Dodworth entertainer Steve J. Riley is celebrating 50 years in showbusiness.
Steve, of Baslow Crescent, has been a singer, comedian compere and children's entertainer since 1963.
He started out as lead singer of the Athersley-based pop group Beat Five and went on to perform in the Steve James Duo for 12 years with Harry Hudson.
Following their amicable split Steve, who celebrates his 64th birthday tomorrow, worked as a comedian compere in holiday camps around the UK and for acts including Ken Dodd, Shane Ritchie, The Searchers, The Drifters, Dave Berry, and Elkie Brooks to name but a few.
He fondly remembers trying to interact with a young boy at one of his shows, asking him what his name was, how old he was, where he was from.
But all he got from the little boy was silence.
"'What does your mummy call you?' I asked him and his reply was 'a little b******'. You can't script things like that and I've never forgotten it," Steve said.
Steve encourages others to sing and enjoys working with young people, performing magic as a children's entertainer.
Despite his career, it is Steve's fund-raising activities he is most proud of and has raised more than £300,000 for various charities.
During the miners' strike, he did a concert every week to help keep Mapplewell soup kitchen open and also co-wrote 'The Old Club Trip' with Dave Cherry which made about £25,000 for the Barnsley Hospice.
But most people will remember him as the founding member of the Barnstormers, a group of charity singers.
• A concert to mark his anniversary will be held at Gilroyd Social Club, tomorrow, from 7.30pm.
