Jazz star Buddy Greco will be performing two gigs in Streatham next week as part of a tour to promote his 70th recording album.

The illustrious musician, famous for singing classics such as ‘The Lady is a Tramp’ and ‘Around the World’, is gearing up to play songs from his album ‘Live at the Sands’ at The Hideaway in Empire Mews.

But the singer, who turned 85 this summer, insists he does not feel his age.

“I am not any different to when I was 40,” he said.

“Good music is good music. Our music will go on forever and right now there is a resurgence. The kids have discovered me too. People want to know what our era was about.”

Philadelphia-born Buddy began playing piano aged four, and was a child star by the time he was 18, scoring a hit with the song ‘Oh Look at Her Ain’t She Pretty’.

Having grown up in the spotlight, he thinks reality talent shows like X Factor are "overexposed" and largely unhelpful for the singers involved.

"I think they’re good but I do not know what it really means. These people are singing songs done by other artists. Some are good and some are bad - but they are doing nothing on their own. I think it is a little overexposed," he said.

As a singer with the Rat Pack in the 1960s, Buddy performed with the likes of Frank Sinatra at huge concerts in Las Vegas.

He describes the jazz legend as “my friend, Frank”, whilst Sinatra once said of him: “Buddy can make anything swing, nobody comes close in that department.”

Speaking ahead of his performance in Streatham, Buddy said: “People can expect what I have been doing for all these years, but we are doing something new.

“Rather than just going up and singing 20 songs I am going to be talking to the audience and giving them stories about what was going on in the late 60s in Las Vegas. People want to know about me and my friendship with the Rat Pack and Marilyn [Monroe].”

The veteran crooner now lives with his wife, vocalist Lezlie Anders, in Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex, and is looking forward to meeting his fans in south London.

“If you have a fan in England, you have a fan for life,” he said.

Buddy Greco will perform at The Hideaway on November 24 and 25. To book tickets visit www.hideawaylive.co.uk.