SINGER Raymond Froggatt is not a household name, but to his army of fans he is both an inspiration and a musical legend.Froggatt – or Froggie, as he is known to his followers – has spent nearly a lifetime in the music biz, working with some of the biggest stars and writing songs which have been sung by some of its best-known performers.

By Richard Cornwell

SINGER Raymond Froggatt is not a household name, but to his army of fans he is both an inspiration and a musical legend.

Froggatt – or Froggie, as he is known to his followers – has spent nearly a lifetime in the music biz, working with some of the biggest stars and writing songs which have been sung by some of its best-known performers.

On Sunday June 16, he makes what is almost his annual appearance at Felixstowe's Spa Pavilion, when fans from across the region will pay homage again, clutching their toy frogs and green scarves.

The show – which starts at 7.30pm – is part of a 72-date tour in which thousands will enjoy his country music style.

Birmingham-born Froggatt, now 60, was afflicted with the illness TB in his teenage years, and later had to have a kidney removed.

He started his working life as a pipe lagger, while night-time would be spent singing in pubs and secretly writing poetry, a great talent that maybe would have stayed hidden if not for the illness.

Once he started to recover from his illness, he decided to advertise for musicians to put together a band.

It was the Swingin' Sixties and bands were in great demand and the four-piece The Monopoly were soon touring with The Tremeloes and Marmalade.

Later they sang on Wizard's album Angel Fingers and toured as support for Wizard, led by Roy Wood, and ELO.

Froggie was signed to the top record companies of the time Polydor, Bell and Jet Warner, and his writing talents led to him signing with major publishing houses, with his songs recorded by Cliff Richard and the Dave Clark Five among others.

When The Monopoly parted company, he went on to produce his extravaganza Shakespeare Musical, using a full orchestra and 40 vocalists.

But it was after recording in Nashville that an invitation to do a 15-minute slot in a country music festival in Tulsa which was to change his life completely.

He fell in love with country music and this is now the backbone of his touring shows, which performs all over the UK and abroad.

Tickets for the show are £13.50 and £12.50, available from the box office on 01394 282126.

n The audience is bound to be shouting for more when Team Act Theatre Company presents Lionel Bart's ever-popular musical Oliver! at the Spa Pavilion from June 18 to 22.

There are more than 40 youngsters in the production who are divided into two teams to present the show for its run.

Eight-year-old Joel Browne, of South Lee prep school in Bury St Edmunds, is one of two youngsters who will take the lead role of Oliver, and has been hard at work for the past couple of months learning his lines, songs and dance routines.

Tickets for the production are £10 and the show is on nightly at 7.30pm and there is a matinee at 3pm on the Saturday.