The Bobby in question is the enormously influential singer Bobby ‘Blue’ Bland, sometimes referred to as the ‘Lion of the Blues’. ‘Tribute to Bobby’ is a twelve track master class in soul, blues and R&B and a tribute to one of Mick Hucknall’s most important inspirations and musical idols.

Along with such artists as Sam Cooke, Ray Charles and Junior Parker, Bland developed a sound that mixed gospel with blues and R&B. He sang classics such as big-band blues number “Farther Up The Road” (US R&B top 10 hit in 1957) and perfected his craft in the 1960’s with a series of releases including “Cry Cry Cry” and “I Pity The Fool”.

Bobby ‘Blue’ Bland perhaps achieved his greatest recognition much later in his career; in 1992 he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and in 1997 he received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.

On the album ‘Tribute to Bobby’, Hucknall’s compelling vocals emphasise the sentiment of each of the twelve cover songs, whilst masterfully adopting the songs and making them entirely his own.

Mick Hucknall’s passion and respect for Bobby Bland is unquestioned; “I’d been listening to Bobby’s songs for so long that is was almost second nature to try and do these tunes”, he says.

The 2008 UK tour dates are:

29 June Bristol Colston Hall
30 June Wolverhampton Civic Hall
1 July Summer Pops (Liverpool)
3 July Manchester Apollo
4 July Newcastle City Hall
5 July Oxford New Theatre
7 July Leicester De Montfort Hall
8 July Ipswich Regent
9 July London Indigo 02 Arena

Tickets on sale Friday 29 February, 2008 9am. Ticket prices vary, see individual venues for details. Tickets available from: Tel: 0844 888 9991/ 0871 220 0260 www.ticketline.co.uk , www.seetickets.co.uk, www.gigantic.com

Mick Hucknall on amazon.co.uk

Mick Hucknall on amazon.com

Mick Hucknall/Simply Red on Myspace
Mick Hucknall/Simply Red Official Website