Paul Carrack first made a name for himself in 1975, when his band Ace had a massive hit in the US and the UK with 'How Long'. The song, written and sung by Carrack, is still a regular fixture on the radio and in TV commercials some 36 years later.

Unusually for a singer-songwriter who had courted such success ('How Long' made the top 5 in the US), Carrack then slipped into the shadows once more, as session keyboardist on three Roxy Music albums into the early 1980s. In many ways this has been typical of Carrack's story - a singer and songwriter of extraordinary talent who has never seemed comfortable hogging the limelight.

After Roxy Music, Carrack joined Squeeze, taking over the keys from Jools Holland. He even sang the lead vocal on one of their biggest hits, 'Tempted'. In the eighties, he did session work with both The Pretenders and The Smiths before hooking up with former Genesis guitarist Mike Rutherford to sing lead vocals for Mike and the Mechanics, featuring on worldwide smash 'the Living years' among others.

Carrack also continued to tour in his own right, mainly as support for artists like Supertramp and Elton John. He played the organ on John's 'Something About The Way You Look Tonight', the B-side to 1997's rewrite of 'Candle in the Wind' - the best-selling single of all time.

Somehow, Paul Carrack had always managed to find the B-side; to be the bridesmaid, never the bride. As the new century dawned, his cumulative achievements began to attract more attention than the man himself had ever sought and now he rightfully enjoys a lauded position as a skilled songwriter, extraordinarily talented musician and as a vocalist with one of the great white soul voices.

Paul Carrack will be taking his voice and the soundtrack to your life on tour once again this autumn, with nine tour dates starting at High Wycombe's Swan Theatre on 9thNovember. There are dates in Preston, York and London, among others, before the final show of the run at the Alban Arena in St Albans on 20th January 2012.

Tickets for all dates are available now, starting at around £28 (£32.50 for London).