ONE of the country’s bestselling songwriters is celebrating 50 years in the music industry.

Gilbert O’Sullivan made his first foray into the music business with the release of his debut single ‘Disappear’.

It launched O’Sullivan on a career that saw him dominate the charts in the seventies and continue to enjoy success and acclaim to the present day.

O’Sullivan will play a show at The Forum in Barrow on March 23, following the UK chart success of his ‘Essential Collection’ album.

He topped the UK and US single charts in the 70s with classics such as ‘Alone Again Naturally’, ‘Nothing Rhymed’, ‘Clair Matrimony’ and ‘Get Down’, as well as songs from the latest album ‘Latin Ala G’.

Gilbert O’Sullivan was born Raymond Edward O’Sullivan in 1946 in Ireland.

He moved to Swindon with his family aged seven and studied graphic design at Swindon Art College.

Joining local bands as a drummer/vocalist, he started writing his own songs, heavily influenced by The Beatles and Bob Dylan.