In a BBC documentary to be shown next month, Rod said of scottish singer Paolo Nutini: “He’s got a great career ahead of him. I really mean that, a great career.”
Rod is seen giving Paolo some advice on how to stay at the top of the business.
When they met backstage at a US gig, he told him: “I’ve been around the block a few times to know what it takes to still be able to pull in a crowd.
“Stay true to yourself to a point, never forget your fans.
“I always sign autographs for fans, give or take the odd one who’s rude, and the press is so important.
“Beyond the press are the fans and those same fans will stay with you forever.”
But Rod said: “Paolo’s a little awkward on the mike at the moment and I used to be like that when I was in the Faces.
“He has to look up and face the audience more. He’s a good looking lad and has the voice. There’s no doubt about that.”
And he has no doubts about his potential, saying: “I’m not really into bands and tend to listen to singers. My publicist who told me about Paolo.
“I was saying how much I liked James Morrison and she said: ‘You should hear this kid Paolo’. That same day I think I heard New Shoes on the radio.”
The meeting was one of the highlights of Paolo’s US tour, which saw him perform for more than 25,000 fans in 35 cities from coast to coast.
The programme was given a special preview last night at The Sports Cafe’s private lounge in Glasgow.
An invited audience, including Paolo’s parents Linda and Alfredo, watched Celtic fan Paolo whistling It’s A Grand Old Team To Play For as he rushed to meet Rod in Boston during a rare break from performing.
Paolo said of Rod: “He’s the most English Scotsman I’ve ever met, but a Scotsman never the less.
“His stage is amazing with tartan everywhere. He’s a man after my own heart.”
Rod tipped Paolo to make it big in the US, adding: “I think he will do very well because he comes across as humble which is very appealing.
“Unlike Robbie Williams who can be a bit too British and a bit too Norman Wisdom-ish. Paolo’s the opposite. He’s a little retiring and I think most Americans will like that.”
Information taken from The Daily Record