Doug Parkinson Interview

Doug Parkinson Interview

Doug Parkinson, the Big Bopper himself is inviting you to shake, rattle and roll for Elvis Meets Buddy. Elvis Meets Buddy is a stage spectacular that brings Elvis Presley and Buddy Holly together in concert.

Elvis Meets Buddy features Doug Parkinson, Donny Edwards (Elvis) and Scott Cameron (Buddy).

Elvis Meets Buddy takes audiences back to the fifties with exaggerated colour, greased back hair and crazy fashion. The fifties was the era that gave birth to Rock and Roll, of course!

Doug Parkinson has enjoyed a long and remarkably varied career in the Australian music industry and is regarded as one of Australia's finest vocalists, a 'singer's singer' who is one of the truly great soul/R&B vocalists of our time. More importantly Doug Parkinson owns the run of the Big Bopper from the inaugural Buddy the Musical stage show wowing audiences across Australia and New Zealand. His deep, resonant, smoky baritone voice is operatic in its power, yet possesses a range and subtlety that few others can match. His sound is instantly recognisable and unmistakable, yet his great versatility enables him to be equally at home in almost every popular genre including soul, R&B, pop, psychedelia, heavy rock, jazz, swing and musicals. Added to his vocal prowess are an imposing stage presence (including his trademark 'Lucifer' beard) and a solid acting ability.

Tour Dates
Wednesday, April 21 & Thursday, April 22: The Palms at Crown, Melbourne VIC
Friday, April 23 & Saturday April 24: Astor Theatre, Perth, WA
Wednesday, April 28: Warrnambool Entertainment Centre, Warrnambool, VIC
Thursday, April 29: Sir Robert Helpmann Theatre, Mt Gambier, SA
Friday, April 30 & Saturday May 1: Her Majesty's, Adelaide, SA
Sunday, May 2: Chaffey Theatre, Renmark, SA
Tuesday, May 4: Dapto Leagues Club, Wollongong, NSW
Wednesday, May 5: Wests Leagues, Newcastle, NSW
Thursday, May 6: Southern Cross Club, Canberra, ACT
Friday, May 7: Evan Theatre, Penrith Panthers, Penrith, NSW
Saturday, May 8: The State Theatre, Sydney, NSW
Sunday, May 9: Revesby Workers Club, Revesby, NSW
Wednesday, May 12: Civic Centre, Townsville, QLD
Thursday, May 13: Convention Centre, Mackay, QLD
Friday, May 14: Entertainment Centre, Proserpine, QLD
Saturday, May 15: Cairns Civic Centre, Cairns, QLD
Tuesday, May 18: Cultural Centre, Capella, QLD
Wednesday, May 19: Entertainment Centre, Gladstone, QLD
Thursday, May 20: Moncrieff Theatre, Bundaberg, QLD
Friday, May 21: Brolga Theatre, Maryborough, QLD
Saturday, May 22: Civic Hall, Ipswich, QLD
Sunday, May 23: Events Centre, Caloundra, QLD
Tuesday, May 25: Cultural Centre, Redcliffe, QLD
Wednesday, May 26: Joe's Waterhole, Eumundi, QLD
Thursday, May 27: QPAC Concert Hall, Brisbane, QLD
Friday, May 28: Twin Towns Services Club, Tweed Heads, QLD
Saturday, May 29: Empire Theatre, Toowoomba, QLD
Sunday, May 30: Performing Arts Centre, Redlands, QLD

For more information see: www.elvismeetsbuddy.com

Interview with Doug Parkinson

Tells us about the Elvis Meets Buddy show?

Doug Parkinson: It differs from other shows, perhaps of Elvis or Buddy or whichever. This show poses a 'What If' question, 'What if Elvis and Buddy had appeared on the same stage or same concert?' I don't think this has been done before. We are presenting a hypothetical 'what if whilst still in their prime they appeared in the same bill?'


What part do you play in the extravaganza?

Doug Parkinson: I play the part of The Big Bopper, I am the link and I present the two on the same show.


What songs can audiences expect?

Doug Parkinson: All the great Elvis hits up to 1959, when Buddy Holly died, we are keeping it before that year, in that era, so there is no Elvis Las Vegas stuff. It is all pure old, rock and rockabilly style of music. We are trying to keep it as authentic as we can; I think the music deserves that kind of respect. I am the only one who gets a chance to do a bit of variety; I am singing Chantilly Lace, of course, which is his big hit. I also get to do some Jerry Lee Lewis and Chuck Berry, so there is a real variety of music.


How will audiences be taken back to the fifties, with the show?

Doug Parkinson: The show sets the mood for that night, for the era. I hope that people will want to dress up, it is a very loose thing and we are all there to have fun. We wish to encourage people to get up and dance in the aisles, if they want too. In my experience there has been quite a few of the rock-and-roll dance clubs and car clubs, I'm hoping they turn up in costume so we can make a big event of it. It will be fun!


Where did the idea for the show come from?

Doug Parkinson: I was approached by the producers, I had a phone call asking if I wanted to be involved and it was funny, it came on the back of my new album, which I recorded songs from that era. It is weird how these things happen, about three days after I started recording I had the phone call asking if I wanted to be apart of the show, it was too much of an omen to say no! I haven't done any Big Bopper stuff since 1996, I spent four years of performances with the original big show and I swore I'd never do it again, but I think enough time has gone by to do it. I am fired up ready to go.


What can you share from your new album?

Doug Parkinson: I have gone back and chosen all my favourite old fifties tracks, ones that I love, that I have kept secret. Some of them are not as obvious as others; some have been absolute number one smash hits. I am trying to recreate the atmosphere by recording in a studio that has a lot of the old fifties out board gear and recording equipment still there, the owner of the studio is a collector. We used all the old equipment to get the same sort of sound.


Do you prefer performing live or recording?

Doug Parkinson: Definitely live, I love the instant gratification, I like having an audience there. I do like all of it, but I think I am at my best in front of an audience. When your blood is up and the crowd is responding, that is a very special time.


What music/artists do you listen to when you are not playing your own?

Doug Parkinson: I listen to a huge variety of stuff from Pavarotti to The Grizzly Bears, the band and everything in between. I like all types of music and I've sung all types of music; jazz, R&B, ballads soul and rock and roll! I have just finished a Big Band tour with James Morrison. I am lucky I can do all sorts of stuff, which is good because you don't have to bob down into one genre.