Glad I caught Doug Church's concert a week ago on 17 Aug at Serangoon Gardens Country Club, Singapore. Another excellent sold-out show brought in by Jimmy Preslee Productions. Backed by the band King Creole from Indonesia, Doug sang 30+ Elvis classics in the 2-hour concert with a short break in between for a costume change. He had the ladies in the audience swooning over him especially when he went around 'scarfing' the lucky ones. I happened to be one of them!
The flyer promoted Doug Church as 'The True Voice of Elvis'. If I closed my eyes and just listened to Doug, yes, it certainly felt as if the King himself was right there singing to all of us. This is probably the closest any of us there could get to an Elvis experience.
Uncanny resemblance to Elvis, down to that famous smile!
The King certainly lives on in the voices of the many Elvis Tribute Artistes (ETA) around the world. I have seen and listened to many, including Malaysia's own Elvis, the late Ricky Teoh. But the ETA crown and title go to Doug Church, hands down.
I managed to record a handful of videos before my phone battery died on me.
Jimmy gets to sing 'The Wonder of You' with Doug. Well done, Jimmy!
From left: Judy (Jimmy's wife), me, Ellen and Jimmy
Nice of Doug to oblige with group photos after the concert.
Elvis' presence lives on in Serangoon Gardens Country Club. Jimmy Preslee Productions will make sure of that. Keep us posted, Jimmy!
Gotta give it to these Singapore seniors. They certainly know how to live the good life in their golden years. This was evident when they turned up in full force to have a good time at the Fab Four Beatles Tribute held at Serangoon Gardens Country Club last night. Another sold-out event by Jimmy Preslee Productions.
After the 6-course dinner, the Fab Four are ready to take the packed room on a musical journey back to the 1960s and 70s.
This wasn't the first time the Fab Four had performed in Singapore and Malaysia but it was my first time listening to them live and seeing them up close. They are probably the closest we can get to a Beatles concert experience. What a blast from the past it turned out to be. Two thumbs up to the band. They soon had the audience warmed up for a massive singalong and dancethon. Everyone enjoyed themselves so much they wouldn't let the band go. In the end we were treated to an extra 30 minutes of great music. Thanks, Fab Four!
The band played chart-toppers from the Beatles' first album, With the Beatles (1963) to the final one, Abbey Road (1969). Who could ever forget the lyrics of Imagine, Hey Jude or Obladi Oblada? No memory loss here, and definitely no signs of Alzheimer's from the enthusiastic crowd!
After the break the Fab Four returned in colourful outfits straight from the cover of Sergeant Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band. They played When I'm 64 from the album and everyone sang along with each word resonating with them. The band continued with more hits from other Beatles albums - Back in the USSR, Please Please Me, Eight Days a Week, and more.
In the special tribute to The Bee Gees, the band removed their Sergeant Peppers costumes to sing a string of hits including Staying Alive, Words, Massachusetts. Needless to say, every song received strong vocal support from the audience!
The Fab Four's last song Twist and Shout drew more happy feet onto the dance floor. What a night! What a band! And what memories their songs evoked! A round of applause to Jimmy Preslee Productions for bringing in the Fab Four and giving us an opportunity to relive those good old days of rock and roll. We are all still very much young at heart.
Me with Jimmy and his lovely wife Judy.
Jimmy Preslee Productions has another not-to-be missed concert coming up in August. Tickets are already on sale and going fast. Glad I have got mine. Am looking forward eagerly to another evening of unforgettable golden oldies this time from the era of King Elvis performed by award-winning ETA Doug Church. See you there!
PS: For a look at the fun we had at last year's 'All Shook Up - Elvis 40th Anniversary', just click on the link below, and be there for this year's tribute on 16/17 August, same venue.
