Elvis’ Vegas Years - Part 5

The interesting thing is that at the time many rock and blues performers were starting to play Vegas. And many, many more would follow. The thing about Vegas is that it is the one part of the United States that is like Europe in that once you're a star, you're always a star. Rock and bluesmen like the Everly Brothers, Little Richard, Dion, Bobby Bland, BB King or later rockers like the remnants of The Band all have done gigs in Vegas in the past two decades because it is the one place they are always welcome. You don't need a Top 40 single there. This is perhaps the reason why some of the mainstream media have come around on Elvis in Vegas. The world has caught up with the act.

Not only did Elvis' act have a profound influence on other strip performers like Wayne Newton and not only did it legitimize Vegas for other rockers but it became the forerunner of the pop music show in general. The elaborate costumes, the huge bands, the karate posturing and dance moves all anticipated not only the elaborate stage shows of acts like Kiss and David Bowie (it is the height of hypocrisy that Bowie and Elton John wore far more absurd apparel than Elvis in the 1970s but only Elvis has his music dismissed because of it) but also the extravaganzas staged by Britney Spears, Madonna, and Janet Jackson. Compared to these, Elvis in Vegas looks restrained.

Andy Stankovich

Elvis The Voice

www.ElvisTheVoice.com

One of the world's great Elvis Presley tribute artists