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FTDP is proud to bring you this
Artist's story. Having performed as an Elvis Tribute Artist when Elvis was
still with us. El Gamble gave the people of Australia the closest
thing to Elvis. Even though he performs as himself now.....his vocals still
have that quality that was Elvis. Thank you Ian for giving this story to us.
THE TRUE EL GAMBLE STORY IN FULL
EL GAMBLE is an original Australian icon in the
business of Rock 'n' Roll and in general entertainment. He has achieved
almost everything that there is to achieve in this cut throat business
and more, over the past forty two years.
El started out as a drummer at the age of fifteen, and
was in several bands until the
age of twenty four, when the band he was in sacked the lead singer
because of his drinking habit and gave the front man job to El. El
explains " when they told me that I was to be the new lead singer, I was
frightened to death, because I only knew a hand full of songs that I use
to sing from behind the drums." However, it didn't take long before he
got his act together as a singer, and as we all know the rest is now
history.
El Performing as an Elvis Tribute Artist
In 1977 El was managed by Phil Golotta (Blue Echoes) and
was asked to do a full on replica Elvis Concert show. (This was while Elvis
was still alive)
El dismissed the idea as "simply ludicrous". " After negotiating with Phil
for a month I agreed to do it. I didn't know what I let my self in for. El
rehearsed the show with a fourteen piece band during the day, and worked at
nights with his regular five piece band for seven weeks. The first Elvis
show was held at the Council Club hotel (now called Cramers) in Preston, to
a record breaking attendance which still stands today.
The show was called "The Life and Times of Elvis Presley" and had a run of
286 record breaking attendances over thirteen months.
Ian Coombs
Event of Events Pty Ltd
P.O. Box 9284
Scoresby 3179
Victoria Australia
Phone : +613 9763-6600
Fax : +613 9763-0066
admin@eventofevents.com.au
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(cont'd)
El decided to quit performing as an Elvis act, and decided to take several
months off, before joining a regular Show band "Ramrod". Since then El has
been the front man for the award winning best rock 'n' roll band in
Queensland for five years running "The Cadillac's" (Queensland). EL Gamble
returned back to Melbourne in August 1997, and was snapped up by Kenny Leroy
in the duo "Tom and Gerry" . In 1999 he joined Tony Dee in "Fifties -
Sixties Revival" until 2003, when he teamed up with Marcia Rae as the
"Fifties - Sixties Revival" which lasted until the 12th of February this
year.
EL Gamble in 1978
Halfway through last year El was struck down by "a mystery virus" which
attacked and killed the nerves on both legs from the knees down, and had him
almost paralyzed. "Both of my legs have no feeling in them even know, and
it's hard to balance as I walk, but I was determined, and now all the hard
work has paid off.
I am finally walking again. But I'm amazed at how many people in this
business, had me all washed up and finished. Let me tell you, no bloody
way".
El is now working as a solo act and is flooded with work for this year
already.
Rock 'n' Roll News has heard a little whisper that EL GAMBLE will soon have
a tribute show on ELVIS' music that is totally different, and has never been
done before by any other entertainer untill now. We all can't wait, and wish
EL the very best of luck in the future.
Finally. EL " I wish to thank everyone who still
believed in me through out my hard times, and I'd like to wish Marcia
Rae all the success that she deserves.
She's a great lady and a top entertainer". That also goes from us all at
Event of Events.
The man with the big voice looks to
a great year
2006 promises to be an exciting time for El Gamble,
the star of club and cabaret performances around Australia.
Inspired by the success of ‘new-take’ performers such as Michael Bublé,
El is creating a new act, ending a two-year duo partnership, and long
after putting his Elvis costume into mothballs.
Website
www.elvisinfonet.com
Listen to El
http://www.ladyluckmusic.com/radio/playlist/
www.elvii.com
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08/27/08
