Crooner Tony pleased to return

Veteran star Tony Christie wowed his legions of loyal fans when he performed in Bilston.

The Lichfield-based 63-year-old declared it was good to be back in the West Midlands when he took to the stage at the Robin 2.

Christie is having a resurgence thanks to the success of Is This The Way To Amarillo, which went to the top of the charts when he re-released it with comedian Peter Kay.

The track was the biggest selling record of 2005 - 34 years after its original release.

The gig at the Robin 2 on Saturday night had been rearranged from January but loyal fans said it had been worth the wait.

Mark Williams, aged 39, from Bilston is a huge Tony Christie fan - and hoped to get a picture of the singer on stage for his young daughter Megan.

Mr Williams said: "Her favourite record is Daddy Don't You Walk So Fast.

"I love him. I have been a fan for years, I wish my daughter could have come."

Mr Williams' friend Fred Bannister, aged 46, said the pair often hijacked their pub jukebox with Christie's records.

He said: "I have always been a fan. I have always liked his records."

Peter Blick, aged 57, from Featherstone, said he has liked Tony Christie since his 1970s heyday.

He said: "I haven't seen him for a long time. I really like the 1960s and 1970s era."

Robert Johnson and his friends were listening to the singer's CDs in the car on the way to the Robin 2 because they wanted to get in the swing of the show.

Christie was supported by Shake Rattle & Soul, a young swing and soul band.

The star has been in the big time since 1969 when he signed his first record deal.

In the 1970s, Yorkshire-born Christie sold more than 10 million records. Last month he revealed in the Express & Star that he was working on a Eurovision Song Contest entry with former Pulp frontman Jarvis Cocker.