Barbara Dickson comes to Warrington Parr Hall

Apr 25 2008 by Michael Green, Flintshire Chronicle

AWARD-winning singer, Barbara Dickson, will perform at Pyramid & Parr Hall in Warrington on Friday, May 2.

She is one of the UK's most versatile singers and actresses, having won numerous awards for her work.

As a multi-million selling recording artist with an equally impressive Olivier award-winning acting career, Barbara Dickson has firmly established herself as one of the most enduring and popular entertainers in Britain today.

She became a well-known face on the British folk circuit of the late 60s and early 70s but changed course after meeting Willy Russell.

He showed Barbara the first draft of what would later become the award winning musical, John, Paul, George, Ringo….and Bert and asked her to perform the music. The combination of fine writing, a superb cast of young unknowns and Barbara's idiosyncratic interpretation of Beatles’ songs, made the show hugely successful.

The show's co-producer, Robert Stigwood, signed Barbara to his record label, RSO Records, where she recorded the album Answer Me, the title track becoming a top10 hit in 1976.

This led to her guest residency on the much-loved series The Two Ronnies, which brought Barbara's singing to the attention of more than 10 million BBC viewers every week.

Also impressed by Barbara's performance were Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice, who invited her to record Another Suitcase in Another Hall from the new musical, Evita, which became her second hit in 1977.

She contributed two tracks to Scouse the Mouse, a children's album (1977) with Ringo Starr and others. Other hits including Caravan Song and January, February followed in 1980.

During the late 1970s, Barbara also contributed distinctive backing vocals to two best-selling albums by Scottish singer-songwriter Gerry Rafferty, City to City in 1978 and Night Owl in 1979.

Tickets for her Warrington show are priced at £20. Ring the box office on 01925 442345 or visit www.pyramidparrhall.com