Having spent more than five decades singing on stage, Leo Sayer is showing no signs of slowing down now.

The pop singer, who found fame during the 1970s with songs such as ’You Make Me Feel Like Dancing’, ’When I Need You’ and ’One Man Band’ returns to the Isle of Man tomorrow night (Friday) for a concert at the Gaiety Theatre, as part of his latest tour ’Just A Boy at 70’.

Having recently released his 18th studio album, ’Selfie’, Leo says he doesn’t feel the need to hang up his dancing shoes just yet.

’We have called this latest tour "Just A Boy at 70", but in truth that’s a bit out of date,’ he said from Australian home.

’ I’m 72 now. We have called my tours many things, such as "70 Years Young" and things like that, but I’m not sure how long I can keep that up for.

’But I love the fact that I am still working, and am still attracting large crowds.

’Singing and song writing is all I know, and until someone tells me to stop, I’ll keep on going.

’I can’t not do this. I like to write and sing and I also produce my own work now.’

He added: ’My last album, Selfie, was called that because I did everything myself. I wrote the songs, played the instruments and produced it myself.

’I have produced a lot of albums over the years, and I like to include a couple of songs from them in my set, but I feel like I will be cheating my audience by not including the classics. Also, I can’t imagine ever doing a concert without singing songs like "Thunder In My Heart" or "Long Tall Glasses". "Train" is a great song and people just love to hear it.’

In a career that has seen several ups and downs and as many pitfalls as global hit singles, Leo is still enjoying playing to large crowds wherever he goes.

He currently lives and works in Australia where he shares the stage with other singers from the 70s.

’I am very lucky. There is a good group of us who tour together, including the Sherbets, a huge famous Australian group from the 70s, and John Paul Young, who sang "Love is in the Air".

’We can’t believe we are still playing sometimes, and we love it. I think, especially for the singers of songs from the 70s, there is clearly a special place in people’s hearts for them, and there is still a huge demand to listen to us.’

During the island’s heyday as a key place for top entertainers to play, Leo frequently appeared here and he is looking forward to returning to a place where he has a lot of fond memories.

Throughout the 1970s and 80s he would frequently appear in the island with many of the other top groups of the time, and he would also rub shoulders with many of the island’s more famous residents.

’I am very much looking forward to coming back to the island,’ he said.

’Back in the day we would always come here. My gosh, we played so many shows here.

’I think the last time I played here was in the late 90s, I think. We used to love playing at the Palace Lido.

’I remember that well as a beautiful, huge building with glass panels.

’I was good friends with Nigel Mansell, when he lived here, and I always remember having an awful lot of fun when we visited here. I have a lot of lovely memories.

’I remember one year, in 1981, playing during TT week, and it was amazing to be part of that.

’The island just felt different, like it was really coming alive with the buzz and the excitement.

’I was lucky enough to be taken for a ride around the course in a car when the roads were closed.

’My god! I remember thinking how mad the riders must be to fly around here at these speeds. It was terrifying! What an experience that was.

’I am very happy to be coming back. It has been too long.

Tickets for Leo Sayer are £30, available from the Welcome Centre and the Villa gaiety box office, on 600555 and online from villagaiety.com

by Mike Wade

Twitter:@iomnewspapers