It's all about the music - Elvis singer's cancer scare makes every gig poignant - The Redditch Standard

It's all about the music - Elvis singer's cancer scare makes every gig poignant

Redditch Editorial 3rd Jun, 2018 Updated: 15th Jun, 2018   0

THE hits of the King will be brought to life when Richard Griffin brings his Elvis Presley Songbook to Studley Village Hall on Saturday, June 16.

But anyone looking for an Elvis impersonator will be disappointed as for Richard, it’s all about the songs the King sang.

“I sing the songs as myself but I’ve always loved the music and not just the hits from his early days to the jumpsuit era,” said Richard.

“His back catalogue was huge, for instance performing songs by Neil Diamond like ‘Sweet Caroline’ yet he never gets the recognition these days of having performed them.




“The music has always been a big part of my life and Elvis is the only reason I got on stage and started singing.”

Richard started doing his Elvis routine in his 20s but it was a brush with cancer that persuaded to perform the King’s songs full time.


“The diagnosis came right out the blue, caught me by surprise,” he said.

“It was a bit of a life changing experience, but I had the op and I’m one of the lucky ones, although I’ve got keep going back for check-ups.

“Obviously we discussed things and my partner said, ‘go with what you love,’ so I did, and we haven’t looked back,” said the 42-year-old.

“You only get one chance in life in life.”

Richard has performed his Elvis Songbook all over the Midlands and he admits that Studley was always a place he drove through and thought it was time to stop and take a look at what he was missing.

“I used to live in Evesham and was always going back and forth – I’ve always loved small towns and villages where there is a real sense of community and support for what is going on,” he said.

“I don’t pretend to be Elvis as I feel the songs themselves are the star of the show, so many of the famous numbers will be performed including ‘An American Trilogy’, ‘Blue Suede Shoes’, ‘Suspicious Minds’, and so many more.”

Tickets for this show are £7.50 or £7 concessions from the village hall, on the door or direct from Richard at www.facebook.com/richardgsinger .

Richard will also be making a donation to Macmillan Cancer Care to say thank you for his care.

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