Soul legend Ben E King set for Shrewsbury date

Soul legend Ben E King has been lined up to appear at Shrewsbury's Theatre Severn next year, it was announced today.

The music star, who is best known as the singer and co-composer of the hit record Stand By Me, a US Top 10 hit in both 1961 and 1987 and a Number 1 in the UK in 1987, will be performing alongside Gary US Bonds and other musicians as part of The Great American Soulbook tour.

Mr King, 72, is also famous for being one of the lead singers of the R&B vocal group The Drifters.

He will be appearing at the theatre in Frankwell on March 6 as part of the UK tour of the show.

Peter Nicholson, theatre manager, said it was a real coup for the riverside venue and said everyone was looking forward to the show which will feature hits including Stand By Me, Soul Man, In the Midnight Hour and Sitting on the Dock of the Bay.

Mr Nicholson said: "Tickets have gone on sale to our Friends of the Theatre group this week and they will go on general sale next Friday.

"The whole thing came about after the promoter was putting together the tour and contacted me. As soon as I heard Ben E King was in the show I was sold.

"He is a legend of soul music and I suppose this opportunity is probably a bit of a one-off because it's unlikely to happen again. It's great to have a living legend coming to Theatre Severn."

For tickets call the box office next week on (01743) 281281.