A COLLECTION of musical maestros have combined their talents for a good cause.

Bolton singer Johnny Boy is among the artists who have been brought together for a new charity version of the classic Northern Soul track Do I Love You (Indeed I Do).

The single is a remake of one of the most popular releases on the Northern Soul scene, originally made famous by Frank Wilson and subsequently recorded by Chris Clark. The original record released in 1965 on the famous Motown label is one of the most rare and valuable Northern Soul records among collectors, with only a handful known to have survived.

Now Johnny is among several Northern Soul legends who - under the title Northern Soul Survivors - have given their voice to a new version.

He said: “I have been singing for about 20 years and have always been into Northern Soul.

“It’s lovely to get involved in and it was nice to be asked to work with the likes of people who appear on the record.”

Johnny, who hails from Daubhill but now lives in Bury, started off singing in Ye Old Man and Scythe as a youngsters before going on to perform with the likes of Madness, Diane Shaw and the Three Degrees' Sheila Ferguson.

Do I Love You (Indeed I Do) will be raising money for The Jon Bates Appeal and has been arranged by Darwen-based UK soul singer and songwriter Paul Stuart Davies.

Jon is a former Wigan DJ with a rare form of multiple sclerosis who is aiming to raise £35,000 for an operation that could see him walking again.

For the track, Johnny has recorded backing vocals for American soul and former Flamingos singer Tommy Hunt.

Johnny adds: “I’ve done a few shows with Paul and he’s a great artist in his own right.

“Tommy is a massive artist and I’ve done more than a hundred shows with him over the years, we are great mates.”

The group Northern Soul Survivors also features American legends Sidney Barnes - a writer with Motown who has credits on albums with George Clinton, The Jackson 5, The Supremes, and BB King; Pat Lewis - backing singer for the likes of Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin and Isaac Hayes and Dean Parrish - the I’m on My Way Northern Singer legend - alongside Essex band The Signatures.

Chris Clark also returns for the record which was released on limited edition vinyl earlier this month.

Johnny will be performing with The Signatures on Friday, March 10 at the Venue Bar in Churchgate. For tickets visit www.eventbrite.co.uk.

For more information on the charity single, visit the Northern Soul Survivors Facebook page.