Video: Tony Christie forever indebted to Peter Kaye - and he prefers Belfast to Amarillo

Legendary crooner Tony Christie prefers Belfast to Amarillo

May 31 2012 10:48 AM

Legendary singer Tony Christie, who was in Northern Ireland this week, reckoned: "I think Belfast is hotter than Amarillo!"

Tony, who had hits with 'Is This The Way to Amarillo' twice, was in the city to star at The Waterloo Ball - the biggest corporate fundraising event of its kind staged in Ireland.

In an exclusive video interview he said: "I've been coming to Ireland regularly for 30-40 years now. I have Irish in my roots as my grandparents come from Co Mayo."

"I was here three years ago to play at a 50th birthday party and then I was invited back to play at the Waterloo Ball.

"I had such a good time the last time - to be honest it wasn't work - so I thought 'let's go back again and have a party'", he said.

Tony said he would be forever indebted to comedian Peter Kay who arranged with him to re-release 'Amarillo' as a Comic Relief single several years ago.

"My career really took off again after that so I've a lot to be thankful to Peter Kay for. I asked him how he knew about the song and he told me his mum used to play him my records when he was a baby to put him to sleep. And I thought 'Gee thanks!' he laughed.