Calls for Sheffield music star Paul Carrack to receive Walk Of Fame recognition

Paul, who is now 69, grew up in Crookes and went to Western Park Junior School, then on to Myers Grove, which was brand new at the time.

With one of the most revered voices in music, he began touring at the age of 17 before rising to prominence in the 1970s as frontman of rock band Ace, later gaining further recognition for his work as a solo artist and for his tenures as a member of Roxy Music, Squeeze and Roger Waters' backing band.

Some of his biggest hits include ‘How Long’ with Ace, ‘Tempted’ with Squeeze and ‘Over My Shoulder’ with Mike + The Mechanics, and he continues to tour to this day with an active solo career that has seen him also set up his own music label called Carrack-UK.

Nigel Brooks, 73, believes the internationally-famous star has more than earned his place on the Sheffield Legends Walk Of Fame, where the likes of actor Sean Bean and rockers Def Leppard are already honoured with gold plaques on the pavement outside the Town Hall.

He has now created an online petition to get Paul a star and hopes to present the nomination, which is currently backed by over 300 people, to Sheffield Council.

Birmingham-born Nigel has links to Sheffield through his grandmother and, despite now living in Texas, visits the UK on an annual basis specifically to attend Paul’s concerts in Southend and at the London Palladium.

“He (Paul) is simply a brilliant entertainer and that voice is instantly recognisable. He grew up in Sheffield and still follows Sheffield Wednesday. All of the members of his band – which is also brilliant – are from Sheffield,” Nigel said.

“The reason I started the petition is because someone on the Facebook group Paul Carrack Fans Community had gone to the 2020 tour concert at Sheffield Town Hall and had noted that it was a shame he was not included in the Sheffield Legends Walk of Fame.”

He added: "I figured that maybe the way to get it done could be to do an online petition, plus offer to subsidise the cost of the installation. We attended two of the concerts this year in Southend and at the Palladium – the Palladium was the last one of the tour even though there were other dates remaining because Covid-19 quickly shut things down.

“I have already forwarded a list of signers of the petition to the Sheffield City Council with an offer to fund the installation of the plaque in the amount of £1,000 as I truly believe that Paul Carrack is deserving of such an honour.

"I realise that current events will undoubtedly cause disruption of many Sheffield City Council events, but as things get back to normalcy, I hope that the council or committee will view the petition with the consideration it deserves.”

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