He is mobbed by fans at airports and plays to crowds of more than 20,000 at huge music festivals in Southeast Asia - but most people in Ray Harris’s hometown of Glasgow have never heard of him.

The 37-year-old acid jazz pianist can’t walk down the street in some countries without hundreds of people asking for autographs and selfies but in Buchanan Galleries he’s ignored.

He is often pictured on the front page of multi-million selling national newspapers, has been featured in Rolling Stone magazine and the Indonesian equivalent of ‘Hello!’.

The huge success he’s found overseas allows Ray to live a double life as a big star and an ordinary Glaswegian.

Now he’s returning to his hometown to play an intimate gig following the release of the latest single from his fourth studio album.

Ray said: “It’s a surreal experience out in Southeast Asia, compared to back home in Scotland. I was back out in Indonesia last November and when I arrived there were fans waiting at the airport.

“On a recent tour of Indonesia I had a day off and decided to visit the local shopping mall and every two minutes people were stopping asking for autographs and selfies.

“It’s totally different to Glasgow, where I can walk through Buchanan Galleries without anyone recognising who I am.”

Ray taught himself how to play piano as a teenager after he was inspired by the music of The Doors, Pink Floyd, The Beatles and Chopin.

He went on to study at The National Jazz Institute, and then began building up a local fan base. It wasn’t long before record labels became interested.

Ray said: “I was approached by two really good established independent labels, one in Japan and the other in Italy. I signed to them and from that I broke into the Southeast Asia and European markets, which led to numerous record releases and tours in Japan, Malaysia, China, Indonesia, South Korea and parts of Europe.

“It's been a roller coaster journey over the years and sometimes I can't believe that I've now got four albums out across the world.

“My new seven inch vinyl ‘Deep Down Inside’ has just been released and I’m currently recording album number five, which I've entitled ‘Propaganda’.”

Ray’s glittering career has seen him share a stage with the ‘Godfather of Soul’ James Brown, Ian McCulloch of Echo and the Bunnymen and the Average White Band.

Ray said: “It was a privilege being in the presence of James Brown, a musical hero of mine. Sadly, it turned out to be his last Scottish gig and he passed away six weeks later. I will never forget performing in my home town for a true soul legend.

“I have also had the honour to open up for funk greats The Average White Band and performed with Ian McCulloch.

“A stand out memory of my career so far was meeting my biggest musical influence Ray Manzarek, of The Doors, and being complimented on my version of their hit ‘Riders on The Storm’, which I recorded for my first album.”

Ray recently headlined a major jazz festival in Jakarta - JGTC 37 - playing to more than 20,000 fans.

Ray said: “It was an honour and exciting at the same time to see everyone waiting for me to perform and then singing along to my songs.

“I have enjoyed performing intimate venues and larger festivals over the years. A couple of standout gigs include The Hague Jazz Festival in Holland and Penang Island Festival in Malaysia.

“However, a larger outdoor scale of 20,000 plus in Indonesia takes a lot to beat.”

Tomorrow night Ray will perform his unique blend of acid jazz, Latin, disco, soul and Bossa nova at a 300-capacity venue in Glasgow.

Ray said: “I still live here but rarely perform in Glasgow. I actually did more gigs in Indonesia in 2014 than I did in here.

“I have recently had a lot of radio play in Scotland with ‘Deep Down Inside’ so I felt it was the right time to perform a homecoming gig. There is no better feeling than performing in your home city.”

Ray Harris will perform at Stereo in Renfield Lane on Thursday, August 6 at 7:45pm. Tickets, priced £8, are available from Ticketmaster, Eventbrite, Skiddle and at www.rayharrismusic.net.