ONE of the world's greatest songwriters Albert Hammond has accumulated no less than 360 million records sold worldwide and in April there will be a unique chance to hear the man perform the songs, and tell the stories behind them as he plays the Tivoli theatre in Wimborne.

Among the artistes Albert´s worked with are Johnny Cash, Roy Orbison, Neil Diamond, Julio Iglesias, Willie Nelson, Whitney Houston and Tina Turner. An evening of hits including It Never Rains In Southern California- The Free Electric Band - The Air That I Breathe - Down By The River- One Moment In Time - I'm A Train.

His live performances showcase his tremendous musical abilities. He´s joined on stage by his four piece band to present a stunning two and a half hour journey through five decades of our lives.

He has been writing hit songs for over fifty years.

He is one of very few songwriters of our time whose songs not only have the mass appeal to make them pop hits, but whose very same songs have the timelessness and depth that over decades turns them into standards.

Few writers can successfully deliver hits for the 60’s, 70’s, 80’s, 90’s and today. Albert’s songs are the kind of songs that turn one-hit wonders into career artists and keep records selling and spinning on radio decades after their first release.

There has not been a single decade in which Albert has not written multiple hit songs since he scored his first hit with Leapy Lee's number one hit Little Arrows in 1968 at the age of 24. His songs have been responsible for over 40 chart-topping hits.

Many of his most beloved songs, like The Hollies “The Air That I Breathe” and Leo Sayer's “When I Need You,” have become hits multiple times with various artists, decade after decade.

The artists who have recorded Albert’s songs are undoubtedly some of the greatest of our time— they include Celine Dion, Whitney Houston, Aretha Franklin, Tina Turner, Elton John, Joe Cocker, Diana Ross, Johnny Cash, K.D. Lang, Julio Iglesias and Josh Groban, to name just a few. Of course he’s also had various number one hits under his own name.

Musical genius obviously runs in the family, as his son Albert Hammond Jnr is a member of American indie band The Strokes.

: Catch Albert Hammond on April 24. Call 01202 885566 for ticket details.