SHE'S had mixed musical fortunes over the years, but last year Elkie Brooks' profile received a welcome shot in the arm thanks to Reborn in the USA, the reality TV show in which she joined a group of fellow 70s and 80s pop survivors on the road in America in a bid for renewed stardom.

Fortunately, the husky-voiced singer, born Elaine Bookbinder, has never overly bothered herself with the vagaries of pop fashion.

Over the years, she has embraced almost every style going, from pop and rock to blues and jazz. The Salford-born star turned professional in 1960 at the age of 15, but it was another 17 years before chart success came knocking.

The jazz-flavoured Pearl's a Singer shot her into the top ten in 1977. She followed this with a string of top 20 singles including Sunshine After the Rain, Lilac Wine, Fool If You Think It's Over and No More the Fool, the latter spending an impressive 16 weeks in the charts and, a number five hit, giving her her highest chart position to boot.

In recent years, Elkie and her husband, sound engineer Trevor Jordan, have lived quietly at their home in Devon, although she has continued to perform in concert and release albums.

The Anvil, Basingstoke, Thursday. Performance: 7.45pm. Tickets: from £15.50. Box office: 01256 844244.