English pop star and Elvis fan Cliff Richard stopped by Graceland this weekend while in Memphis recording a new album. Richard, who has sold over 260 million records worldwide, dominated the British popular music scene in the pre-Beatles period of the late 1950s and early 1960s. His 1958 hit single "Move It" is often described as Britain's first authentic rock 'n' roll song. He continues to record and perform around the world and is the only artist, other than Elvis, to make the UK singles charts in all of its first six decades (1950s–2000s).
This was a return visit for Richard who came to Graceland in the '60s as a guest of Elvis' father, Vernon Presley. Richard was very excited to be back at the home of the King of Rock 'n' Roll and said, "Elvis is the reason I became a rock singer. If he hadn't been around, I don't think there would've been a Cliff Richard either."
One very lucky group of Graceland guests, who happened to be from the UK, had a very special moment when, just before they entered the mansion for their tour, Cliff Richard exited. Their mouths dropped open and one guest said, "CLIFF RICHARD...What are YOU doing here?" Richard responded with a smile, "You never know who you are going to see at Graceland!"
It's nice that Cliff is visiting the Elvis sights while he is in Memphis recording his new album, he visited the Sun Studio last week. One chart statistic that is even more amazing than six decades of chart hits is that he has had number one records in the first five of those decades. Cliff has always acknowledged the debt he owes to Elvis in giving him a musical career. He has recorded pretty much every genre of music, just like Elvis.
Right you are Tony, I've always been a huge fan of Cliff, and listening to his records still gives me the same joy as it gave me more than 50years ago. Always El.
Cliff is hardly known in the USA save for one hit in the 70's. Ive always liked me though and just seeing him standing there looking fit & healthy 34 years after Elvis died, drives home the point of just how senseless Elvis' death was and how he didnt care anymore about himself.
Cliff had the chance to meet up with Elvis in 1976, but declined, saying he'd rather wait until El was in better shape !
He has always been one of the best British pop artists and did some very good simple rock n roll, in the late 1950s. However, he could never be described as a true "heart singer", like Elvis. Just listen again to Elvis singing "Don't", "Peace in the Valley"," Hurt", "Anything thats part of You" "Loving Arms" etc, etc. Also, Cliff would never be able to come anywhere near Elvis on real blues like "Reconsider Baby" "Down in the Alley" I feel so Bad" or Merry Christmas Baby". I think Cliff has tried to stretch beyond his scope, with Bold as Brass. He should have retired, a few years ago.
Cliff had some decent pop stuff in the early 60's but we never heard him on the radio in the States. The first British stars we knew of were The Beatles and even then Cliff never got airplay. We had Rick Nelson , Dion, Darin and many others who were like Cliff in a way but I think much better.
Cliff was extremely popular late 50s and early 60s in Europe. In Holland he was even bigger than Elvis. He made some very good pop tunes early in his career and later on survived the mercey beat era with excellent ballads like 'Visions' , 'Wind Me Up' and 'The Minute You're Gone' . I didn't care for him after, let's say, 1966 ( when he found his love in Christ) but his early stuff is really catchy. Today, he still sells out huge venues all over Europe, so the statement 'he should have retired, a few years ago' is laughable. He never was as brilliant as The King, but he's a legend of his time.
Whatever one thinks of Cliff's musical talent one cannot deny he is a gentleman and praises Elvis whenever he gets a chance. He has also had an amazing career and has many loyal fans.
Cliff was never the real thing. We only had one real rock n roll star in England and that was Billy Fury. Easily better than a lot of the american stars ( eddie cochran, Rick Nelson ). Idolised Elvis as well and met him on the set of Girls Girls Girls. Cliff just happened to be there at the beginning and bore a slight resemblence to Elvis in his early days. Give him respect though for the nice things he says about Elvis.
Nice to see Cliff Richard, pay his respects to Elvis Presley. Cliff had alot of hit singles in the mid 70s and early 80s in America, such as "Devil Woman", "We don't talk anymore","Dreamin", "Carrie", "Suddenly" (A duet with Olivia Newton John) among others.
Back in the early '60s, Cliff was the UK answer to Elvis as the Monkeys were the US answer to the Beatles. Simple. He started out in Elvis' shadow and became a creditable singer later on in his own right. He still has his fans here in the UK (mostly 60-70 year old women) and he comes across well in interviews but can only be seen as a MOTR singer in my eyes. His private life is very 'private' shall I say and that's up to him. I'm glad he finally got to do the Graceland tour. I have read that he turned up at Gothestrasse 14 in 1960 but Elvis wasn't home. That's when I read that he had met Vernon and not at Graceland but hey! what do I know. I hope his memory isn't going like Tommy Steel's who I am certain never met Elvis in London. Come on!!!
