WHO DO you book for your 10th birthday party when you’re the longest-running blues club in Keighley?

The Blues Band, of course, the most successful UK blues band of the past 35 years.

The supergroup of blues players will headline Keighley Blues Club on April 10 next year.

The Blues Band was brought together in 1979 by Paul Jones, former lead vocalist and harmonica player with 1960s hit makers Manfred Mann, and singer/slide guitarist Dave Kelly.

Before founding The Blues Band, Dave had performed alongside leading blues names like Howlin’ Wolf and John Lee Hooker.

The Blues Band’s first line-up also included bassist Gary Fletcher, guitarist Tom McGuinness, also from Manfred Mann, and drummer Hughie Flint. Former Family drummer Rob Townsend took over from Flint in the early 1980s.

The band released The Official Blues Band Bootleg Album, a mix of of blues standards and original songs, but this attracted no interest from major record companies.

The band released their own limited run of 3,000 copies, hand-stamped with their logo on the cardboard sleeve.

After it was praised by BBC Radio 1 presenter Simon Bates and others, media interest resulted in a recording contract with Arista Records, who re-released the album.

Regular European tours and further albums followed, including Ready, Itchy Feet and Brand Loyalty, and after a brief disbandment the five musicians reformed.

Before the formation of The Blues Band, Paul Jones had been an actor, mainly in the West End and Broadway, but at heart he was always a bluesman.

He declined Brian Jones' invitation to join the fledgling Rolling Stones in 1962, but accepted the next offer, a job with the group which soon became Manfred Mann.

They began as a rhythm and blues band but later became known for pop hits like Do Wah Diddy and Pretty Flamingo.

Dave Kelly is described as a blues craftsman who has served his time with the best.

Keighley Blues Club hosts gigs at least once a month at the Cougar Park Hall of Fame, on Friday evenings.

Coming up on October 24 will be the Hitman Blues Band and the seven-strong New York City Horns.

Visit keighleybluesclub.net or email bbj21@btinternet.com for all enquiries, including membership.