As swingeing government cuts bite, critics may have questioned George Osborne's soul, but Barack Obama appears to have no such doubts about the chancellor.

During Osborne's briefing to G8 leaders on plans to cut down on tax avoidance, the US president reportedly called the him by the wrong name, later explaining that he had confused him with his favourite soul star, who shares a surname with the chancellor, if perhaps not much else.

While Osborne set out his proposals, Obama interjected three times with the intention of offering his support to "Jeffrey". After realising his mistake, according to the FT, he told the chancellor: "I'm sorry, man. I must have confused you with my favourite R&B singer."

The singer in question is the 65-year-old soul star Jeffrey Osborne, perhaps best known for his 1982 hit On the Wings of Love.

The chancellor George Osborne (left) and the US R&B star Jeffery Osborne. Photograph: Getty

The American Osborne made a career out of his rich, expressive baritone. By contrast the British Osborne, son of the 17th Baronet of Ballentaylor and Ballylemon in County Waterford, Ireland, was described as having "high-pitched vocal delivery" by senior Conservatives, according to the WikiLeaks diplomatic cables.

Whether the chancellor is a fan of the soul star is unclear, but one suspects the latter's 1988 hit She's on the Left, which topped the US R&B charts, might not be to his taste.