With a career that spans more than 40 years the often-overused ‘legend’ label is more than deserving here. We spoke to American soul king Bobby Womack ahead of a rare UK date at King George’s Hall, Blackburn.

ROCK and Rock Hall Of Fame inductee Bobby Womack epitomises what it is to be cool.

You can hear the depth of soul in his husky rolling Ohio tones as he explains the details of one of his rare trips across the Atlantic — heading to Blackburn for the first time.

Having started out in the early 1960s as the lead singer of his family musical group The Valentinos, Bobby has been one of the most influential soul artists of his time as both performer and songwriter.

His hits include Across 100th Street and Woman’s Gotta Have It, and he has performed with, or had his songs covered by, the likes of the Rolling Stones and Rod Stewart.

It’s a whole new band, formed over the past few months, that will be accompanying Bobby to King George’s Hall when he will appear as part of a special addition to the venue’s monthly soul night.

His full American group, featuring vocalist Altrina Grayson, will perform in the show, which will be his only UK appearance this year, apart from a series of sold-out dates at London’s Jazz Cafe.

“I’ve just formed a whole new group who I’m bringing to England with me,” explained the 67-year-old.

“We’re still rusty but by next week when we get there we’ll be on fire.

“I love English crowds, their music is their Bible.

"It’s passed down through generations from grandma to her daughter and so on, and the feeling they get from music is such a high.

“I hear the event in Blackburn is a big deal so we’re really looking forward to it.”

Born as the third of five boys in a housing project in Cleveland, Bobby — formerly one half of Womack and Womack — has played on sessions with some of the greatest soul and R&B musicians, including Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles, and Dusty Springfield.

These days he enjoys a lucrative solo career collaborating with a variety of artists, with the most unlikely of pairings coming in 2009 when he worked with Gorillaz.

And for his latest project he’s venturing into new territory as he experiments with rap.

“This is only my second non-soul album release, it has a rap infusion,” he explained.

“I want to educate. I’m old-fashioned and want kids to be able to be kids and not be influenced by bad lyrics.

“I respect other forms of rap but I want to give kids more of an education through music.”

After four decades on the stage, Bobby admits there was a time when it all stopped being fun — but now he revealed he is on better form than ever.

“There was a time when I used to get loaded when it wasn’t the same but I prayed to God to give me my talent back.

“Now when I go on stage, the stage is mine. I don’t even want to get paid. I just love what I do. I get the feeling I used to. I love to rock and roll.

He added: “I’m really looking forward to coming to a new town in England and meeting some new fans of music. We can rock and roll together.”

Seated tickets in the balcony are £35, and standing on the main floor £30.

Tickets also allow admission into the three-room soul night. For those wanting to enjoy the three-room soul night only, tickets are £10 (£13 on the door), but the Northern Soul room in the main concert hall will not open until 10pm after the Womack show.

The soul night runs until 3am and features top DJs including Ginger Taylor, Colin Curtis and Richard Searling.

* Bobby Womack, King George’s Hall, Blackburn, Saturday, June 25. Details from the box office on 0844 874 1661.