A CHANCE meeting in a remote Scottish village led to an exciting record deal for a band playing Keighley this month.

Michael Jackson, bass player and singer with the three-piece Bingley band 69, was holidaying in Scotland with his wife Patricia when they stopped at a café.

Inside was a visitor’s book entitled Why I’m Famous, inviting guests to contribute.

Michael, a former member of the band Love Affair which had a number one hit with the single Everlasting Love, was being encouraged by Patricia to leave his name when the café owner stepped in.

Michael said: “She said her new neighbour was in the music business and popped to the cottage next door to fetch him.”

Her neighbour happened to be legendary Los Angeles-based music producer Gerry Gallagher who has worked with all-time greats including Frank Sinatra, Phil Collins, Elton John and Stevie Wonder.

“We chatted for about two hours,” says Michael.

The outcome was a partnership between Gerry and 69, which will see the band - Michael, guitarist Dave Johnson and drummer Alastair Harnby - feature on his soon-to-be-released compilation album of modern-retro arrangements of epic hits from the 1960s and 1970s.

Michael added: “He had already got 11 tracks for the new album and the final one will be us performing Everlasting Love.”

See psychedelic rockers 69 at the Exchange Arts Centre, Russell Street, on Friday, August 25 at 7:30pm.

Visit exchangearts.co.uk or call 01535 661591 to book tickets.