With an entertainment career spanning over six decades, Marty Rhone has seen it all; he has shared the stage with the Rolling Stones and Yul Brynner, performed for the British Royal Family, had top ten hits and sung and acted on television since he was 14.
But Rhone believes his current show, a tribute to Elvis and Sir Cliff Richard named The King of Rock and the Prince of Pop, stands alone.
“My creative director, John St Peeters, and I decided about five years ago that if we went out on the road again we didn’t just want to do concerts, we wanted to do events, experiences,” Rhone said.
“There are a lot of shows around, but this is definitely unique; it’s like nothing I’ve ever seen here in Australia, and very few people are doing this sort of thing overseas.
“John has created this amazing visual experience around the music of both Elvis and Cliff Richard, where we have Elvis and Cliff on a giant screen behind us mouthing to our voices. It’s quite an experience.”
Rhone, who has been singing the music of Cliff Richard in a number of different shows since 2007, is joined by Mark Andrew, a pioneer of Elvis tribute shows in Australia who is known worldwide.
“Mark is regarded as one of the best Elvis performers in the world to this day,” Rhone said.
“He’s worked all over the world, he’s worked in Vegas, Memphis, he’s a friend of the Presley family.
“And in Melbourne in August, he performed at Hamer Hall leading 109 other musicians and singers which now holds the record as the biggest Elvis concert staged anywhere in the world.
“It was a phenomenal show, sold out Hamer Hall, and he said from his perspective it was the highlight of his career.”
Like many creative pursuits over the past two years, the King of Rock and the Prince of Pop has faced, and surmounted, great challenges, but Rhone said the pay-off was worth the wait.
“We’ve had some amazing feedback, people saying it’s the best show they’ve ever seen, which is one heck of an accolade,” Rhone said.
“I can’t judge that as I’m doing the show, but these are the sorts of comments we’ve been receiving throughout the tour.
“It’s been a challenge to get the tour on, but I’m pleased to say we’ve managed to do all but two shows, and we’re going to be in Geelong on the 17th of September with bells on.”
The King of Rock and the Prince of Pop will be performed at Costa Hall on Saturday, September 17.
