Fans love Jimmy Osmond for a reason at Shrewsbury show

The Long Haired Lover From Liverpool singer changed direction by performing the hits of Andy Williams.

And fans lapped it up, with crowds heading to Theatre Severn in Shrewsbury.

They came from far and wide to hear hits such as Moon River, Can't Take My Eyes Off You and Music To Watch Girls By.

One fan, Suzanne Pugh, from Shrewsbury, said she had a brilliant night and praised the star and his backing group.

She said: "It was an excellent show and brought the hits of the Osmonds and Andy Williams together.

"The audience was on its feet for the entire show and it left the building rocking."

Also among the crowd was 82-year-old Peggy Carson and her daughter Gaynor, 57, from Wem.

The pair had seen Jimmy and the Osmonds in concert almost 300 times since the 1970s. "I first saw them when I took Gaynor along when she was younger," said Peggy. "That was when I really got in to them. They were really down to Earth and friendly, there was no edge to them which I really liked. We travelled around seeing them as much as we could and over the years they got to know us.

"A few years ago I had a heart attack and couldn't make it to one of the concerts that Gaynor went to. Jimmy noticed she was on her own and asked where I was. When he found out I was in hospital, he called. I couldn't believe it."

They had stuck posters on their bedroom walls and saved their pocket money to buy singles and albums.

So for many this was the first time they had seen their childhood idol in the flesh.

He used to be part of one of the biggest bands in music history and now Jimmy Osmond was back to the delight of hundreds of fans who filled Shrewsbury's Theatre Severn on Saturday night to see him perform Moon River and Me: A Tribute to Andy Williams.

Tina Thompson, 53, a production line worker from Telford had come to the show with her husband John, a 58-year-old salesman as a birthday treat. "I have been a fan for a very long time," said Tina. I remember Jimmy singing Long Haired Lover From Liverpool.

"This is the first time I have seen him in concert. I saw Donny in Birmingham. I love them to bits.

"When they were younger they were so good looking and their music is fabulous."

Also waiting to see Jimmy was Pauline Perks, a retired teaching assistant from Shrewsbury.

The 70-year-old said: "This is the first time I have seen Jimmy in concert. I have come along with my daughter Lynda and she is a huge fan.

"When she found out she was coming she was really, really excited. She has been a fan since she was a small child and heard Long Haired Lover From Liverpool."

Excitedly clutching a single record to her chest was Catherine Slaytor from Shrewsbury.

The 53-year-old PR manager had just taken part in a meet and greet with Jimmy prior to his arrival on stage and he had signed her copy of Long Haired Lover From Liverpool which she had treasured since she was 10 years old.

"I absolutely loved the Osmonds when I was a child," said Catherine. "They sounded great and they were clean and tidy, not like the boys that were at school with me.

"I am the same age as Jimmy and it is like we have grown up together. He was lovely as a child and he was a real gentleman when I met him.

"I have seen the Osmonds before so when I heard Jimmy was coming back here I was really looking forward to it.

"The record has been through house moves with me and I had to dig it out of the loft to bring it along for him to sign.

"It cost me 50p pocket money back in 1972 and I have kept it safe all these years."

Andrea Williams, 57 and her husband Brian, 60, from Shrewsbury had seen the Osmonds before but the visit to the theatre was a surprise. The pair had also met Jimmy prior to the show.

"I used to love Donny," said Andrea. "But Jimmy is lovely. He is a really genuine person. He was really informal."