Carol
Hunter
Hunter
Elvis Tribute Artists Radio
Ladyluckmusic.com
Click here to hear Ricky Aron singing “Have I Told You Lately”
Ricky Aron was born in Liverpool, England (home of the Beatles) in l978. He started singing at a young age, but only at home as he was so shy. His father was and is a big Elvis fan and his mother was the Cliff Richard fan – so Ricky grew up with the music. He says, too, that when he was about 4 or 5 years old he “saw a guy on TV named Shakin’ Stevens and was just blown away.“ Ricky cites his idols and biggest influences as Elvis and Shaky and says that they are the reason he does what he does today.
At l4, Ricky finally conquered his fear of singing in public and performed in a school concert singing Elvis’ “Love Me” and Chuck Berry’s “Johnny B. Goode.” After that, he saw an ad seeking talented youngsters to perform in a show group called The Starlite Roadshow. He went for an audition, sang Elvis’ Treat Me Nice,” and was put straight into the show that very night. As Ricky says, “That for me, is where it all started.”
While attending the Starlite School of Variety Entertainment (a college for the performing arts), Ricky honed his skills performing as a resident entertainer at a holiday park and in various stage shows. And, after finishing college, he formed a 4-piece rockabilly band called Breathless, with himself on lead vocals. They performed songs by Elvis, Shakin’ Stevens, Jerry Lee Lewis, Chuck Berry, Cliff Richard, and the like, and were featured on radio and TV.
In l999, when he was 21, Ricky saw an ad in “Stage” magazine seeking a young singer to play the role of Cliff Richard in an upcoming musical tribute show. He thought “Hey, I could do that” and so he traveled to London, auditioned, and a week later was notified that he’d landed the lead role of Cliff in the production “Me and My Shadows” (Cliff’s band was called the Shadows). The show was on the road for most of l999 and during that time Ricky worked with the Rapiers, one of the UK’s top rock and roll bands (aka “the best ‘60's band since the ‘60's”), as they re-created early Cliff Richard and the Shadows concerts, performing songs from l958-l963 in various theatres throughout the UK.
Following this, Ricky pursued his solo singing career for a while, but it wasn’t long before he heard from the Rapiers lead vocalist that there was another Cliff Richard production under way called “Cliff the Musical.” This show would be set in the future and would feature 4 performers, each looking back and portraying Cliff at a different stage of his life. In August 2002. Ricky once again auditioned for the part of the young Cliff and as he says, “basically then and there I was offered the role.” The show toured the UK for three months before settling in at the Prince of Wales Theatre in London’s West End for a two-month run.
Ricky recalls that one night, just before the show, he was told that Shakin’ Stevens was in the audience. Although they’d met at one of Shaky’s concerts a few years before, he says, “For the first time I was terrified...I didn’t really suffer from nerves until then. Shaky came back stage during the intermission, posed for photos, and was just great.” Cliff Richard was in Barbados performing at this time, but he’s been quoted as saying he wished he, himself, were in the tribute show!
In March 2004, Ricky again took on a “young Cliff” role in a re-worked production of the show called "Born to Rock 'n' Roll - the Cliff Richard Musical" . This time, instead of 4 “Cliffs” there were just 2. This show toured in the UK and in Denmark and Ricky reports: “I had the best time of my life, touring around Denmark on a bus with a great bunch of people....FANTASTIC!!!”
And now, in 2005, with the “Cliff musicals” coming to an end, Ricky is developing his solo career once again, singing the 50's and 60's rock and roll he enjoys and paying tribute to Elvis Presley and Shakin’ Stevens, his idols. Ricky started singing a few of Elvis’ songs in his solo act a while back and two years ago he recorded his own tribute CD’s to Elvis. In his live act, he covers the songs he likes such as Don't Be Cruel, Love Me Tender, One Night With You, Blueberry Hill/Can’t Stop Loving You medley, The Wonder of You, and gets “great reactions whenever I sing Elvis songs, especially ‘Love Me Tender.’ Whenever I sing it, the venue will fall silent and it's such a fantastic feeling when this happens. I also get a great reaction from my dancing, largely based on the style of Shakin' Stevens.”
His plans now are to record another tribute CD of “Elvis rockers,” form an early Elvis (50's -60s) band and develop his Elvis tribute, not as an ETA or doing impersonations, but as a singer of Elvis’ songs paying tribute to the KING (way to go, Ricky Aron!!).
