Mick Hucknall is known the world over as the voice of Simply Red. But for the first time he is going out on a solo tour, celebrating the music of American 50s blues and soul star Bobby ‘Blue’ Bland.

The tour is in support of Hucknall’s debut solo album ‘Tribute To Bobby’, released last month, which has been described as his best record since Simply Red’s Stars album.

Hucknall says of the album and tour: “I’d been listening to Bobby’s songs for so long that it was almost second nature to try and do these tunes.”

On the album Tribute to Bobby, Hucknall’s vocals emphasise the sentiment of each of the twelve cover songs, whilse adopting the songs and making them entirely his own.

The results have been well received, combining soul and blues of old with modern R&B nuances.

Bland, sometimes referred to as the Lion of the Blues, developed a sound that mixed gospel with blues and R&B.

He sang classics such as big-band blues number Farther Up The Road, Cry Cry Cry and I Pity The Fool.

But he achieved his greatest recognition much later in his career – being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1992 and receiving the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 1997.

Simply Red found fame in the late 80s with million-sellers like Holding Back The Years, Money’s Too Tight (To Mention), A New Flame and If You Don’t Want Me By Now.

Last year Hucknall announced that Simply Red would spit up after a final tour in 2009, saying that 25 years was “long enough for anybody”.

Mick Hucknall plays Wolverhampton Civic Hall on June 30.

Tickets available from 0844 888 9991 / 0871 220 0260 or by visiting www.ticketline.co.uk, www.seetickets.co.uk or www.gigantic.com