Whenever I remember something from my past I always look it up on the Internet. As you know, I often get ideas for these blogs whilst out on a Steward Stroll. Today I went on the stroll with my one approved other - my friend Mike.
We always chat away on a number of subjects - mainly sport and music and often the rambles bring back memories from my past.
Today, for some reason, chat centred around Elvis Presley and my mind raced back many many years to when a Norwich-based Elvis musical took to the stage in Norfolk and further afield. It was written by a Norwich rocker Barry White (no not that Barry White) whose house at the back of the old Norfolk and Norwich Hospital was a shrine to the King of rock n roll.
I believe it was called The Boy Born to Rock or something like that. And it was rather good. I seem to remember it became very popular in Poland (or was that Hungary) and actually featured three Elvis impersonators to represent three different periods in Presley's life. I seem to think one of the Elvis' was somebody by the name of Jim White (although once again I may have mis-remembered that). He was good as well. Usually I detest Elvis impersonators, there are just too many of them.
A few years ago in Spain (or possibly Portugal), the entertainment one evening in the place we were staying was an Elvis impersonator. He looked nothing like Elvis and sounded nothing like Elvis and got booed off stage. I can also remember seeing Indian and Japanese Elvis impersonators who were equally as bad. Stick a ridiculous white suit on and for some reason everyone thinks they can sing "Love Me Tender" like Elvis.
Went to an evening wedding reception many years ago in Yorkshire and the "turn" (that's what Yorkshire people call people appearing on stage) turned up. I went to help him bring in his speaker and other equipment and suddenly had a horrible realisation. The guy had his hair quiffed back in Presley style and yes he was an Elvis impersonator!
But The Boy Born to Rock was good. I saw it a number of times and mainly remember a performance at The Marina Theatre in Sparrow's Nest, Lowestoft. Incidentally Sparrow's Nest I believe is the most easterly point of the UK.
I wrote a number of articles on the musical for Here and Now which was a rock music column that appeared in the Eastern Evening News. Sadly the musical didn't last very long. I believe the cost of putting it on was prohibitive and Barry White died.
I would never call myself an Elvis Presley fan but I have a sneaking regard for his place in the history of rock n roll. A couple of years ago we visited the very pretty village of Sandwich on Cape Cod in the USA. Our friends pointed out that Sandwich Church was made famous for being on the cover of an Elvis Presley LP.
It took a bit of investigation and I eventually tracked it down as the church on the cover of "How Great Thou Art" one of Presley's Christian albums.
So I used the internet to check this and indeed The First Church of Christ in Sandwich was the setting for the cover and is apparently one of the most photographed churches in the USA. So a bona fide piece of rock music history that is catalogued on the Internet. Unfortunately I couldn't find anything about The Boy Born to Rock Musical which is a shame. I did find something on Elvis impersonator Jim White which probably confirms that somebody of that name did take part in the musical.
The only other thing I remember about it is that Barry White's young daughter, who he named Elvisa, also appeared on stage as the very very young Elvis.
As a result of the musical, I got to meet Scotty Moore on his visit to Norwich. He was Presley's guitarist. I interviewed him for the newspaper but don't really remember much about what he had to say or what questions I asked him.
Getting back to impersonators. By and large I dislike them and also tribute acts. But there was one exception. A few years ago on a cruise one of the people who entertained in the evenings was a pianist/singer who I believe was Hungarian. I thought his voice was weak. Then one night he announced that the following evening he would be doing his Tom Jones tribute show. Turned out he had won the Hungarian equivalent of "Stars in Their Eyes." He was very good which left us asking "where did that powerful voice come from?"
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Last night I decided I needed to watch something to lighten the mood before going to bed. So I watched a couple of Ken Dodd shows on You Tube. What a genius that man was. It had me laughing out loud, it was that funny. But don't take my word for it, just head on to You Tube and see for yourself.