And finally, I asked Ricky his thoughts about Elvis and Shaky (and to fill us in a little on Shakin’ Stevens) and he replied:
“Shaky is so under rated. For me, as a rock 'n' roller he is 2nd to Elvis. Although not really known in the States and Canada, he had huge success all round the world. He was the biggest selling artist of the l980's in the UK. He had a total of 38 hits, 36 consecutive, with 4 #1's and, to quote the Guiness Book of Records, shares with the Beatles (60's) and Elton John (70's) the title of “most successful artist of a decade.” Shaky carried on recording into the ‘90's before stopping in l993. To this day, he still tours to sold out venues throughout Europe and is about to start a UK tour.
People always compare him to Elvis because of the way he moved. I'd like to quote Carl Perkins on this matter: ‘Shaky moves the way Elvis wanted to.’ Carl said this in 1978 when he saw Shaky playing Elvis in the musical ‘Elvis" in London. Shaky has his own singing style, and I certainly would encourage anyone who likes rock’ n’ roll to take a look/listen to Shaky. I can be seen on the multi-media page on my website (www.rickyaron.com) paying tribute to Shaky. I would be lying if I said my dance style is not based on his, but I would like to think there is some of me and Elvis in there too!
What can I say about Elvis that hasn't already been said a million times before! I’ll keep it brief.....THE KING!!!!! He is an influence on almost every other performer, if not all. I don't consider myself an ETA and have never tried to sound like Elvis. My voice is my own but I’m always told I have a natural sounding Elvis voice which is a massive compliment as I consider him the best vocalist ever. I can't understand when people say they don't like Elvis as he recorded such a wide range of music and there is something for everyone. For me, there has never been another artist who can put such emotion into a song whether it is Rock 'n' Roll, Country, Blues, Gospel, Ballads. The voice, the look, the charisma – he had it all.”
Many thanks to Ricky Aron for this interview.
Details:
Ricky Aron: www.rickyaron.com
Shakin’ Stevens: www.forevershakin.co.uk & www.shakinstevens.com
The Rapiers: http://members.aol.com/shiloh7/Rapiers.html
Cliff Richard: www.cliffrichard.org
Ricky Aron was born in Liverpool, England (home of the Beatles) in l978. He started singing at a young age, but only at home as he was so shy. His father was and is a big Elvis fan and his mother was the Cliff Richard fan – so Ricky grew up with the music. He says, too, that when he was about 4 or 5 years old he “saw a guy on TV named Shakin’ Stevens and was just blown away.“ Ricky cites his idols and biggest influences as Elvis and Shaky and says that they are the reason he does what he does today.
At l4, Ricky finally conquered his fear of singing in public and performed in a school concert singing Elvis’ “Love Me” and Chuck Berry’s “Johnny B. Goode.” After that, he saw an ad seeking talented youngsters to perform in a show group called The Starlite Roadshow. He went for an audition, sang Elvis’ Treat Me Nice,” and was put straight into the show that very night. As Ricky says, “That for me, is where it all started.”
While attending the Starlite School of Variety Entertainment (a college for the performing arts), Ricky honed his skills performing as a resident entertainer at a holiday park and in various stage shows. And, after finishing college, he formed a 4-
In l999, when he was 21, Ricky saw an ad in “Stage” magazine seeking a young singer to play the role of Cliff Richard in an upcoming musical tribute show. He thought “Hey, I could do that” and so he traveled to London, auditioned, and a week later was notified that he’d landed the lead role of Cliff in the production “Me and My Shadows” (Cliff’s band was called the Shadows). The show was on the road for most of l999 and during that time Ricky worked with the Rapiers, one of the UK’s top rock and roll bands (aka “the best ‘60's band since the ‘60's”), as they re-
Following this, Ricky pursued his solo singing career for a while, but it wasn’t long before he heard from the Rapiers lead vocalist that there was another Cliff Richard production under way called “Cliff the Musical.” This show would be set in the future and would feature 4 performers, each looking back and portraying Cliff at a different stage of his life. In August 2002. Ricky once again auditioned for the part of the young Cliff and as he says, “basically then and there I was offered the role.” The show toured the UK for three months before settling in at the Prince of Wales Theatre in London’s West End for a two-
Ricky recalls that one night, just before the show, he was told that Shakin’ Stevens was in the audience. Although they’d met at one of Shaky’s concerts a few years before, he says, “For the first time I was terrified...I didn’t really suffer from nerves until then. Shaky came back stage during the intermission, posed for photos, and was just great.” Cliff Richard was in Barbados performing at this time, but he’s been quoted as saying he wished he, himself, were in the tribute show!
