BLACK Country favourite Raymond Froggatt is still touring after 40 years of musical success.

This weekend he returns to play The Roses Theatre, Tewkesbury, where the auditorium will turn green from his frog and scarf waving loyal fans keen to hear his new material.

Froggie suffered TB in his early years and during that time revealed a hidden talent for poetry.

He went on to work as a pipe lagger but started to put his words to music, singing in pubs and clubs in the evenings.

Once fully recovered, he advertised for a band and The Monopoly was formed which started the popular singing star on the road to his long and respected career.

With his country/ balladeer style, with a bit of rock 'n' roll thrown in, Raymond spent many years touring in the US where he recorded albums in Nashville and Memphis with top artists like members of the Blues Brothers band.

He is particularly well known for his moving lyrics and artists like Cliff Richard, Julio Inglesias and the Dave Clark Five are among many of those he has written for - this year one of his songs is being recorded by Barbara Streisand.

His latest Shantytown Tour will include new songs from his Shantytown CD, released earlier this year, as well as some old favourites and plenty of stories of life in the business after all these years.

He will be joined on stage by Hartley Cain, a guitarist who has been with Froggie since the beginning, drummer Tony Bate and Allan J Crookes, bass player and former member of Poacher.

Catch Raymond Froggatt at The Roses Theatre, Tewkesbury, on Sunday, May 18 at 7.30pm. Tickets are available from the box office on 01684 295074.