40 years after King’ lives on
IT’S 40 YEARS TO THE DAY SINCE THE WORLD OF MUSIC LOST ONE OF ITS BRIGHTEST STARS, ‘THE KING’. WE LOOK AT HIS IMPACT ON THE REGION
Four decades after his death, it’s safe to say much of the North East’s love for Elvis is still burning.
Today marks 40 years since the “King of Rock and Roll”, Elvis Presley, died – but on Tyneside, his music is still very much alive.
Elvis in Newcastle, a club dedicated to appreciating the star’s hits, brings superfans from across the region together to dance and socialise.
Club President, Jim Mann from Wrekenton, Gateshead, has been running Elvis fan clubs since 1999, and this year has decided to use the anniversary to raise funds for the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation cancer charity.
He says the singer’s distinctive voice made him a fan since childhood.
Jim said: “When I was growing up, we always had good music playing at home. My mam liked Elvis and, even though I was only six at the time, I can remember my dad telling her when Elvis had died.
“He just has a voice you can’t ignore. My cousin played I Slipped, I Stumbled, I Fell when I was about 10 years old and that was it for me.
“After hearing that one record, I loved rock and roll. My next birthday, all I wanted was Elvis records.
“Elvis crosses generations. People of all ages appreciate him and that’s one of the many reasons why he’s so special.”
The Elvis in Newcastle group will be holding nights of music and dancing to raise money for the foundation on Thursday, at Springbank Club in Newcastle and on Saturday at the Gateshead Railway Club, both starting at 7pm.
And the group aren’t the only Elvis fans in the region.
Photos from our archive show the region’s impersonators over the years. In 2008, Trevor Clark of Ashington impressed judges in a