HE is billed as one of the most successful acts the UK has ever produced and now singer songwriter Leo Sayer is coming to Bolton as part of his birthday celebrations.

"Just a Boy at 70" tour comes to the Albert Halls this month as part of a 25-date tour.

He said: "I count myself very lucky to have a wonderful band at home in the UK” explains Leo.

“I always look forward to coming back to perform.

"From Soho to Brighton by way of Cornwall to Glasgow, I like searching out all the places I used to haunt and see if they’ve changed, many haven’t at all, under the surface. It’s going to be another great tour and I’m looking forward to the shows immensely."

Leo, who celebrates his 70th birthday during the UK part of the tour, has had a career spanning six decades beginning in the sixties starting out with David Courtney and Adam Faith.

"I was trained a graphic designer and initially that was my chosen profession which brought me close to the music business when I designed record covers for artists like Bob Marley in the late 60’s. I had always been around bands and also played harmonica with blues musicians, some of whom went on to great things themselves. I didn’t decide to give it a serious go until I met Courtney and Faith, David’s musical abilities as a co-writer and Adam’s talent as a manager was enough to persuade me," said Leo, who first attempts to break into the music industry were not a success but his third single Silverbird was a "runaway hit".

Leo said: "Things happened very quickly after than and I became a star when I performed as the Pierrot which seemed to capture the world's attention in 1974."

It was his seventh and eighth releases ­— Make Me Feel Like Dancing and When I Need You ­— which hit the top spot, with the latter making number one both sides of the Atlantic.

"It’s not always about being number one and for me the collective of songs and a good show is what I used to concentrate on," said Leo, I was happy with the results, but then the album with Richard Perry catapulted me to even greater heights. "It certainly was a more commercially driven project, and though different to the music that I made before, I enjoyed the success of it immensely.”

He added: "It was great, and interesting, as I became a big name in the States and all over the world because of these hits. It opened up so many doors including living in Los Angeles, playing in Las Vegas, touring all over the world, and back at home, starring in my own television series."

It was three decades later before Leo hit the top spot again with Thunder in My Heart Again with Meck in 2006.

"We artists go in and out of fashion," said Leo philosophically, "You just have to plough on and, if you’re good, you will have more great moments. I’ve survived pub rock, punk, boy bands and talent show artists, and have never really changed my essential approach. A good song is a good song."

Since the turn of the Millennium he has released seven albums and has a new album Selfie out

He said: "I love my job and put everything into it. I've just completed an entirely self-made album that’s taken me three years to create. I’m very driven, a bit of a perfectionist, always thinking my best work is still ahead of me. After 46 years of making records, and at the age of 70, that might sound crazy, but that’s how I am.

"I wanted to make an album by myself I’ve always been envious of painters who never need to get anyone else in to help finish their artworks.

"I don’t know if I’d do this again, but it’s been very satisfying."

For the All This and World War II music documentary in 1976, Leo recorded three classic Beatles tracks in which he experienced for the first time singing in front of a full symphony orchestra. In 1977 he achieved two US number ones, with You Make Me Feel Like Dancing, winning a Grammy for Best Rhythm & Blues Song.

Leo had a chance to perform three songs on the iconic The Muppet Show.

"I’d met Muppets creator, Jim Henson, a few years earlier on the set of Sesame Street, which he also created. We connected really well and I guess that’s what led to the invite to be a guest on the show. I wasn’t the most famous face during that series but Jim insisted to the producers that I’d be great TV viewing, and I think my performance, and the rapport with the characters on the show, made it a huge success," said Leo.

Leo was due to meet Elvis, but The King died on the day he was travelling to Graceland.

Leo explained:"I’d had a fall offstage, a big one, a few days earlier and when my 1977 US Tour got to Memphis, I had a bad reaction in the dressing room and couldn’t perform. A big guy came into the room, picked me up, and took me to his nearby gym to recuperate.

"The next day, after I’d recovered, he said he worked for someone famous but wouldn’t tell me who.

"Later, he seemed to relent and put his boss on the phone to me. I fell out of my chair when I realised that I was talking to Elvis .

"He was charming and we had a great chat which finished with Elvis inviting me to Graceland the next day. Naturally I was so excited but the next morning, while preparing for the visit, I was listening to the radio when they announced the shocking news that the King had died. Elvis’ last girlfriend, Ginger Alden, flew to London one day saying she had to meet me. She told me how Elvis was so excited that night about our getting together the next day. I guess the rest is history."

Tickets for the show at the Albert Halls, Bolton, Tuesday, May 14 are available from 0843 208 0500 or www.alberthalls-bolton.co.uk