A MUSIC lover and ex serviceman is touring the country as a tribute singer.

Barry Steele, 56, from the West Midlands left the RAF behind him and became a Roy Orbison tribute singer.

The singer will be hitting the stage at the Thameside Theatre, Orsett Road, Grays later this month.

Barry Steele & Friends - The Orbison Story is coming to the Grays theatre, on Thursday October 27, for one night only.

This brand new production is set to be a hit, as Barry Steele, or Roy Orbison, takes the audience on a musical journey in time, from the early 1960s to the late 1980s and the show includes Roy Orbison's ‘The black and white night’.

The show also pays tribute to the time Roy spent with The Traveling Wilburys band.

The show will feature chart hits originally made famous by Cilla Black, Jerry lee Lewis, and many more superstars.

Barry has toured across the globe in his role as Roy Orbison, but it is a far cry from his time in the RAF when he was stationed at RAF Waddington, Scampton and RAF Tongeren in Belgium.

Whilst in the Forces Barry refuelled both Vulcan Bombers, The Ladies of the Sky, and The Red Arrows, he also drove the green goddesses during the fireman’s strike in 1977.

When Barry left the RAF he moved back to the West Midlands with his young family. He became a long distance lorry driver, and out on the road he began singing to artists such Michael Jackson, Wet Wet Wet, and Chris Rhea.

Barry said it was on a family holiday in Cornwall that he took the first steps to becoming a professional singer.

He added: "My wife Lynne and daughter Leonie entered me into a singing competition and a fellow competitor said I sounded just like Roy Orbison.

"Orbison’s songs not only have wonderful melodies and tunes, the lyrics are some of the most sublime ever written."

Mr Steele said that not only does the music take people back in time, the songs make people happy, sad and emotive all at the same time.

He added: "Orbison is known as a balladeer or a singer of ballads, but he also recorded and performed rocky and contemporary songs.

"His songs are quite simply timeless."

For tickets visit www.thurrock.gov.uk/thameside-theatre