THE dance was in full swing at a Southampton Youth Club when the band’s lead singer decided to take his girlfriend home.

Bob Pearce took over the microphone after his mates pushed him on stage.

And his impromptu role as stand in singer was to pave the way for him to become a driving force in the city’s musical scene.

More than 50 years on and Bob still reigns as Southampton’s King of Blues as he proved with an electrifying gig at The Concorde Club.

His links with the Stoneham Lane club go back many decades and he is also remembered for his long running residency at The Onslow which became the Home of The Blues and The Joiners.

Bob has won many fans beyond the boundaries of his native city. And singing the blues has taken him around the globe, including far flung places like the Falklands.

During the two hour plus show at The Concorde he showed that he is still master of his craft with great guitar slide solos and a powerful potion of soul, rock and gospel vocals.

One of my favourites was Keep On Keepin’ On, the title to his much acclaimed 1993 album and he also included two of his other compositions, What’s Wrong With The World and That Was Then This Is Now.

Bob has a great rapport with his audience and looks as if enjoys every minute on stage. He even found time to sing Happy Birthday to one of his fans.

He has a multi-talented band including Ray Drury who gave a master class on keyboards with Green Onions. Recorded in the early sixties by Booker T & The M.G’s, it is still top of the R&B playlist.

Bob delivered a moving version of that much covered Ben E King hit Stand By Me.

Then he gave the jive fans a chance to hit the dance floor as he lifted the rafters with Elvis Presley’s Little Sister and Chuck Berry’s Johnny B Goode.

Eastleigh Mayor Councillor Malcolm Cross was among the rock ‘n rollers who helped to boost funds for his two charities, Marie Curie Cancer Care and Eastleigh Young Carers.

You can catch the Bob Pearce Blues Band at The Platform, Southampton on March 29.