Elkie set for pearl of a night

Midland fans of jazz and blues rock singer Elkie Brooks have been spoiled this year, with the singer flitting back and forth across the region for a string of dates.

After recent appearances in Wolverhampton and Birmingham, her next Midlands gig is at Lichfield's Garrick Theatre on June 26.

Although she is best known for her song Pearl's A Singer, which went to number eight in the charts in 1977, her highest charting hit has been No More The Fool, which hit number five in 1986.

Other hits have included Lilac Wine, Fool If You Think It's Over and Sunshine After The Rain.

Brooks, born Elaine Bookbinder in Salford, Manchester, in 1945, has been a professional singer since the age of 15, starting off on the jazz scene, before developing a taste for raunchy blues via a stint with Robert Palmer in Vinegar Joe.

The Guinness Book of Records has listed Brooks as the most charted British female album artist of the last 30 years.

Her album Pearls stayed in the charts for 79 weeks and incredibly was still there when Pearls II came out a year later.

In 2003 she raised her profile when she took part in the hit ITV music talent show Reborn in the USA, alongside the likes of Tony Hadley, Peter Cox and Leee John.

These days Brooks lives in Devon and divides her time between almost constant touring and writing for her latest album.

She is due to join a line-up of stars including Dame Shirley Bassey and Gary Barlow for a special one-off show at the London Palladium on August 17 to celebrate the 70th birthday of Oscar-winning lyricist Don Black.

Brooks is due to sing Sam, previously a hit for Olivia Newton-John.

* Elkie Brooks is at Lichfield's Garrick Theatre on June 26. Visit www.elkiebrooks.com