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LARRY
BRANSON isn't like
the others in his field. He isn't
like the 1,500 registered Elvis
impersonators whose guises
range from the Young, Svelte
Black-Leather Elvis to Fat Vegas
Elvis in Chrome Sunglasses.
So when people hear that he
makes a decent living from
performing as Orbison they
shouldn't cringe and think him
a crass, opportunistic greed-head
Because Larry Branson is down-
right reverent.
"I hope people realize that I'm
doing a tribute out of respect for
Roy, to keep his music going"
says
Branson, 52, over coffee at
a local pub. "If any of his family
was against what I'm doing... I
would be out of it".
"It" consists of his act the
Roy
Orbison Story, a hit musical
he starred in for over three years,
Legends
In Concert, a Las Vegas
production that utilizes his
talents whenever possible and
the Legends of Rock'n'Roll, the
show that brought him to
the
forefront in1989 and which he
will again tour with in Australia
during the autumn of this year.
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Branson has been doing his
uncanny
impression of Orbison world-over receiving standing ovations in venues
ranging from the small pubs to the venerable Piccadilly Theatre in
London's prestigious West End, where he performed eight shows a week for
over a year. His jet black hair, mash- potato features and, most
importantly, his voice have caused their fair share of double-takes.
But reviews of his work by those best
equipped to pass judgment on a tribute to the Big O are the real measure
of his success in honoring his idol.
Branson's manager, Les Vogt, signed him
after hearing him perform some Orbison songs at a hometown pub. Which
isn't extraordinary until you realize that Vogt traveled the world with
Roy Orbison during the late 70's working as a sometimes promoter and road
manager for the man behind the shades.
"I'm not imagining this, this isn't a
mirage", Vogt says of Branson.
His assessment of his client, who when
dressed for the stage is Roy Orbison. "From a few rows back, I
don't think there's anyone in the |
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world
who can tell the difference. The guy even laughs like Roy".
Vogt, who is friends with Sam Orbison,
brother of the late singer, and is working with him on a deal that would
see Branson depicting his idol in a docu-drama about Roy, says even he is
impressed. "When Sam first came up to see Larry, I think he was
stunned, frankly. In an interview, he just flat came out and said he
couldn't tell the difference.
Branson says he's been trying to get in
touch with Barbara Orbison, widow and keeper of the Roy Orbison estate,
since he began performing his tribute shows. And the married father of two
hopes she will approve of his efforts. An amusing notion since Branson was
cast as Roy in the Roy Orbison Story, a play Barbara has already endorsed.
"The ultimate thing to me is doing
this tribute to Roy, to such a great artist. When I'm on stage, I know who
I am and what I'm doing, but I always feel Roy's presence around me.
He isn't alone. |
