A SINGER who once topped the bill above The Beatles is bringing her gospel tour to Ellesmere Port.
Helen Shapiro, who went to the top of the chart with Walking Back to Happiness as a teenage sensation in 1961, will perform some of her 1960s classics during the Gospel Outreach show at Christchurch Oasis, Worcester Street, Ellesmere Port.
Since finding success with songs including You Don’t Know, Don’t Treat Me Like a Child and Tell Me What He Said, Helen performed jazz with Humphrey Lyttleton from 1983-2001 and with the BBC Big Band.
She has also been in demand as a panto principal boy and appeared in many stage musicals.
In 1995 she was the subject of classic TV show This Is Your Life.
Helen became a believer in Jesus in 1987, aged 40.
In 1989 she held the first of many gospel evenings to coincide with the release of her first gospel album The Pearl, soon followed with second religious release Kadosh.
At Christchurch Oasis she will sing a selection of worship songs with live accompaniment then reveal how she found faith in Jesus – interspersed with songs sung to backing tracks.
Helen has outreaches in the USA, South Africa, Spain, Holland and Russia.
She now devotes herself solely to gospel outreaches, having left the world of showbusiness at the end of 2002, ending 42 years of touring.
Helen will take to the stage at 7.30pm on Saturday, May 5, at Christchurch Oasis.
It is the first major event to be held at the venue since it reopened – after 20 years – 12 months ago.
Tickets are £5 – call Jill Goldie on 07766 231959 or email jillpleasant@hotmail.co.uk.
