HE'S gone from busking in Croydon town centre to following in the footsteps of Elvis in Vegas.
But Caterham chart star Si Cranstoun didn't just make a career from his days entertaining shoppers – he found love too.
Six years after a girl came over to Si with a twinkle in her eye and his CD in her hand, the pair are now married with two children.
Si, of Church Hill, Caterham, recalls: "I was busking with my brother six years ago and this girl came over with her father and bought our CD.
"Then she came back again and bought another one. I told her to e-mail me to see what she thought of it, though I kept it quiet that I thought she was the most beautiful girl I'd ever seen."
Dozens of e-mails later, Si and his future wife Tamu met at East Croydon Station on their first date.
Now, they're married with two children; one-year-old Kaius and four-year-old Tiva.
Crooner Si found fame performing with his brother Tyber in ska band The Dualers.
The two brothers spent much of the new millennium busking in Croydon's high street, selling CDs and trying to get their music heard.
Si is now touring all over the world, but has found time to come back and play at Fairfield Halls next month.
He said: "People around the area knew who we were because we were always playing, we did functions for the council and finally got a hit in the chart with our song Kiss On The Lips.
"We were unsigned and we did it all off our own back. I loved it and my brother is still playing with the band and they're doing brilliantly, but in 2010 I decided to branch away and do something that was more suited to my voice."
Si left The Dualers to pursue a solo career in vintage rhythm and blues, and now performs the music he loves at venues worldwide.
"It's a very American sort of music, very rock and roll, and my voice is much more suited to it," he said.
"Now I'm going to Las Vegas and Australia with my six-piece band and I'm kind of pinching myself that I'm able to do this and make a living off it. It's hard work but it's so lovely to be able to do it. This is the second time I've been invited to play in Vegas and it will be brilliant to finish the tour there."
Despite touring around the globe, Si hasn't forgotten his roots. He said: "I'm so glad to be playing the Fairfield Halls, it was the first big gig I had with the Dualers so it's rather fitting."
"Tamu will be there with the buggy, along with all the other mums and their buggies. I think they're my target audience."
Si Cranstoun will be playing the Stand! Concert at the Fairfield Halls on March 1, at 8pm. Tickets are £12. For details, visit www.sicranstoun.com
