Black Country musician's tribute to Cannon and Ball

Guitarist Kenny Craig, from Sedgley, opened the show at Heart of the Midlands, in Nottingham, for Cannon and Ball.

He said the week-long gig, in the early 1980s, gave him his first big break as an entertainer.

Mr Craig paid tribute to the comedy duo after Bobby Ball, one half of the act, died last month aged 76.

Mr Craig has a signed photograph from Mr Ball and Tommy Cannon, who was the other half of the performer, which reads: "Rock on Kenny, nice working with you."

"I had been solo for a while but this was my first big break," he said. "It was a big show. It was a sell-out every night.

"The Heart of the Midlands was one of the top clubs in the Midlands.

"I was a solo artist with a six piece band. I was pleased the agent, Jake Elcock, asked me to do the job.

Friendly

"I opened the show. The Nottingham Forest football team were there on the opening night.

"I did a full week from Sunday to Saturday. It was a sell-out so it could be between 500 plus.

"I opened the show then the girl singer [Patti Gold] went on, then there was a break, then they came on last as top of the bill."

He continued: "We met up every night and had a friendly. As you can see, I had a signed photograph. I gave one to them of myself, and one to the girl singer and she gave me one of herself.

"That is how friendly it was, it was a great atmosphere."

He added: "They were nice chaps. There were northern lads anyway so they were a bit like Black Country chaps."