US singer/songwriter Dean Friedman - who could forget Lucky Stars - will be on stage at the Conquest Theatre in Bromyard on May 18.

He took some time out to answer some questions about his life in music - and about his dog Lola, the smallest dog in the world.

Q: How did you start out in music?

A: My mom was a singer and actress, so I grew up in a house filled with music. My first managers ran The Bottom Line, a music venue in Greenwich Village. They got me signed to a small indie label and the first single, ‘Ariel’ off my first album was a Top 20 hit, right out of the box. That’s when things got a little strange.

Q: What’s the secret to a long and successful career in music?

A: Stubborn persistence and a love of music, combined with a good measure of luck.

Q: This is quite an extensive tour of the UK – do you have a large UK fan base? Perhaps because Lucky Stars was a bigger hit here than in the US?

I’ve sold about the same amount of records in the US as I have in the UK. But I’ve always enjoyed a slightly higher media profile in the UK, which makes it easier for me to book concerts and sell tickets. And, unlike the states, almost all the big cities in the UK are only a few hours away from each other.

Q: As a singer/songwriter, which of the two do you like best?

A: Both pursuits are satisfying in their own way: when you perform, the audience feedback is instantaneous whereas, when you write, it could be weeks, months or even years before you get any listener reaction. I enjoy them both.

Q: Where do you find the inspiration for your songwriting?

A: Everywhere, really. We live in a miraculous world and every inch of it deserves a song. Not to mention every person in it. I think of my songs as short stories set to music. And while I write about a broad variety of topics, I do tend to lean towards singing stories about my family and friends.

Q: Real American Folk for BBC Radio Scotland – how did that come about, when you’re based in New York? Do you have particular fondness or connections with Scotland.

A: The Celtic music tradition, from Scotland, Ireland and Wales, permeates so many aspects of American music, that there is an easy, inevitable connection, starting with country and folk, but spreading to almost every genre in terms of story-telling narrative and a connection to a people and a place.

Q: And how small – exactly - is Lola, the smallest dog in the world?

Lola weighs exactly 3 pounds 8 ounces which is about one-quarter of a stone. She’s about the size of a squirrel, which she loves to chase but never catches.

Catch Dean Friedman at The Conquest Theatre in Bromyard on Saturday, May 18. To book, call the box office on 01885 488575 or visit conquest-theatre.co.uk to book online.