Elvis Presley, Shakin' Stevens, Jerry Lee Lewis, Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Cliff Richard, Ricky Nelson, Dave B (well i had to include him as he included me) Chris Isaak, Robbie Williams, Stray Cats, Jets, Mavericks, David Hasselhoff (The Hoff is a LEGEND) Garth Brooks, Bobby Darin, Dean Martin, Eddie Cochran
Sounds Like
Elvis Presley, Shakin' Stevens, Billy Fury, Cliff Richard (Apparently)
..Create Your Own
Well i've been a professional singer/entertainer now for more than 10 years. I say professional, by that i mean i get paid for it!!!
Growing up, all i ever wanted to do was get up on stage and sing to people, but wanting to do it and actually doing it are two different things. I was quite shy when i was younger, i still am to an extent, so the thought of singing to people terrified me LOL go figure.
I was brought up listening to 1950's Rock'n'Roll, my Dad was a massive Elvis fan and was forever playing and singing along to the King so i have always been an Elvis fan but for me it was the music of Shakin' Stevens that really caught my attention as a kid, from then on i bought everything he released, and still do. My mum is a Cliff Richard fan so i had to put up with that too lol.
The first time i ever got up on stage was at a school concert, i must of been 14 at the time, but this wasn't as a singer, this was as Bass player in the band "Shocking Purple" and we were shocking. the song we performed was the James classic "Sit Down" (I know, as far away from Elvis and Shaky as you can get) Anyway the first song i ever performed on stage was Chuck Berrys "Johnny B. Goode, i was AWFUL. I still have the video of it to this day, no wonder my Dad wanted me to get a proper job ha ha.
So i went through school, performing at the annual summer concerts, gaining the confidence i needed to really want to make a go of being a "Singer".
I left school at 15, and went on to work with my Dad for a few months as a mechanics assistant, but that wasn't for me. I saw an advert in a local paper, "Starlite Roadshow seeks talented youngsters for stage and screen" that was for me, so i went along for the audition and sang one of my favourite Elvis songs "Treat me nice" i must of been ok as i was thrown straight into a show that night. Being part of that roadshow really helped me with my stage craft and if it wasn't for them i'm not sure i'd be doing what i do now.
At 17, i went down the road most performers go down and ventured to Cornwall for a 6 month summer season as part of the entertainments team working for Weststar holidays. This was a great experience and i had a great time doing it.
The following year (1997) i decided i wanted my own Rock'n'Roll band, so i put some adverts in various rags and mags and within a few weeks "BreaThless" were formed. We were a cracking little band, drums, bass, lead guitar, plus myself on vocals. We performed all the Rock'n'Roll standards plus material by the likes of "The Stray Cats" "Jets" "Shaky" "Elvis" etc etc. We gained a really good reputation for oursleves locally, performing weekly as the resident band on a local tv show and playing all the Rock'n'Roll clubs in and around the North West. We also performed on the same bill as Billy J Kramer and the Dakotas. Lets just say Billy wasn't to keen on going on stage after our set.
It wasn't till i was 21 (1999) that i got my first Break. I auditioned for the part of the young Cliff Richard, portraying him as he was back in the 1950's. This is where i first met My ole buddy Dave B (He's in my friends, check him out) he was also auditioning for the role, fortunately for me i got the part and Ricky Aron and The Rapiers (also in my friends) went on the road as Cliff and The Shads. Unfortuanetly, due to bad promotion the tour fell flat on it's face but it was great fun and i have remained very close with The Rapiers to this day.
After a few months of playing various theatres across the UK for next to nothing, i decided to go it alone as a solo artiste. This was the hardest thing to do, especially after being used to working with live bands, there was no one to turn to on stage for support if you were having a bad night, no one for me to say "Play guitar son" too. Just me on my own with the audience watching everything i do. It was scary at first but like anything, once you get used to it, it's still BLOODY HARD WORK!!!!!
In 2003 i again took on the role of the young Cliff in the Westend production of "Cliff the Musical". The Rapiers who had already been chosen as the band to play as The Shadows recomended me to the producers and after a small audition i again was fortunate enough to get the part. The show toured the UK for 3 months before we moved on the Westend for a two month stay at The Prince of Wales theatre in Leicester sqaure and it was there i was more nervous than i have ever been, not because i was on the westend stage (trust me, after some of the places i have played, that was a walk in the park) but because my hero of over 20 years was in the audience and i could see him, smack bang in the front row of the cirlcle. Yes folks, Mr Shakin' Stevens. I couldn't believe it, he even came back stage in the interval and we had a really good chat. This wasn't the first time we'd met, i met him back in 99 backstage at one his gigs.
The following year, the show with a new title "Born to Rock'n'Roll The Cliff Richard Musical" hit the road again for 4 weeks, 2 week UK tour and a 2 week tour of Denmark and for me, this is when i had the time of my life (there's a song in there somwhere).
After the Cliff shows came to an end, i went back to performing as a solo act up and down the country and after 3 stints of performing as Cliff (which is crazy cos i'm not really a fan) i decided to start work on an Elvis tribute. For me there is a lack of Elvis tributes portraying him as he was back in the 1950's early 60's and it was this area i wanted to concentrate .. a handfull of Elvis gigs i decided to enter myself into the "Ultimate Elvis Contest" held by Elvis Presley Enterprises.
The contest took place in June of 2007 and was held in Blackpool. It was the first time i had entered anything like this so i didn't fancy my chances at coming anywhere. I entered into the 50's category and i was disapointed with my performance in the heats, but to my surprise my name was called out as one of the finalists. I couldn't believe it. This time i wanted to go back up there and put in a performance i could be proud of. The thing is, i was up against a guy who many considered the Best 50's Elvis in the UK (Paul Molloy) and after seeing him perform i could see why. Anyway, i got back up there, gave it my best shot and thats all i could do.
The time came for the results, i was certain Paul would be announced the winner of the Best 50's Elvis so when they called out my name i was gobsmacked. I'd just been awarded the title of Best 50's Elvis in Europe....UNBELIVEABLE!!! I made so many good friends from this and Paul Molloy is actually now one of my best Mates.
After seeing my performance at the contest, i recieved a call from BBC television asking if i would like to audition for their up and coming show "The worlds greatest Elvis" This was a show, with 30 of the best Elvis tributes from around the world competing for the title of the worlds best. I had only been performing my tribute for a matter of months and all this seemed to good to be true. To cut a long story short, i auditioned, i was accepeted on to the show.........I didn't win. The title went to American Shawn Klush and i will say this, he is the closest thing to Elvis i have ever seen.
Jan 2008 saw me enter into another contest, The annual "Walk a golden mile in my shoes contest" this is recognised as Europes number 1 Elvis contest and again i came out a winner, i was awarded the title of Best Gospel after my perfomance of "You'll never walk alone" with 3rd place in the overall contest going to my Arch Rival Paul Molloy (about time to eh Mr Molloy).
So this brings us right up to date, i'm sure i've bored you all to tears by now so i will sign off by saying
"You can't make an omelette without breaking some eggs"
Hey Buddy Hows my ole mucker doin?Just thought I would drop by to say hi.Hows tricks are you as busy as ever?Much the same this end got a Theatre show at the end of the month.Finishing new album off this month also so its all happening.Keep rockin buddy speak soon Dave B.
hi ricky! yes i am mikes friend, he told me about you so i requested you too. im totally crazy about the fifties and collect marilyn and all about it. love savvy
glitter-graphics. com hey ricky hope your having a great weekend.luv ya lulu xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx ps im off to see shaky on the 13 december in greenwich at the indigo2.i cant wait. lol
