THE son of a legendary 1940s and 1950s band leader will be paying tribute to his father when he appears in concert in Edmonton this month.

Lance Ellington is the son of the late Ray Ellington but his voice is known to millions for his appearances every week on the BBC programme Strictly Come Dancing.

Mr Ellington - who now lives in Cockfosters and grew up in Hendon - can be heard on the popular programme accompanying the dancing, although he is seldom seen.

For Ellington Jnr, his weekly appearances are more than a glamorous job. The work on television takes him closer to the man he credits for his love of music - his father. Ellington Snr himself appeared regularly on television and radio during his career.

On Strictly Come Dancing Ellington works with Bruce Forsyth, who knew his father from their time working together at the London Palladium.

He said: "My father made a name for himself in this country basing his whole sound very much on the Nat King Cole trio, by doing a lot of that type of material but making it a lot more accessible in the cross-over market. He added things like the electric guitar. I will be doing a lot of those exact arrangements."

Mr Ellington will be performing classic numbers written by his father including That's My Girl - which was recorded by Nat King Cole himself - as well as The Three Bears and Teddy Bear's Picnic.

"It's truly amazing to be playing his music," he added.

"It's really the first time for me to be doing it. Obviously growing up with this material it really is second nature to me. It's in my phyche. I've been surrounded by these songs and grew up with them. To hear them come to life with the band is really brilliant, it's spine-tingling."

Ray Ellington was also well known for his appearances for nine years on the legendary radio comedy The Goon Show - where he provided the musical interludes and deployed his cathcphrase "that's nice".

Ellington Jnr will be using a seven-piece band at his concert at the Millfield Arts Centre on Thursday September 23.