Lorraine Crosby headlines Newcastle night of song

NEWCASTLE singer Lorraine Crosby is best-known for duetting with MeatLoaf on his massive blockbuster hit (I’d Do) Anything For Love, but how many people know of her links with artists like Elkie Brooks, Alvin Stardust, The Tygers of Pan Tang, Middle of The Road and Acid House artist, Baby Ford?

All these artists have recorded songs written by former Consett steelworker and songwriter Steve Thompson, and Lorraine was the session vocalist on many of Steve’s demo recordings. She also provided backing vocals on the Tygers of Pan Tang album Burning in The Shade as well as an entire album Steve produced for the late Alvin Stardust which sadly was never released.

Now Lorraine and Steve have teamed up to perform the original versions of many of these songs as part of the Steve Thompson Songwriter show at Newcastle's Live Theatre next month.

Steve has written songs for Celine Dion, Sheena Easton, Elkie Brooks, The Hollies, The Searchers, Colin Blunstone, Elaine Page and Chris Farlowe. Lorraine will also be performing Steve's 1982 top five hit for Wavelength, Hurry Home. North-East singers Mick Whitaker, Terry Slesser and 2014 X Factor star Kerrianne Covell, from Norton, Teesside, will also be appearing while Steve will add the stories behind many of his songs, sing using a range of multimedia.

Lorraine says: “We did a showcase gig last month at Nemix Rehearsal Studios. I’m really looking forward to the Live Theatre show with this brilliant group of musicians and singers performing Steve’s fabulous songs”

* December 14. Tickets: £16. Box Office: 0191-232-1232 or live.org.uk

* Audience members will receive a Free CD: Out-Takes, Rarities and Demos including a song chosen by Celine Dion and Sheena Easton, sung by the late Dave Black, one of the area's most popular singer/guitarists, who died in 2014.

Viv Hardwick