EIGHTIES' soul singer Jaki Graham will be the special guest attraction in the Soul Legends revue show at the Grand Opera House, York, tonight.

"Gwen Dickey [of Rose Royce], had been doing the show and I got a call to do it after someone put my name forward and I said, 'Yes, I'm up for it'," says the 59-year-old Brummie. "I was available, and I knew one of the musicians from way back when so it was 'Yes, please'."

Now Jaki takes her place in Soul Legends, a Stateside spectacular from the producers of The Magic Of Motown, that boasts soul smashes by Aretha Franklin, James Brown, Tina Turner, Wilson Pickett, Sam And Dave, Michael Jackson, Barry White and George Benson.

The songs of Lionel Richie, Eddie Floyd, Chaka Khan, Edwin Starr, Earth Wind And Fire, The Emotions, Kool & the Gang and The Pointer Sisters feature too, as do such Jaki Graham hits as Round And Around, Set Me Free, Could It Be I'm Falling In Love and Breaking Away.

"Officially I was a Motown artist, you know. At one point in my career I was a singer for that label, and I've recorded songs by the likes of Stevie Wonder as well as my own hits," says Jaki.

"For this show, the producers said, 'Do what you do', as I have my own repertoire of Motown hits, and I'm part of people's nostalgia from my hits as well. It's such a feelgood show, and as people know, I get to be a bit excitable on stage.

"I think as a lady of a certain age [Jaki will turn 60 next September] I should be cool, calm and collected, but the show feels so good, and everyone is so up for it, that there's no greater high than when you're on stage doing what I do, lifting everyone's spirits."

Such feelings will peak with Jaki's rendition of Stevie Wonder's Superstition. "Motown is evergreen music; everyone takes something from Motown; kids take something from it, and it doesn't sound dated at all," she says.

Tickets for tonight's 7.30pm concert are on sale on 0844 871 3024, at atgtickets.com/york and on the door.