Jaki and family wow Dudley fans with nostalgic and Christmas tinged show
'I'm from Handsworth - What you get is what you see!'
Those were the opening words of Jaki Graham at her 'Hometown Christmas Show' in Dudley.
And what you did get was 90 plus minute of the 80s hits she is famed for played by a live band along with some Motown classics and of course a couple of Christmas numbers. She might have joked about being of a certain age but the voice and the energy is still more than there.
The music was mixed in with a lot of laughs, warmth and charisma and plenty of anecdotes, such as meeting and working with 'music royalty' including Stevie Wonder and Percy Sledge and touring and duetting with Cliff Richard.
And it was a family affair, with daughter Natalie introducing her mum onto stage and joining her for a couple of numbers in the backing band, which already included her son Ryan and daughter-in-law Holly.
Most in the audience would know but hard to imagine in this day and age that along with other 80s stars, Jaki sold thousands of records in that era and appeared on Top of the Pops and other music shows in front of millions.
Starting with 'Set me Free,' the crowd were dancing from the off and nearly all the hits were included in her set including the US Billboard number one cover of Chaka Khan's 'Ain't Nobody.'
One particular crowd pleaser was the song which started it all off for Jaki, 'Could it be I'm falling in Love' a cover of the Detroit Spinners classic which she said is often mistaken by fans for being hers and David Grant's own song.
Finishing with singalong 'Proud Mary' which she used to perform at pubs in Birmingham whilst working a day job as a secretary, the variety and nostalgic and festive feel to the show sent the crowd home happy,
Next year marks 40 years since her first album 'Heaven Knows' and with a new one in the pipeline and on the evidence of this power packed performance, Jaki will be still going 'Round and Around' for a few years yet.
Paul Jenkins
