Paul Carrack, The Man With The Golden Voice, and true troubadour of rock music has thrived through four decades on a slow and steady burn.

From the glitzy 1970s with Ace, Warm Dust and Roxy Music through the rocking 1980s with Mike and the Mechanics and Squeeze, to his own band in the 1990s and as a solo artist, Paul Carrack has become a British gem.

Last year he was the subject of a BBC 4 documentary called The Man With The Golden Voice.

“We had a real surge of new people coming to see us and I think that was down to the TV documentary,’’ said Paul.

In 2012 the singer came to Swindon’s Wyvern Theatre to promote his solo album Good Feeling. It had such a feelgood factor that he has just recorded another album, called Rain or Shine.

“I thought there was no way I was doing an album in 2013, but Peter Van Hooke (producer and musician), an old mate, started to come round to badger me about it,’’ said Paul.

The singer will be making a welcome return to Swindon, to sing songs from the album, including the new single Life’s Too Short, on Tuesday April 1 at a sell out gig.

Paul’s son Jack plays drums on the album that was recorded in his UK studios. His family have a huge influence on his music as is seen in the first single off the new album, That’s All That Matters To Me, which was written about his daughter.

“The thought that came into my head was that one of my daughters is travelling the world, India, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam and all that. When I first heard the idea I didn’t like it much, so there’s a bit of that in the lyric. It was the concerned father, but if she is all right that’s all that matters to me,’’ he said.

A memory of his cousins dancing around the radiogram also inspired his choice of a cover for the album, the Brenda Lee classic, Losing You.

The musician said: “I can picture them plain as day in my Auntie Jessie’s living room, jiving in their chiffon dresses. They were massive Brenda Lee fans and it was another tune that kept popping in to my head.’’ As if writing songs and recording an album was not enough to keep him busy Paul has also just returned from a tour with Eric Clapton.

“I know he digs what I do,’’ said Paul. “I’ve played on a couple of his tracks. He’s always been very respectful.’’ Paul has written numerous hits for other people including How Long for Ace and Tempted for Squeeze and as front man of Mike and the Mechanics his chartbusters were The Living Years and Over My Shoulder.

For details of all the Wyvern Theatre shows call 01793 524481 or visit www.wyverntheatre.org.uk. - Flicky Harrison