50 years since the passing of Roy Hamilton, who died on the day of the moon landing. Elvis’s favourite singer and the man who inspired Sam Cooke to start singing secular music. His 1954version of You’ll Never Walk Alone was the one which inspired Gerry Marsden to record it. The Righteous Brothers copied his phrasing on Unchained melody. Ashamed to say I hadn’t known of him until watching a documentary about Elvis. Worth reading about. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roy_Hamilton These songs show how he influenced Presley and how Elvis adapted his style to Hamilton’s when he started to do ballads, especially in the second song in his Las Vegas days. Elvis made secret of his admiration for him and his influence. And Gerry Marsden who based his version on Hamilton’s superior one.
Elvis liked Tom Jones as a person and enjoyed his company. But he was influenced by Roy Hamilton. He only met him once. Elvis heard he was in the building where he was recording and stopped and insisted on meeting him. He had been given a song called Angelica but told Hamilton to record it as he could sing it better than him. Six months later Hamilton had a stroke, never recovered and died on the day of the moon landing. It is on here. Well worth watching for insights from people who worked with Elvis. Elvis: The Rebirth of the King: www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b09kkkbx via @bbciplayer
David Hedison, 92 - 60's tv watchers will remember him from Voyage To The Bottom Of The Sea, he also played Felix Leiter in Bond films. A good age, RIP.
Musical genius and such a tragic waste, she’d still only be 35 now, and where the **** did those eight years go?!
Russian Boxer Maxim Dadashev died after injuries sustained during his fight on Friday night aged just 28.
Saw her live once when supporting Arctic Monkeys at Old Trafford cricket ground. Seemed a bit spaced out but her vocals were absolutely perfect. Great shame.
17th July: Andrea Camilleri, creator of Inspector Montalbano, aged 93. He was executed by the Mafia and his remains were found in a burned-out car. (Or, if you prefer the truth, he died in a Rome hospital after a heart attack.) RIP.
