The UNICEF concert at the Summer Pops was to celebrate this event, but by booking Bill Wyman's Rhythm Kings, the organisers had shown how tenuous the anniversary was. Bill Wyman's Rhythm Kings specialise in pre-1954 rhythm and blues (though not exclusively) and so it was good to be reminded of these great songs and performers or, as there were some young people in the audiences, to hear them for the first time. (Having said that, the lad behind me was playing a Gameboy all evening.) Many of the songs would be contenders for the first rock'n'roll record.

Just as he was with the Rolling Stones, bass player Bill Wyman is impassive on stage but he has remarkable organising skills and, with guitarist Terry Taylor, he is able to assemble a superb band. With so many front line singers (Georgie Fame, Mike Sanchez from the Big Town Playboys, Albert Lee, Beverley Skeete and special guests Andy Fairweather-Low and Roger Chapman), there is no room for egos. If you take a lead vocal now, your chance may not come again for another half-hour. They don't appear to mind and are good-naturedly encouraging each other throughout the performance.

The show paid tribute to many of the performers who played the music we all loved - there was Mose Allison (Georgie Fame with the mellow 'Days Like This'), Chuck Berry (Bill Wyman sounding surprisingly good on 'You Never Can Tell'), Johnny Burnette (Albert Lee and Martin Taylor playing one guitar), Ray Charles ('I Got a Woman' from Georgie Fame and 'Let The Good Times Roll' from Roger Chapman of Family), Elvis Presley (Junior Parker's 'Mystery Train' from Andy Fairweather-Low and Arthur Crudup's 'My Baby Left Me' from Roger Chapman), Louis Prima ('Jump Jive And Wail' from Albert Lee), Jimmy Reed (a very loud 'Bright Lights, Big City' from Andy Fairweather-Low), Nina Simone (a very emotional 'I Put A Spell On You' from Beverley Skeete), Big Joe Turner (some boogie woogie piano from Mike Sanchez on 'Roll 'Em Pete'), Jackie Wilson ('I'll Be Satisfied' and 'Baby Workout' from Beverley Skeete) and Gene Vincent (Mike Sanchez with 'Race With The Devil' featuring some blistering guitar runs from Albert Lee). Georgie Fame with the guitarist Martin Taylor matched each other on Ray Charles' 'Georgia On My Mind', which also incorporated 'Marching Through Georgia'.

Bringing things a little more up to date, Bill and Beverley paid tribute to George Harrison with 'Taxman' and Andy Fairweather-Low recreated his No.l hit with Amen Corner, '(If Paradise Was) Half As Nice)'. Mike Sanchez performed the lively 'Tell Me A Secret' and I went home wondering who had recorded this song before - I found it was an original from Bill Wyman and guitarist Terry Taylor. They also wrote the lively 'Jitterbug Boogie' which gave everyone a chance to shine. Praise must be given to the drummer Graham Broad, guitarist Terry Taylor and the horn players Frank Mead and Nick Payn, who are real showmen. It is a big band but no one gets in the way of anybody else, and this really is a band to die for.

I loved the way that Andy Fairweather-Low did the gospel song, 'I Shall Not Be Moved' and Mike Sanchez showed how Little Richard's style had been around for years with an ultra-dynamic 'Flatfoot Sam'. I love hearing old songs and discovering lines that are being used today: for example, 'Roll 'Em Pete' includes the line, "You're so beautiful but you're going to die someday" which went straight into Van Morrison's 'Precious Time'.

In addition, there was a 20 minute set from the Zombies with Colin Blunstone and Rod Argent. They did superbly arranged and passionate versions of 'She's Not There' and 'Time Of The Season' as well as Colin's solo hit, 'I Don't Believe In Miracles' and Argent's 'Hold Your Head Up'. Colin Blunstone possessed one of the best and most distinctive voices of the Sixties and it is great that it is still in place.

The concert was compered by Mike McCartney who introduced himself as "ex-McGear, ex-Scaffold, exactly". He had the audience singing along with Scaffold's first single, '2Day's Monday'. The show was recorded for both CD and DVD and so if you missed it, you can always catch it later. A great night and a great cause too.

Words: Spencer Leigh