Telford & Wrekin Council and T-Live promoter Liz Hobbs Group have announced that soul seductress Jaki Graham will be taking to the stage at T-Live’s 80s party night this summer.
Celebrating more than 35 years in the industry, Jaki Graham will be joining 80s legends Rick Astley, ABC and Go West in Telford Town Park on Friday August 29.
Jaki’s early hits include Round and Around, Could It Be I’m Falling In Love? (duet with David Grant) and the timeless anthem Set Me Free. Her first album Real Life sold more than 800,000 copies in less than four weeks, while tickets for her Japanese tour sold out in just 20 minutes.
By 1987 Jaki’s success was firmly established with the achievement of a Guinness World Record for being the first black British female solo artist to have six consecutive Top 10 / 20 hits.
The Birmingham-born soul diva is honoured on the city’s Walk of Stars alongside Julie Walters, Ozzy Osborne and Jasper Carrott. In 2013 she received an Honorary Doctorate in Music from Wolverhampton University in recognition of her Outstanding International Contribution to R&B, Soul and Dance.
In the 1990s, Motown signed the album Kiss the Sky, which featured Jaki on lead and backing vocals, and has since gone on to sell more than a million copies worldwide, meaning the girl from Handsworth was now officially Motown.
She has also performed with the BBC Big Band as part of their Radio 2 special, and with legends including Michael McDonald, Al Green and Sir Cliff Richard.
Jaki said:
“I’m really looking forward to performing at T-Live this year and can’t wait to see the rest of the boys too!”
“Telford’s on my doorstep and I have a lot of friends there so it’s great to be included on such an event. The fact it’s for the whole family is wonderful and it’ll be nice to introduce our music to a new generation! It will definitely be a day/night to remember!”
British pop-rock band Lawson will be headlining T-Live on Saturday August 30 with special guests Union J and Tich and pop newcomers Only The Young and Harvey.
Tickets for both nights are now on sale and can be booked by calling the box office on 01952 382382 or online at www.t-live.co.uk Tickets can also be bought in person at the Oakengates Theatre @ The Place box office, Wellington and Abraham Darby Leisure Centres, Telford Ice Rink and the Town Park Visitor Centre.
Prices are as follows:
- Adults: £35 (£30 for Telford Loyalty Card (TLC) holders)
- 11-16 year olds: £30 (£25 for TLC holders)
- 6-10 year olds: £15
- 5 and under: Free
- Family (two adults and two children or one adult and three children): £99
- Essential Companion: Free
- Weekend Adult: £50
- Weekend 11-16: £40
- Weekend Family: £175
- One-day VIP upgrade: £30 for adults, £20 for under-18s
For people who still need to get a free TLC card and start enjoying the benefits of reduced price leisure and discounts at local businesses, cards are available from all Telford and Wrekin leisure centres, libraries, Oakengates Theatre @ The Place and First Points within Addenbrooke House and Wellington Civic and Leisure Centre.