At 53, Charlie Landsborough has served one of the longest apprenticeships of any current performer.

He's one of the rising stars of the British Country Music scene - and yet for four decades he was a virtual unknown outside his native Merseyside.

"I was playing in pubs basically for years. While I was doing that I did all sorts of jobs," said Charlie.

"I was in the army, worked as a quality controller, postman and a teacher and all the time playing music in the evenings. I played in one pub for 22 years.

"Just when it seemed I'd had yet another rejection, I got my big break."

Charlie captured the hearts of Irish music fans with a one-off appearance on a television show and next thing he knew he had finally landed a recording deal.

Charlie has now released six big-selling CDs and his latest tour of the UK will bring him to Bradford for the first time.

"The success came out of Ireland really. We're quite big in Scotland as well and England is now slightly catching up, although we've always done well in Liverpool because I'm from Birkenhead," said Charlie.

He arrives at St George's Hall in Bradford on Wednesday as part of a major tour which is geared towards promoting his new album Still Can't Say Goodbye and finishes at Liverpool Philharmonic Hall and Glasgow Royal Concert Hall - quite a contrast to those low-key pub gigs.

"It's hard work but it's good fun. We meet a lot of good people. Going around different places is no bad thing," said Charlie.

His latest album, recorded and produced in Nashville, reflects his own personal taste for easy listening music with a Country flavour.

"I've been inspired by all kinds of people because I like a whole breadth of different types of music but my favourites are people like Jim Reeves," he said.

It's a far cry from the days when he played cover versions in Liverpool pubs.

"When you're playing in a dockside pub you can't be playing your own songs," said Charlie.

"I did all the old rock 'n' roll numbers. Things have certainly changed since then."

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