Shapiro swaps music for faith

Published on 27th March 2008 in Ents

Celebrated jazz singer Helen Shapiro - whose singles Don't Treat Me Like a Child and Walking Back to Happiness sent her soaring to international stardom at the tender age of 14 - is to speak at a gospel outreach in Selby.

The diva-turned-born-again Christian will give a talk at Barlby High School on Saturday, April 19.

The date is part of the singer's ongoing gospel tour which has taken her to the US, South Africa and Russia. Helen, whose other hit singles during her heyday in the Swinging Sixties included You Don't Know and Tell Me What He Said, has recently been in demand as a principal panto boy and has also appeared in many stage musicals. In August 1987 her career took a different path when she became a committed Christian.

Two years later she performed the first of many gospel concerts to coincide with the release of her first gospel album, The Pearl, which - along with her second gospel album Kadosh - proved to be a big seller. The concerts continued until 1993, when Helen changed her format so she could share her story right across the UK.

This storytelling format starts with a 25-minute selection of worship songs aided by live accompaniment.

Helen then talks about how she found Jesus. Her story is interspersed with songs - including the ever-popular Walking Back to Happiness - from Helen's vast repertoire. Helen - whose 1995 gospel album, Nothing but the Best, included a duet with Cliff Richard - now devotes herself solely to her gospel outreaches, having left showbusiness in 2002, after 42 years touring.

The Fellowship of Local Churches (Selby) has organised the concert at the York Road school, which starts at 7.30pm.Tickets cost £5 each.

To book a ticket, call Trevor Pool on: 01757 703331, or Margaret Skilbeck on: 01757 288784. 27-03-54 SU.