SOUL legend Geno Washington and his Ram Jam Band bring their sweet soul music to The Corn Exchange, Newbury, on Friday, July 9, at 7.45pm.

Among the bands that have come to define the explosion of popular music in the '60s - The Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, Cream, The Small Faces, etc - there's rarely a mention of Geno, although, at the height of his career, he was top of the bill above these global superstars.

In fact, Geno and the Ram Jams had two of the biggest-selling albums of the decade, including the irrepressible live disc Hand Clappin, Foot Stompin, Funky Butt, which was only outsold by The Sound of Music and Bridge Over Troubled Water in 1966, staying in the charts for no less than 48 weeks.

Geno's level of touring and the high energy of his gigs has become the stuff of legend (as immortalised by the '80s hit Geno! by Dexy's Midnight Runners).

In recent years he has worked with new generations of pop musicians, including Adamski, Matt Vaughan, Gabrielle and Kermit (from Black Grape, not the frog), and Alabama 3 bassist Mark Sams.

Geno (pictured) releases an anthology album this year, celebrating his 40 years as a soul rocker.

Geno's set includes I Feel Good, I'm a Soul Man, G.L.O.R.I.A., Theme From Shaft and Everybody Needs Somebody.

To get tickets, priced £13 (£11 discounts), contact The Corn Exchange box office on 01635 522733 or book online at www.cornexchangenew.com