‘I learnt some big lessons’
JEFFREY DAVIES reminisces about the day he met American singer-songwriter PJ Proby
HOLD Me, Somewhere and Maria are the trio of hit songs recorded by charismatic American singer, songwriter and actor PJ Proby during the 1960s. Once regarded as the rival to both Elvis Presley and Cliff Richard, the pony-tail wearing singer - born James Smith in Houston, Texas in 1938 - was renowned for his powerful baritone voice and enigmatic stage performances.
However, the star’s career in Britain lost its momentum after a trouser-splitting incident in a live stage performance in 1965 which allegedly scandalised the British press and public. A longtime resident of this country
- he lives in Worcestershire - I interviewed the most welcoming and engaging star, now 82, on two memorable occasions. Firstly before his gig at the former Colston Hall, and then in his huge home-from-home Winnebago which was parked across three parking bays behind the Bristol Hippodrome where he was performing five years ago.
Still picking up rave reviews in ’60s nostalgia shows, this is a combination of both interviews with the music icon...
Although he has a truly great and powerful singing voice, PJ Proby is still perhaps best remembered for controversially splitting his trousers on stage - albeit across the knees!
“I never thought I’d be playing to teenagers again,” Texas-born PJ Proby told me while relaxing after his triumphant gig in his plush motorised home, which was parked behind the Bristol Hippodrome.
“I was banned from the theatres and venues in England. I had to go up north and play night clubs instead. For more than 40 years I didn’t ever play to teenagers, until The Searchers put me in their touring shows. So when I see the young people now with their grandparents and parents, it’s incredible because for so long I was never allowed to perform for young people,” said PJ.
“As for my trousers, I didn’t split them. They split themselves - and they only split across the knees anyway, nowhere else. However Mary Whitehouse swore she could see something. I should be so lucky!” he laughed loudly, but obviously still rather peeved by the unnecessary furore of it all.
Inducted into the Rockabilly
Hall of Fame in 2016, PJ said he was aware that he had a fine singing voice by the time he was eight or nine years old.
“My voice never changed. I was born a baritone. But since I stopped drinking 22 years ago I can now hit tenor and bass notes as well. If anything, my voice has gotten stronger not weaker,” he stated proudly.
It has been said that PJ didn’t regard himself as a pop star, per se, so how does he define himself and his music?
“I don’t understand the word pop star. That phrase didn’t exist when I started out. I was an entertainer just like Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin were. Pop star is a phrase they invented sometime in the late ’50s and early ’60s, I think,” he said.
More than a bit miffed by not being allowed to perform before a teenage audience, PJ readily conceded that being a star during those halcyon days was great for those who were allowed to perform to younger fans.
“Yes it was great for all the ones that got to sing. But as I said, the people never got to see me because I was taken away from all teenagers. Banned for splitting my trousers across the knees. But I did have a wonderful time as well,” he added with a smile.
“I had so many friends and everything in the industry. I had good times in ways that other people don’t have good times because it would put them in jail. For instance I used to love drinking and fist-fighting; if I couldn’t find a good fight I’d just take one of my friends outside and we’d square up on each other. The first one to go down would buy the next round of drinks! It was, to me, incredible. It doesn’t happen now. I don’t live in this world today,” he mockingly lamented.
The 1960s seem like a different world now - did PJ feel privileged to have been a major player in what spectators now call a cultural revolution?
“Oh yeah I felt very privileged because it all came to me very late. I was 24 years old when Bobby Vee and others were all 16-year-olds. I felt like 24 going on 12. Even though they called me a teenage idol, I never felt like I was because I missed the teenage boat, and it certainly didn’t happen to me when I was in Hollywood. In fact it didn’t happen to me until I came to England with The Beatles. But when it did happen, the girls, the fans and the adulation was incredible,” he remembered.
“Because we had emotional ties with the audience, we had to hire people to stand around the stage to keep the fans back. We had to be protected. If we weren’t protected by security, the fans would pull us off the stage and rip us into pieces,” he smiled.
Although the very friendly star was born in Houston, Texas, in 1938, PJ has actually lived most of his life in England. So what is the country’s appeal for the larger-than-life singer?
“Oh I just love the place. I’ve been living here since I was 23; this is my 50th year,” he said happily.
Of his impressive back catalogue of hits, does PJ have a favourite number?
“No, I don’t have a favourite because I love all music so much. And I’m too critical of myself to have favourites of anything anyway. On my new album, which will be out during this tour, everything I had a hit with and have been known for I’ve re-done. And instead of a 150-piece orchestra with that huge sound, I have taken those songs down to a smaller level. I have delivered them not as a crooner but more as a storyteller,” PJ answered.
“The way in which I’ve sung the songs and interpreted them has changed over the years and now I’m not showing off my voice so much. I’m now showing off the songs themselves instead.”
He continued: “You know, I’m not thinking so much of myself or my ego today. When I started out it was all me, me, me. I was inviting people to look at me and think isn’t he great. I could do no wrong back then in my mind. But I learnt some big lessons along the way and now I get to know the songs well instead, and I deliver them better as well. Now it’s all about the song and not all about me, me, me,” PJ remarked, emphatically.
Singing and performing is a most wonderful life, a most wonderful career. Many people must be green with envy?
“Maybe. However I do think people get into this industry for one of two reasons; ego and money. And those two things will always distract you from what you’re doing.”
Still performing after more than 50 years, did PJ ever believe he’d still be singing half a century later?
“Oh I did and have, and that’s because I come from the old school. I thought I’d be around longer than Frank Sinatra and Bing Crosby,” without a hint of show-off.
“I’m still here as I thought I would be, and I can assure my fans that what they’ll get from me on my gigs is what they’ve always gotten from me. That’s a surprise and a great show.” Many iconic figures from the past now like to meet and greet fans at the end of a show, something they couldn’t easily do in their heyday.
“I don’t do that; that’s an English thing. I’m American. But I will sign anything the fans send to me in my dressing room.”
Interview over, I remarked that PJ’S all-mod-cons motorised home looked for all the world like the interior of a cosy cottage. Warm and welcoming. He smiled and mouthed a quiet thank you.
I think people get into the industry for one of two reasons: ego and money. And those two things will always distract you from what you are doing.
PJ Proby