Jim Davidson, Rick Wakeman, Rachel Flowers, Thierry Eliez, Lee Jackson, Noddy's Puncture

Legendary comedian Jim Davidson OBE is hosting a very special tribute concert on Friday 28th July at the Symphony Hall, Birmingham in memory of his friend, the late Keith Emerson.

The show will also feature the world premiere of Keith Emerson’s unfinished piece of music, Beyond The Stars, which is being performed for the very first time.

The show also features Rachel Flowers, an inspirational young keyboardist from the USA, renowned musician from France Thierry Eliez and bassist Lee Jackson, the only surviving member of The Nice, Emerson’s former group. Accompaniment will be provided by a 60-piece Symphony Orchestra conducted by Terje Mikkelsen and proceeds will be going to Care after Combat (www.careaftercombat.org) the charity founded by Jim Davidson and Falklands War veteran Simon Weston which works to support military veterans.

Keith Emerson was the co-founder and flamboyant virtuoso keyboardist of Emerson Lake & Palmer, the British rock band that were part of the classically flavoured progressive rock movement of the early ‘70s. Keith joined forces with guitarist and vocalist Greg Lake in 1970 while both were touring with their respective bands – the Nice (Emerson) and King Crimson (Lake). Drummer Carl Palmer who had worked with the Crazy World of Arthur Brown and Atomic Rooster completed the trio.

Emerson Lake & Palmer made their debut at the 1970 Isle of Wight Festival. In the next seven years the band went on to release six Platinum albums. The group disbanded in 1978 and went their separate ways with Emerson producing a solo album and writing several film scores. In the early 2000s he toured with the Keith Emerson Band. In July 2010 Emerson Lake & Palmer reunited in London for a 40th Anniversary set at the High Voltage Festival. Emerson’s last concert was at the Barbican in 2015 where he performed a tribute to Moog on a synthesizer alongside the BBC Concert Orchestra.

Always a fan, as a young man Jim would go through the bins at the Emerson, Lake and Palmer recording studio looking for souvenirs. Later in life when he became a successful entertainer he met Keith Emerson and they forged a lifelong friendship.