MUSIC star, Mike Sanchez, has performed at some of the most prestigious music venues in the world, including The Royal Albert Hall and Abbey Road recording studio in recent months. As he looks forward to returning to his roots to perform at Kidderminster Town Hall this Saturday, the "happy man" talks to BECKY HAYES about his plans for the future.

HAVING never had what he would call a "proper job" but spent his life jetting off around the world performing the music he loves in front of fans who love him, it would have been easy for success to go Mike Sanchez's head.

The self-proclaimed "real deal" of boogie-woogie says that living in Kidderminster keeps him "sane and balanced", however.

In a rare interview with the Shuttle/Times and News, the former front man of the Big Town Playboys and Bill Wyman's Rhythm Kings spills the beans on the highlights of his career so far and his plans to keep on rocking into old age.

"My biggest achievement is just being able to enjoy what I do," said the charismatic singer, pianist and guitarist, who added he took an interest in music when he started failing exams at Bewdley High School.

"Over the last year we've played twice at the Royal Albert Hall which, to me, is one of the most grandiose places in England and on both nights I shared the stage with Eric Clapton - and things like that happen all the time."

Mike has just finished a four-year tour - on and off - with Bill Wyman's Rhythm Kings, which culminated in a stint with Elvis Presley's original guitarist, Scotty Moore, at the world famous Abbey Road recording studio, to be released on DVD later this year.

He is currently focusing on his work with his four-piece band, The Portions, and has also been asked to perform in a movie later this year by Comic Strip founder, Peter Richardson, who helped launch the careers of Rik Mayall and Ade Edmondson.

Mike, who walked into the Rhythm Kings shortly after leaving The Big Town Playboys in 1999, previously helped to provide music for the movie, The Pope Must Die, but is expecting to be involved "visually" in the latest picture.

Describing himself as a "happy person", he said of his plans for the future: "I've been to all sorts of places across the world and I just want to continue recording albums and improving with each one to fly the flag for rock and roll music."

He added: "Now that a lot of the originals that started it are dead, people like myself are being looked at as close to the original artists as you can get and, for the next 20 years, I guess, it's going to keep growing.

"I play a form of music that fits into all kinds of festivals so people who like live music like me."

In the near future, Mike is set to take a trip down memory lane, co-headlining a concert at Kidderminster Town Hall to launch former promoter, John Combe's, music history book, Get Your Kicks On The A456.

The concert, this Saturday, will see him performing in a collection of musicians going by the name of Kidderminster All Stars which includes John Bryant and Paul Smith of The Stubble Brothers and former Chicken Shack bassist, Andy Sylvester, who is now a member of Mike's band.

Mike is hoping the musical extravaganza, which will feature bands that were gigging before he could talk, let alone sing, such as The Clippers and The Indigo Set - fronted by Kidderminster Harriers chairman, Colin Youngjohns - could be the first of many benefit gigs for him at the town hall.

"I haven't got a clue what we're going to play or exactly who I'm going to play with and I quite like that," he said of the concert in aid of the Spinal Research charity.

"I also like the fact that it's 500 yards down the road at the town hall and I'm not going to have to leave at 4am to go somewhere else.

"It's more like a social event really, which is quite nice ... it will be good to see a lot of familiar faces and people I haven't seen for years.

"I come to this town to sleep, use the phone and internet and watch movies, so it will be nice to socialise here."

When asked what part of his music he enjoyed most - recording or gigging - the charismatic entertainer, who cites his influences as Elvis Presley, Nat King Cole, Little Richard and Otis Redding, replied: "Life continues to be fun.

"Records are for life and I really want to have a collection by the time I go through the tunnel that I'm really proud of.

"Live performances are the things that keep me alive and I love giving pleasure to thousands of people every year.

"I have a lot of fans that regard me as the best in my field of music and it's not because of technique but charisma, enthusiasm and hard work."

Adding he hoped to release an album a year in future, he said: "I recently saw the legendary Little Richard in Wolverhampton and he's 72 years old and was giving it some.

"He was still larger than life showing showtime is something that should last as long as possible because once you don't do your job you're not focused on enjoying life any more and that would be sad."

Anyone interested in finding out more about Mike can visit his website, www.mikesanchez.com

Tickets for Saturday's concert, which starts at 8pm, are on sale at the venue, which can be contacted on 01562 732158.

They can also be purchased from Kidderminster Library, Bewdley Books, Pete's Prints in Stourport and Mister Tee's in Kidderminster.