If there is one thing David McAlmont is not short of it is a list of superlatives to describe his unique vocal talent.
The acclaimed singer, who has worked with the likes of Craig Armstrong and Michael Nyman, first came to prominence in the 80s with the band Thieves.
He followed that with the successful McAlmont and Butler partnership - with Bernard Butler - which led to top 40 singles and albums, before going solo.
He has travelled the world playing festivals and gigs but in 18 years he has not performed in his home town of Croydon.
That is until now. Next week will headline the second Stand! music night at Fairfield Halls.
“It’s an outrage isn’t it?" he says with mock indignation.
“All the gigs that I have done have tended to be in the West End.
“It’s a real moment, the fans are really responding to it.”
McAlmont spent his early childhood in Croydon, before moving around the UK and then to his mother’s home country of Guyana.
The mix of cultures and his mum’s musical tastes influenced his own.
“My mum’s taste was very significant in the way that mine developed," he explains.
“She really loved Bing Crosby, Tony Bennett, Perry Como and Nat King Cole. She had albums by singers like that. Very early on I was beginning to acquaint myself with a catalogue of American soul book songs.”
Top of the Pops introduced McAlmont to new music but he says he was always drawn back to the great crooners and to gospel, having sung in the church choir in Guyana.
He said: “In the church it’s music as worship, rather than music as entertainment. That’s really become part of my ethos.
“Healing and well-being are not really things that get mentioned in pop music. With gospel that’s all it’s about, it’s about making people feel closer to God. I don’t see why you can’t mix the two up.”
McAlmont’s latest album is a live recording of his hits over his 18-year career and he is currently working on new material with Guy Davies, which fans will get to hear for the first time in Croydon.
“Everyone gets to hear the best of 18 years hits,” says McAlmont about the gig.
“The first time we will play the new material is in Croydon.
And why? "Because a homecoming gig deserves something special."
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