Ben Portsmouth, Taking Care of Elvis
22nd January 2016
Cliffs Pavilion, Southend-on-Sea
22nd January 2016
Cliffs Pavilion, Southend-on-Sea
Ben Portsmouth, a multi talented musician, singer and songwriter had Elvis's DNA in his blood from an early age. His father was an avid Elvis fan and Ben grew up on a diet of Elvis songs. Having honed his musical talent Ben started his journey as an Elvis Tribute Artist in 2005 when he formed the "Taking Care of Elvis" band.
Audiences and promoters quickly realised that this was someone with a special talent. He looked like Elvis, sang like Elvis and had an on stage charisma that had audiences believing at times they were watching the King himself. This talent saw Ben rapidly rise through the ranks of Elvis Tribute Artists in the UK - he was sexy, didn't need a wig and was wearing the most authentic outfits flown in from America.
In August 2012, Ben made history when he won the Elvis Presley Enterprises “Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest’which took place in Memphis, crowning Ben as the “Worldwide Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist”, the only artist from outside the USA to ever win this prestigious title.
Audiences and promoters quickly realised that this was someone with a special talent. He looked like Elvis, sang like Elvis and had an on stage charisma that had audiences believing at times they were watching the King himself. This talent saw Ben rapidly rise through the ranks of Elvis Tribute Artists in the UK - he was sexy, didn't need a wig and was wearing the most authentic outfits flown in from America.
In August 2012, Ben made history when he won the Elvis Presley Enterprises “Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest’which took place in Memphis, crowning Ben as the “Worldwide Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist”, the only artist from outside the USA to ever win this prestigious title.
The humble and down to earth Ben very kindly took some time out of his busy schedule to answer some of my questions about his tribute act and I began by asking him how his friends reacted to him being into Elvis when he was a young lad. “They were generally quite surprised, I think, but they just got used to it as it became a part of my life” he explains.
As a child, Ben was a member of the church choir and would always perform at Christmas concerts, although he admits that he initially tried to hide his love of Elvis’s music from his Elvis mad dad. So what does his dad think about his success now? “He is happy and proud, I hope. He comes to my shows when he can.”
The name of Ben’s band is a rather fitting tribute to the King of Rock and Roll as Elvis’s band was called ‘Taking Care of Business’ and so Ben just switched the last word to create ‘Taking Care of Elvis’. “I always try my best to imitate Elvis in the most respectful way possible.” he assures me.
I ask Ben if visiting Graceland had any impact on his life at all and he tells me, “To see all the gold records and the pieces of someone’s life [at Graceland] was very touching and emotional.” He even got to meet Elvis’s bodyguards and some of his co-stars while he was in the States.
I wonder how it must have felt for Ben to have not only won the “Worldwide Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist”, in Memphis, but to also be the only artist from outside the USA to ever win this prestigious title, to which he admits, “I never believed they would give the title to a non American, so I feel extremely lucky and honoured.”
So what makes Ben Portsmouth stand out from all the rest of the Elvis tributes? “I really don’t know,” comes his honest reply, “that’s a question for the fans. I can never thank them enough for their support.” I ask him if his fans ever do anything racy while he’s on stage, “Every performance there is always something, but yes, someone did throw their knickers on stage once!” One fan, Harriet Keith, says of Ben, "He is such a sweet and funny person off stage, and WOW what talent on stage! I think Elvis himself would approve of him. I am usually not one for tribute artists, especially of Elvis because no one can replace him. But, Ben- well, he is in a class by himself. And, I have heard him sing one of his own songs- very good! I think he is here to stay!"
Looking at videos and photographs of Ben, it really is uncanny how he looks and sounds so much like Elvis. He even seems to have taken on so many of Elvis’s characteristics, along with his facial expressions and smile. This is something that Ben says has been a natural process but he confesses that he has watched a lot of films and documentaries along the way.
Ben says that his performance on the David Letterman Show in the USA has been the highlight of his career so far. “It was an amazing opportunity and from that appearance came a lot of exposure for which I am extremely grateful.”
He has also been fortunate enough to be able to perform some of his own material in America recently and hopes to be able to finish recording an album of his own original music soon.
Finally, I ask Ben what he would say to Elvis, if he could turn back time and meet the man himself. “I would talk to him about music and maybe give him a few song suggestions that he could cover.”
I wonder what Elvis would say to Ben. I have a feeling he would give him a big old pat on the back and say, “I thank you very much.”
A fitting tribute to the King of Rock and Roll.
There are a few remaining seats left at the Cliffs Pavilion on Friday 22nd January 2015 - but you need to grab them quickly.
Call the Box office on 01702 351135 or go online www.southendtheatres.org.uk
As a child, Ben was a member of the church choir and would always perform at Christmas concerts, although he admits that he initially tried to hide his love of Elvis’s music from his Elvis mad dad. So what does his dad think about his success now? “He is happy and proud, I hope. He comes to my shows when he can.”
The name of Ben’s band is a rather fitting tribute to the King of Rock and Roll as Elvis’s band was called ‘Taking Care of Business’ and so Ben just switched the last word to create ‘Taking Care of Elvis’. “I always try my best to imitate Elvis in the most respectful way possible.” he assures me.
I ask Ben if visiting Graceland had any impact on his life at all and he tells me, “To see all the gold records and the pieces of someone’s life [at Graceland] was very touching and emotional.” He even got to meet Elvis’s bodyguards and some of his co-stars while he was in the States.
I wonder how it must have felt for Ben to have not only won the “Worldwide Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist”, in Memphis, but to also be the only artist from outside the USA to ever win this prestigious title, to which he admits, “I never believed they would give the title to a non American, so I feel extremely lucky and honoured.”
So what makes Ben Portsmouth stand out from all the rest of the Elvis tributes? “I really don’t know,” comes his honest reply, “that’s a question for the fans. I can never thank them enough for their support.” I ask him if his fans ever do anything racy while he’s on stage, “Every performance there is always something, but yes, someone did throw their knickers on stage once!” One fan, Harriet Keith, says of Ben, "He is such a sweet and funny person off stage, and WOW what talent on stage! I think Elvis himself would approve of him. I am usually not one for tribute artists, especially of Elvis because no one can replace him. But, Ben- well, he is in a class by himself. And, I have heard him sing one of his own songs- very good! I think he is here to stay!"
Looking at videos and photographs of Ben, it really is uncanny how he looks and sounds so much like Elvis. He even seems to have taken on so many of Elvis’s characteristics, along with his facial expressions and smile. This is something that Ben says has been a natural process but he confesses that he has watched a lot of films and documentaries along the way.
Ben says that his performance on the David Letterman Show in the USA has been the highlight of his career so far. “It was an amazing opportunity and from that appearance came a lot of exposure for which I am extremely grateful.”
He has also been fortunate enough to be able to perform some of his own material in America recently and hopes to be able to finish recording an album of his own original music soon.
Finally, I ask Ben what he would say to Elvis, if he could turn back time and meet the man himself. “I would talk to him about music and maybe give him a few song suggestions that he could cover.”
I wonder what Elvis would say to Ben. I have a feeling he would give him a big old pat on the back and say, “I thank you very much.”
A fitting tribute to the King of Rock and Roll.
There are a few remaining seats left at the Cliffs Pavilion on Friday 22nd January 2015 - but you need to grab them quickly.
Call the Box office on 01702 351135 or go online www.southendtheatres.org.uk
Watch Ben in action as The King, Elvis Presley here....