The King of Sex and Soul is in Leicester this weekend. How did that happen? Gemma Peplow explains.

If you don't remember the name Wayne Marshall then, you'll almost certainly remember his biggest hit, G Spot. The King of Sex and Soul, as he was dubbed in his 90s heyday, has been persuaded to make a trip to Leicester by none other than our very own R 'n' B star Mark Morrison, to play a Valentine's show at the weekend.

"I'm looking forward to it, I can't wait to get on stage," he tells The Week. "I was asked by Mark, a good friend of mine, and the time was literally right, as I'm getting ready to prepare for a new album.

"It's time to come and bless the people in Leicester with a great Valentine's show. Mark says the girls in Leicester will be going crazy.

"I'm looking forward to an extra good show because it's Valentine's. It's going to be about romance and it's going to be a bit of a wild one too."

Well, there you go. It seems Wayne hasn't lost any of the libido that was bubbling away in the mid 90s.

But it wasn't all about sex and women. Along with artists like Mark and Omar, Wayne was up there bringing British R 'n' B into the mainstream.

He performed with the likes of R Kelly, Jodeci and The Jones Girls and became the first British R 'n' B artist to land four Black Music Awards – the equivalent to the MOBOs now – for best single, best album, best newcomer and best artist.

But while he may not be bothering the charts any more, Wayne has never stopped working in the industry.

"I'm always doing shows, I've been doing a few shows in Africa and Jamaica and I love working behind the scenes. I've always been singing, before and since the 90s.

"I was singing reggae before full on R&B. When it's part of you, it's part of you."

So which musicians does Wayne like now? "I really like what Tinchy is doing, and Labrinth, and I still like Chris Brown and Rihanna. But I like people as wide as James Morrison and even Michael Buble, and I listen to a variety of Jamaican artists as well."

There's one thing we want to know before Wayne says goodbye. Will Mr Morrison – Mark, not James – be joining him for Leicester gig? "Anything's possible," teases Wayne.

No come on, we want to know. "I can't swear for him, but all I can say is that anything is possible."

Info

Wayne Marshall is playing at the Bowstring Bar in Braunstone Gate, in Leicester's West End, on Saturday.

There will also be DJ sets from Special Touch, Viking Sound, DJ Kid J, Hitman, Dirksman and DJ Face.

Advance tickets are £7, entry on the door is £10. Call 0116 261 6824, or visit:

www.2funkytickets.co.uk