I only really discovered Cliff Richard abou 7 or 8 years ago after I picked up a soundtrack album of Summer Holiday which is DIVINE! I then started listening to soundbites of some of his other stuff and was amazed to find out how long he had been recording. He has a fine voice but I think he musical arrangements of some of his songs held him back, they just didn't translate into record sales here in the US. His 70's music did a lot better in the US than his 50's output. All in all you have to admire someone his age who can still sing well and be in good physical shape as well. (Anyone see Bob Dylan on the Grammy's? ouch! retire -puh-lease!
I really like Cliff and i think his reunion concert with the shadows at the o2 is fantastic. But as Andy mentioned the best britisch rock'n'roller is and will always be Billy Fury.One of the most underrated singers of all time. Altough i wouldn't go so far as to call him better than Eddie Cochran,who was a genius!
Early Cliff OK to a point, but further on into the 60's just mediocre pop. But, credit where it's due, Cliff always gives a generous amount of credit to Elvis for his own career. There is little point in comparing him to Elvis there is / was only one Elvis. I share the views about Billy Fury probably being the UK's foremost 'rocker' and if you ever get the chance to listen to his live version of 'Thats All Right' where he starts almost talking the lines and ratchets it up each subsequent verse, I think it's a brilliant arrangement and suprised Elvis did not copy it into his live shows, that would have been a real treat. Excellent covers by Billy of Loving You, Don't be Cruel and Can't Help Falling in Love too.
Cliff is always ready to claim Elvis as his hero,but I have to say Billy Fury & later Shakin' Stevens were closer to a tribute than Sir Cliff.
He had the chance to meet the "king" but declined as did Suzi Quatro,two reasons for not liking them too much.
Billy Fury might be a better 'rocker' , but, like it or not, Cliff had the whole package in his early days. The looks, the songs, the voice and the movies. Also he had a amazing backing with the Shadows, and they became legends of their own. Fury, and some others, mostly only made it to the tops of the UK, but Cliff was huge all over Europe. His movies even made it to the US ( re-titeled), and most of his early singles went straight up to the number 1 position in England and Holland. He outsold everyone in those days.
Here we go again, Cliff pays tribute to Elvis yet again and the usual people come out to snipe at him. Quite sad, really. To clear up a point made by Atlant15 who suggested that Cliff's memory may be going, it certainly isn't. Cliff visited Elvis' home in Germany in 1959 but Elvis was in Paris at the time.Three years later, in late 1962, Cliff played live in Memphis. Vernon and Dee were in the audience, met Cliff backstage and invited him and The Shadows to visit Graceland, which they did. Again, Elvis was not there, he was in Hollywood. With regard to Mr. Steele, his memory is not fading, he is just a liar. The man he met in England was Lamar Fike.
Well said Tony! Theres a great short colour clip on youtube of Cliff visiting Elvis' home in Bad Nauheim in 1959. Search for Cliff Richard, Germany, Elvis. ;-)
Well said indeed Tony. Couldn't agree more commoneverybody, and Cliff made it not just in Britain and Holland, but in Belgium too. Paying my respect though to Billy Fury, Marty Wilde, Shaking Stevens and some other British rockers, all from the same "Class" as Cliff. Fact is that all those guys admit(ted) that Elvis was the key to their musical career. Always El.
probably the dullest pop star there has ever been. Can never be called a rock star as he abandoned it in 59 with the dirge that is Livin Doll to take up the mantle as the house wives favourite. Would have fitted in well with the likes of bobby vee, frankie Avalon etc. Wouldn't make my top 20 rock n rollers. Mistletoe and wine has to be the worst record ever.
You've made your opion earlier in this topic Andy. No need for more....
Didn't realise you only had one shot. How many times have you commented on this topic? Probably becuae i've said something negative. Sorry but we don't all love Sir Cliff.
Miss You Nights is in my ears one of the best ballads ever. Sir Cliff still performs it with a feel that is outstanding, no matter if he does it as a duet, a capella or orchestrated... it is always a (midnight) diamond.
Why bash the guy like a lot of the readers of this site seem to have to do. He's like us a fan visiting Graceland. No need to criticize.
Hi Oldscudder , well said, amen to that ! Always El.
Judging by the looks of things, cliff may be the first 100 year old pop singer ever in 29 year's time. No slowing (and no aging) this great Elvis admirer and fan. May he long continue to entertain. (though less of your dancing, please?)
