Elvis/ PJ Proby

[Cliff]

For a long time I have heard PJ Proby say that he did demo recordings for Elvis and I must be honest and say I've always doubted this, even though he sounds very much like Elvis. Imagine my amazement when I came across one of these demos for " Fun In Acapulco" on You Tube.
There was another one there for "Slowly But Surely" but the quality was pretty bad.

[KPM]

Yes PJ did quite a few demos for Elvis-because he did sound and sing a lot like him. Writers thought that if Elvis could here it sung-in "Elvis Style" it would help their chances that he might record the song.

[Rhinestone]

I once saw a video of Proby discussing this....yes, he did it. Sorry I don't have a link for this now.

[tcbtigerman]

There'salso been rumors that PJ may be Vernon's illegitimate son.PJ & the Presley's go way back.

[Sonny]

Very interesting Cliff, thanks for the clip!

[sasha]

PJ Proby

[KPM]

There'salso been rumors that PJ may be Vernon's illegitimate son.PJ & the Presley's go way back.

Gee thats a new rumor to me.
PJ was born in Houston in 1938 and thats where he grew up.
I have never heard Vernon was ever in Houston before Elvis became a star so the likely hood of this being even remotely close to true is pretty doubtful.
PJs father was a banker James Smith and PJ actually went to Western Military Academy in Alton Il near my hometown. PJs family were upper crust compared to Vernon and Gladys Presley in Tupelo.
Western Military Academy was one of the premier Military schools in the country back then and it cost quite a bit to go to it. It was closed in the 1971 mainly because the Vietnam war had soured the idea of going into the military for many teens rich and poor.

[Albert]

It was quite common to use artists singing as close as possible as Elvis to record demo tracks. That was the easiest way as a writer to get your demo to be chosen (by record company or Elvis). That's also why so many of these demos almost mimic Elvis' style.

Never really like those demos. It misses that special Elvis-touch.