Jimmy Nail in Gateshead

Jimmy Nail is an English singer-songwriter and actor, born in Newcastle upon Tyne in 1954. He records pop-rock and country-leaning songs and is known for “Ain’t No Doubt,” “Crocodile Shoes” and “Big River.” “Crocodile Shoes” also gave its name to his television drama and its accompanying album, while his screen work includes Auf Wiedersehen, Pet and Spender. Jimmy Nail helped establish Sunday for Sammy, a recurring Tyneside benefit concert created in memory of actor Sammy Johnson, and performed in its ensemble variety shows. In 2014, he played shipyard foreman Jackie White in the Chicago production of Sting’s musical The Last Ship, then transferred with the show to Broadway’s Neil Simon Theatre.