Texas is famous George Dubya, oil, the death penalty and how could we forget Southfork Ranch, home of the Ewings?

But it's fair to say that following the demise of the hit show Dallas, the second biggest state in the USA has had no real cultural impact on our day to day lives until now.

Suddenly people of all ages all around the country, in their offices, in their cars, and in their showers are singing about Texas and a reasonably obscure city called Amarillo.

Founded in 1887, this North Texas city about the size of York doesn't have many claims to fame. It gets a brief mention in Steinbeck's Grapes Of Wrath and its notable natives include the top poker player Amarillo Slim and a professional wrestler called Terry Funk. And that's about it.

It's taken Yorkshire man and ex-king of club land, Tony Christie, to put this city on the map and on the lips of people everywhere, as this week has seen the re-release of 1971 hit Is This The Way To Amarillo? in aid of Comic Relief.

The song has been championed by comedian Peter Kay who featured the tune in his show Phoenix Nights which follows the trials and tribulations of the fictional Phoenix Social Club and its legendary wheelchair-bound owner, Brian Potter.

The irony is of course that Amarillo itself is located in Potter County, Texas.

It has been mooted the song has already outsold the rest of the top 20 combined and is a sure favourite to be this week's number one, earning Comic Relief thousands of pounds.

A spokesman from record store HMV said, "We haven't seen anything like this for years." The CD is flying off the shelves and many retailers around the country are already out of stock.

So what's the Amarillo phenomenon all about?

Well, it's a combination of things. It's a charity record which has achieved cult status with the younger generation because it has become synonymous with arguably the country's most fashionable comedian, Peter Kay. And in addition, it is also a well written, well performed song which is a feel good, party classic. Overall it's a marketing dream because its appeal is so widespread.

Amarillo has also thrust Tony Christie back into the limelight, pulling him away from a life golfing in sunny Spain. In fact this could be viewed as one of the biggest comebacks of all time, up there with Elvis's 1968 Comeback Special and Muhammad Ali's Rumble In The Jungle.

With 20 years of almost obscurity, Christie, the cabaret crooner, is back on top with a massive selling single and a definitive collection album in the upper reaches of the charts. But this is not just a gimmick in the usual charity record sense, this guy has real quality.

Last Saturday I had the pleasure of seeing the man in action in the salubrious surroundings of the Futurist Theatre, Scarborough.

As he entered the stage with coiffured hair and a dapper pin-striped suit, I didn't know what to expect, but he was amazing and had the entire audience, blue rinse brigade and all, on their feet applauding his efforts.

But let's not forget this is a man with experience who did his apprenticeship in the Phoenix-like clubs of the north and has perfected his sharp performance over the years. To be honest, he put many of today's supposed stars to shame, as he commanded the stage in Las Vegas-style.

From the Futurist Theatre to no doubt future stadium tours, this is just the start of Christie's comeback, with a further list of hits probably due for re-release.

As the accolades and the royalties come rolling in, I don't think there will be anymore weeping like a willow for Tony.

As they say, you can't keep a good man down.

The fee for this column is donated to the York City FC Development Fund

Updated: 08:37 Saturday, March 19, 2005