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’stintwiththeU.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
horrifiessomeoftheirparents,withhissurly,
other,moretraditionalmusicstyles,hisdays
crew take the audience on a musical time
sultrysingingandhip-swingingstagemoves
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, naowgo,
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,”
whetheraspartofhisowntributeshoworin
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 inVankleekHill, when hewas eight. “I
Paquette transforms into The King in
just lovedwhat I had seen onT.V., hisAloha
RocklandApril 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
Itain’teasybeingking,orTheKing,but
his singing career, Paquette noted, turned
Paquette has made a career out of his
moreandmorebacktohisoriginalSouthern
passion for everything Elvis for going on a
gospel choir roots.
decadenow.Thedifferencethisyear,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 andmore towards the end, alongwith
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 ofmusic 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
morethan800songsofallsorts,fromgospel
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 awhole 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
C O G E C O C A B L E
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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