Express_2011_04_22

The “King” lives in the heart and soul of Pete Paquette

period and days with his mentor, Colonel

gregg.chamberlain@eap.on.ca

Paquette, they will know what to expect.

King of Rock ‘n’ Roll, as a young rockabilly

Parker, Elvis’ stint with the U.S. Army, where

Quality.”

R OCKLAND

singer electrifies American youth, and

he learned an appreciation for opera and

In Elvis: The Moments, Paquette and his

horrifies some of their parents, with his surly,

other, more traditional music styles, his days

crew take the audience on a musical time

sultry singing and hip-swinging stage moves

Wahl, it’s a one foah th’ money, two

in Hollywood as a big-screen box-office

trip through the life of Elvis Presley, the real

during the 50s, through his Sun Records

foah th’ show, three t’ git ready, naow go,

guarantee, finishing up with his comeback

cats, go!

glory in the late 1960s and his later days as

In person, he can slip into his Elvis

one of the first big-name musicians to make

persona at the drop of an invite. But Pete

the Las Vegas show scene a star-struck

Paquette is the first to admit that it takes a

dream. “He never ‘died’ after all that,”

lot of hard work to be “The King” for

Paquette said. “Not really.”

anyone except Elvis Presley himself.

So speaks the dedicated Elvis fan. For 25-

“The real Elvis always arrived half an

year-old Paquette, The King lives forever,

hour, 20 minutes, before show time,”

whether as part of his own tribute show or in

Paquette explained, with a smile. “In the

the hearts and minds of his family, friends,

movie, Elvis On Tour, he says ‘I don’t like

and followers.

to arrive too early.’ Me, I’m there (on set)

“I became a fan at age 6,” Paquette said,

quite early to make sure the band is there

adding that he began doing his own

and the sound check is done. If the show is

imitations of Elvis, for family and friends

at eight, I’ll definitely be there by three.”

back in Vankleek Hill, when he was eight. “I

Paquette transforms into The King in

just loved what I had seen on T.V., his Aloha

Rockland April 30 at the Salle de spectacle

Special, and the Elvis Comeback Tribute

Optimiste Performance Hall. Tickets are

video.”

available in Hawkesbury at Jane’s

Behind the signature curled sneering lip,

Creations at the Hawkesbury Centre on

Elvis was a man who was generous with

Main Street.

friends and family, and towards the end of

It ain’t easy being king, or The King, but

his singing career, Paquette noted, turned

Paquette has made a career out of his

more and more back to his original Southern

passion for everything Elvis for going on a

gospel choir roots.

decade now. The difference this year, when

“Gospel followed him throughout his

he brings his show to Rockland is that it

whole career. He won his only (Grammy)

will be HIS show and no one else’s.

award for a gospel album. He used gospel

“I’ve been doing this for 10 years, but I

more and more towards the end, along with

used to be the guy who was a part of a

his old rockabilly hits.”

(tribute) show,” Paquette said. “I have a

What few people realize is how big a

lot more to worry about, being in charge,

legacy of music Elvis left behind him. Along

because when you’re the producer of a

with all his familiar hits, Presley recorded

show, you’re in charge of a whole lot of

more than 800 songs of all sorts, from gospel

things. But this way I have control over

and rockabilly to ballad and contemporary.

what people will see.”

Many remain unreleased and unknown

What Elvis fans, both the diehards and

except to the hardcore Elvis aficionado.

the casuals, and folks just looking for a fun

“He was the best entertainer,” Paquette

evening out can expect to see, Paquette

said. “He had the best charisma. He was

promises, is a whole lotta shakin’ goin’ on!

admired. He was the best example of the

Pete Paquette is The King in Rockland April 30.

“When people hear the name Pete

American Dream.”

IN COOPERATION WITH

TM

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INVITE YOU TO THE GLENGARRY-PRESCOTT-RUSSELL CANDIDATES MEETING ON MONDAY, APRIL 25, 2011 - 7 TO 9 PM AT THE ST-ISIDORE COMMUNITY CENTRE

CANDIDATES: Julie Bourgeois (Liberal) Pierre Lemieux (PC) Sylvie Lemieux (Green) Denis Séguin (NDP)

PROGRAMME: Candidates speeches Questions from the public Questions from the media Candidates final word

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