One Night of Elvis with Lee Memphis King & P J Proby Sunderland Empire 3 Feb 2011
This was an Elvis tribute show starring a guy called Lee Memphis King. I wouldn’t normally choosie to go along to an Elvis show; however the added attraction of my old hero P J Proby as special guest tempted me. Marie also (somewhat suprisingly) quite fancied coming and went along to the Empire theatre and bought two tickets for the show.
Come the night we took our seats in the circle of the Empire. The theatre was by no means full, but a respectably sized crowd of Elvis (and P J Proby?) fans had turned out on a very wet and windy night to see the show. The show started with a few songs from the main attraction Lee Memphis King who does a pretty mean Elvis impersonation. He soon introduced P J Proby who came on stage to a great reception from the crowd. P J has, of course, been in the press of late because of his legal problems relating to benefit claims, which he mentioned a couple of times, laughing it off as a joke. He performed a series of Elvis songs including Are you Lonesome Tonight, How great though art and Lawdy Miss Claudy. His voice is still good, but didn’t sound as strong as last time I saw him a few years ago. To be honest I don’t think P J was on top form, forgetting his words to one song and having to start it again. Still it was good to see the great man again; you have to admire him for still going out there are treading the boards at his age (he’s 72).
Marie and I beat a retreat to a local hostelry at the interval (sorry Lee Memphis).
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