band.

The set included his cover of The Zutons' Valerie, which he has performed with Amy Winehouse, while backing him were Jamiroquai's band and DJs from Hed Kandi.

One guest told the Gloucestershire Echo: "I've never known anything like it. The party was the type of thing reserved for royalty.

"The food was first-class, there was plenty of booze and Mark Ronson was great. His set was amazing and worth every penny.

"All the girls were thrilled when they saw him come out - he was lucky to get out of there alive.

"Freya was thrilled when Mark sang happy birthday to her - it was her dream come true."

Jo Machnica, from local pub the Hollow Bottom said that the quiet village of Guiting Power had been buzzing about the event for weeks. She said: "It's brilliant for the village. Mark Ronson's an excellent producer - it's a shame he didn't come into the pub."

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