Darren's still all shook up (From Dorset Echo)

Darren's still all shook up

10:50am Wednesday 25th March 2009 in

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WEYMOUTH singing sensation Darren H is going on tour with Doug Church – ‘the voice of Elvis’.

He will be travelling all over the country for several dates which will include performances at the Pier Theatre, Bournemouth on Friday, April 3 and a concert at the Rock in Abbotsbury Road, Weymouth on Thursday, April 9.

Darren, who keeps his surname secret, started singing when he was a boy and his brothers ran a disco.

He said: “When I was at school I did drama but never really liked singing, although I was always doing impressions of people.

“My brother ran a disco and one week he got me up to sing a couple of songs. From then on, we advertised it as a disco and cabaret and it went from there.”

As well as impersonating Elvis, Darren also gives excellent renditions of Buddy Holly, John Travolta, Cliff Richard, Eddie Cochran, Jerry Lee Lewis, Neil Sedaka, Bobby Darin, The Bee Gees, Robbie Williams, Tony Hadley and many more.

But he says that sharing a stage with Doug, who has been officially titled ‘the voice of Elvis’ is a dream come true.

“When you hear Doug sing you realise that there is no one in the world who comes close to Elvis like him,” he said. “He asked me to go over to America last November to do some shows for him which was a real honour. I was the first performer from the UK that he had invited over. I did two shows, in Philadelphia and New Jersey, and it was unbelievable. I was getting standing ovations.

“The first time I saw him live, there were people in the audience standing up and cheering and crying. I have to say I was pretty choked too.”

Darren, who worked as a Warner Holidays bluecoat before going professional with his Elvis act, goes to great pains to make sure his act is as authentic as possible.

“I am not one of those tacky, cliched performers because I have a huge respect for Elvis as a man and a performer,” he said. “It costs a lot of money to do the act properly and all of my suits are tailor-made and come from America, then if they need altering I go to a tailor here to get them done.

“I don’t do anything by halves and I like to get it right because I don’t want to give the wrong impression and, let’s face it, there is no one else out there who can come close, musically, to Elvis.”

Darren H and Doug Church are touring nationally but you can catch them in Dorset at the Pier Theatre, Bournemouth on Friday, April 3 at 8pm, where they will be joined by top country rock band Red Alert. Call 01202 306126.

Darren and Doug will also be appearing at the Rock Hotel, Weymouth on Thursday, April 9. Call 01305 784563.