Rewind 60 years to 1950s North Carolina and you may chance upon a very young Jocelyn Brown making her tentative first steps into the world of music.

Now an international dance-music legend, Jocelyn is famed for her ’I’ve got the power’ vocal sample on 1990 Snap! record The Power, and 1984 classic Somebody Else’s Guy.

But it was at her local church in her hometown of Kinston where she first began to perform.

“It has always been in my life because I came from the church – we always had opportunities through our church because we are all gospel,“ remembers the musician, now aged 64.

As a youngster growing up Jocelyn was inspired to sing by her mother and aunt, who together formed The Gaskins Sisters and toured the area performing songs by artists famous at the time.

The singer, also known for her soul and R’n’B records, spent her early years gigging with her family, and sang backing vocals with her aunt Barbara Roy.

It was not until 1984 when she released her début album One from the Heart that she began to be recognised as an artist in her own right.

“It was a pioneering time,“ says UK-resident Jocelyn, who has worked with an enviable line-up of musicians including John Lennon, Michael Jackson, Quincy Jones and Bette Midler.

She continues: “It was a journey, you had to get yourself known, you had to put your name in different situations. It was hard because at times you weren’t working for the kind of money you needed.“

And in 1990 the songstress made the mammoth move to London from the USA, when she signed with Red Bus Records – a recording studio which has worked with the likes of Tom Jones and Tina Turner.

“It was a new situation. I had never been here on my own before. I realised I had to grow up some more, and grow up in music some more. I met some fantastic people,“ recalls Jocelyn.

The singer still lives in London – though on the outskirts, close to Uxbridge, as she says she loves being in the countryside.

“That is the way it should be for peace and quiet and tranquillity, not living in a city where it is really busy and bogged down.“

Speaking about her upcoming St Albans show Soulbox: Back in the Day, the musical powerhouse says: “The classic songs will be there, and I’m looking forward to everybody having a great time. What you can expect is some high spirited dancing and laughing. I am looking forward to it. It is going to be fun.“

Soul Box: Back in the Day, Alban Arena, Friday, March 27, 7.30pm. Details: 01727 844488, alban-arena.co.uk