Fast forward a few years and he's now both the host of one of Britain's longest-running music shows, Later... With Jools Holland, and leader of one of the world's only touring big bands.

What you might not know about the south-east London-born pianist, however, is that he's also a huge fan of all things automotive.

He even performed at the British International Motor Show at London's Excel venue earlier this month.

Jools' current car is an Audi A8, but he admits to having something of a collection.

"I've got quite a few old cars, but they tend to come and go with me a lot, cars are a big weakness for me.

"With old cars I like something that reminds me of childhood. Lots of people when they get older go back to the cars they loved as a child, or the car they could only dream of.

"That's why you see a lot of old blokes like me in E-Type Jaguars now."

Has he got an E-Type?

"Oh yes, it's absolutely beautiful!" he says with a chuckle.

"I love old commercial vehicles too, and I've got an old police car, a 1965 Austin, and an old Rolls-Royce and a Bentley.

"I've had grand cars, and some less grand things, vans, whatever, but the important thing is that they work properly and they're not just for looking at."

Jools may be dead keen on motoring but the cars are just a hobby and they'll always play second fiddle to music.

"Some people think I might not want to talk about music, or read about it because it's what I do for a living, but it's all part of it," he says.

After leaving Squeeze for the first time in 1980, Jools embarked on a solo career and also branched out into TV presenting, co-hosting seminal show The Tube with Paula Yates between 1982 and 1987.

As the show came to an end, Jools put together a big band with fellow ex-Squeeze member Gilson Lavis on drums.

This soon evolved into the Rhythm And Blues Orchestra, which have now become one of the most popular – and one of the only touring – big bands in the world.

"We're a big band and that's rare. It's become like a living, breathing organism," he says proudly.

Achievements

It's worth noting Jools is not one to play down his many achievements, a fact he acknowledged with the title of his autobiography last year, Bare-Faced Lies And Boogie Woogie Boasts.

"Often we'll have arrangements written out, and sometimes we'll just do it from our heads, which is quite unusual for a band with 20 people in it. Only a band of that size can give you the dynamics you need, to go from being very quiet right up to the full-on sound we can pro-duce."

Over the years, Jools and his band have recorded numerous albums with a who's who of music appearing as guests.

George Harrison made his last-ever recording with the band, while other big names include Sting, Eric Clapton, BB King, Lulu, Norah Jones and Bono.

Anyone who goes to see Jools between now and the end of the year will get to see the band performing with a trio of singers – Marc Almond, Ruby Turner and Louise Marshall.

Naturally, Jools has nothing but praise for all three.

"They all have a completely different role," he says.

"Marc is a wonderful icon of British popular music, and his voice is just fantastic.

"Like anyone who's good, he's getting better as he gets older. He's got great songs that people know, such as Say Hello Wave Goodbye and Tainted Love, which we can bring a new big band arrangement to.

"Ruby Turner is such a contrast to Marc. She's the perfect person to come on and belt over the top of the orchestra. Ruby's like someone from another age. She delivers boogie music with such amazing intensity.

"Last but not least, there's Louise, who has a brilliant voice. She can sing anything – songs from our catalogue that other people have done, songs I've written, anything at all."


Jools Holland And His Rhythm And Blues Orchestra play at Harrogate International Centre on November 9.