Eliot Kennedy And Friends 50th Birthday Celebration Concert, Sheffield City Hall

The name Eliot Kennedy might not be familiar to you but the songs the Sheffield legend has written or produced at his legendary Steelworks Studios in the city, certainly will be deep rooted in your mind.

From Lulu to co-writing and producing musicals like Finding Neverland and Calendar Girls the Grammy Award winner has been involved with writing and producing hits for artists amongst others such as Take That, Kenny Thomas, The Wanted, S Club 7, Bryan Adams, Celion Dion and The Spice Girls.

Celebrating his 50th birthday with a celebration gig in his home city, all the money raised from the concert went to local hospices. Such is his standing in the music community none of the artists who he asked to perform said no.

Fittingly Kennedy started off the concert by singing with one of his biggest hits, Say You'll Be There. On listening to his version it was like listening to the track in its original demo version and brought a real authentic feel to the song. Andy Abraham, the former runner up in the X Factor was on hand to deliver a soulful version of So Much Love To Give.

Video tributes followed from Donny Osmond and Bryan Adams, before British soul singer Kenny Thomas delivered one of Eliot's earliest tracks they worked on together, Thinking About Your Love. All the money raised from selling the programmes went to the fund for Thomas' daughter who has to travel to Germany to receive specialist treatment for her brain tumour. They hoped to raise £10,000 with Eliot chipping in any shortfall.

It was not all about the past, there were several new acts showcased that Eliot is working on at present, such as Charlotte Hannah, who reminded me of a young Pixie Lott, Will Jenison from Newcastle, who has an amazing voice and then Jo Heselden-Edwards. With the voice of Tina Turner do not let her mature years fool you.

Fresh from his rehearsals for the forthcoming Take That tour Gary Barlow arrives on stage to perform with Eliot and Alfie Boe a selection of songs from Finding Neverland. Barlow jokes "I wish I'd sung first" as Alfie Boe delivers a stunning version of Finding Neverland. Things get even better when Laura Michelle Kelly arrives on stage to duet.

Apparently Eliot had set in his mind that he wanted his first Number 1 single before he reached 25, the Take That hit, Everything Changes, saw to that. Performing the track together it showed how the friendship and bond between the two was something that went way beyond their musical relationship.

Another Take That member, Mark Owen arrives on stage to sing Four Minute Warning, a track Eliot and Owen wrote together.

The bubbly pop of S Club 7, now down to a 3 piece delighted on Bring It Bring, the track when pop was fun and upbeat and the singles chart was not full of dull R&B tracks. Apparently they discovered the Sheffield Steelers whilst recording the track in Sheffield,

Former M People singer Heather Small shone on Moving On Up, though her new track Shine assured that the hits will still keep coming.

Worksop born John Parr was an inspiration to Eliot and with St Elmo's Fire the track nearly lifted the roof off the City Hall.

As a young choir performed People Like You from the Eddie the Eagle soundtrack, Eliot looks on proudly. There's not many people like Eliot Kennedy who besides creating all these worldwide hits has raised so much money for local charities.

A shining night for Yorkshire and a true Yorkshireman who has kept to his local roots.