Singer, actress and author Sheila Ferguson says she is really getting back to her roots in the new musical Soul Train, which opens at the Oxford Apollo tonight.

But the erstwhile lead singer with the ultimate disco trio The Three Degrees isn't referring to her days in big wigs and sequin-splashed evening gowns.

"You always come back to your roots," she said. "In my case it's the streets of Philadelphia."

Sheila has a starring role in the show, which is packed with the songs she grew up with. Songs like Mustang Sally, Soul Man, Dock of the Bay - soul classics each and every one. Soul Train (devised by Mike Clemnents and Michael Vivian) celebrates the hits of such legendary artists as James Brown, Aretha Franklin, Otis Redding, Marvin Gaye - and, of course, The Three Degrees.

It has been described as a 'feel good jukebox'.

"I feel very at home with this show," says Sheila. "I've sung all these songs over the years as part of my solo shows. It's hard work, being in a different town each week. But it's fun, it's not an effort."

Sheila is looking forward to the show's run in Oxford - and not just because she reckons our town offers a warm and friendly face to visitors. "I live in Bray so I'll be able to go home each night to see my children, Alicia and Alexandria, to check if they are eating the meals I've prepared for them and so on," Sheila says.

Sheila, who has lived in the UK since 1983, adds that her daughters are both 18 and in the middle of studying for A-levels, so the tension in the household will be familiar to every parent!

It's obvious, even just from a brief aquaintance, that family life is very important to Sheila - and that it's quite a tightrope act balancing home against her busy professional career. In fact reading her current CV leaves you rather breathless. She sings in six languages, has performed movie themes and has appeared in front of the crowned heads of Europe at exclusive parties, and is well known to be a favourite of Prince Charles. She performed at his 30th birthday party and was invited to Charles' wedding to Princess Diana.

On top of her familiar duties as a singing star, Sheila has also appeared on TV in, among other things, the Channel 4 soap Brookside and several episodes of the comedy series Desmonds.

And there's more in the pipeline - Sheila says that she has been talking with the creators of the cult comedy series Father Ted about another show and there's film work in the offing too.

She has also found time to fit in a bit of writing. Her cookery book, called Soul Food - Classic Cuisine of the American South, was acclaimed by food historians as a 'work of outstanding genius'.

"I wanted it to be a testament to African-American food," she says.

Sheila loves cooking - and her description of a typical weekend dinner soon had my mouth watering. I just about managed to stop short of inviting myself to lunch.

How has she managed to fit so much into one lifetime? "I never set a goal," she said. "To set a goal would be to imply a limit."

But Sheila will always be remembered for The Three Degrees. "Britain was very kind to The Three Degrees," she recalls. "The fans made us a household name.

"It was great while it lasted," she said. "But when it got bad it was awful. And when I slam the door it stays shut - forever."

As well as looking forward to Soul Train's run in Oxford Sheila is also busy planning her Millennium Eve party - which will be attended by her next-door neighbours in Bray, Rolf Harris and Michael Parkinson. "Everyone is going to bring a dish," Sheila says, bringing a down-to-earth feel to what will inevitably be a congregation of celebrities.

It's Sheila's down-to-earthness that leaves a lasting impression. You get the feeling that she's a wonderfully welcoming host. And she would be more than pleased to see you again at the Apollo. . .

Soul Train runs until Saturday.

Story date: Monday 29 November

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.