In March 2004, Ricky again took on a “young Cliff” role in a re-
And now, in 2005, with the “Cliff musicals” coming to an end, Ricky is developing his solo career once again, singing the 50's and 60's rock and roll he enjoys and paying tribute to Elvis Presley and Shakin’ Stevens, his idols. Ricky started singing a few of Elvis’ songs in his solo act a while back and two years ago he recorded his own tribute CD’s to Elvis. In his live act, he covers the songs he likes such as Don't Be Cruel, Love Me Tender, One Night With You, Blueberry Hill/Can’t Stop Loving You medley, The Wonder of You, and gets “great reactions whenever I sing Elvis songs, especially ‘Love Me Tender.’ Whenever I sing it, the venue will fall silent and it's such a fantastic feeling when this happens. I also get a great reaction from my dancing, largely based on the style of Shakin' Stevens.”
His plans now are to record another tribute CD of “Elvis rockers,” form an early Elvis (50's -
And finally, I asked Ricky his thoughts about Elvis and Shaky (and to fill us in a little on Shakin’ Stevens) and he replied:
“Shaky is so under rated. For me, as a rock 'n' roller he is 2nd to Elvis. Although not really known in the States and Canada, he had huge success all round the world. He was the biggest selling artist of the l980's in the UK. He had a total of 38 hits, 36 consecutive, with 4 #1's and, to quote the Guiness Book of Records, shares with the Beatles (60's) and Elton John (70's) the title of “most successful artist of a decade.” Shaky carried on recording into the ‘90's before stopping in l993. To this day, he still tours to sold out venues throughout Europe and is about to start a UK tour.
People always compare him to Elvis because of the way he moved. I'd like to quote Carl Perkins on this matter: ‘Shaky moves the way Elvis wanted to.’ Carl said this in 1978 when he saw Shaky playing Elvis in the musical ‘Elvis" in London. Shaky has his own singing style, and I certainly would encourage anyone who likes rock’ n’ roll to take a look/listen to Shaky. I can be seen on the multi-
What can I say about Elvis that hasn't already been said a million times before! I’ll keep it brief.....THE KING!!!!! He is an influence on almost every other performer, if not all. I don't consider myself an ETA and have never tried to sound like Elvis. My voice is my own but I’m always told I have a natural sounding Elvis voice which is a massive compliment as I consider him the best vocalist ever. I can't understand when people say they don't like Elvis as he recorded such a wide range of music and there is something for everyone. For me, there has never been another artist who can put such emotion into a song whether it is Rock 'n' Roll, Country, Blues, Gospel, Ballads. The voice, the look, the charisma – he had it all.”
Many thanks to Ricky Aron for this interview.
Details:
Ricky Aron: www.rickyaron.com
Shakin’ Stevens: www.forevershakin.co.uk & www.shakinstevens.com
The Rapiers: http://members.aol.com/shiloh7/Rapiers.html
Cliff Richard: www.cliffrichard.org
GOOD OLD ROCK AND ROLL
with Elvis, Shakin’ Stevens, Cliff Richard!
INTRODUCING
RICKY ARON
FROM LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND
with Elvis, Shakin’ Stevens, Cliff Richard!
INTRODUCING
RICKY ARON
FROM LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND
Well, the moral of this story is “believe in yourself” and “keep emailing to see if your CD has arrived!” Recently, I received an email from Liverpool’s Ricky Aron asking if LLM had received a CD that he’d sent quite a while before. While waiting for it to arrive, he sent another email, and then another (we concluded that it must be arriving by donkey). Eventually, I struck up an email conversation with Ricky Aron and realized that he had a a story, quite apart from any Elvis songs on his CD. Yes, the CD finally arrived – and yes, indeed, he “has it” vocally. In fact, within minutes of receiving the CD it was decided that he’d be featured on this month’s ETARadio – singing Elvis! But, as I found out, at the age of 27, Ricky is an up-and-coming rockabilly/rock and roll singer. Not only was he influenced by his idols Elvis and UK icon Shakin’ Stevens, he’s also portrayed the young Cliff Richard (Sir Cliff, now – and in his day the UK’s answer to Elvis) in musicals that have toured the UK and Denmark. Read on!
Ricky Aron as Cliff Richard in "Cliff - The Musical"
Rock 'n' roll with Ricky Aron....pics from live shows
UK Rock Icon Shakin' Stevens came to see Ricky Aron perform in "Cliff - The Musical"...pictured here with Ricky backstage during intermission.
Ricky with Shakin' Stevens
Ricky Aron and The Rapiers band on stage in "Cliff - The Musical"
Having fun with fans
Ricky Aron - Elvis (in the middle) would be proud!
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