History
EL GAMBLE is an original Australian icon in the business of Rock 'n'
Roll and in general entertainment. He has achieved almost everything
that there is to achieve in this cut throat business and more, over the
past forty two years.
El started out as a drummer at the age of fifteen, and was in several
bands until the
age of twenty four, when the band he was in sacked the lead singer because
of his drinking habit and gave the front man job to El. El explains " when
they told me that I was to be the new lead singer, I was frightened to
death, because I only knew a hand full of songs that I use to sing from
behind the drums." However, it didn't take long before he got his
act together as a singer, and as we all know the rest is now history.
In 1977 El was managed by by Phil Golotta (Blue Echoes) and was asked
to do a full on replica Elvis Concert show. (This was while Elvis was
still alive)
El dismissed the idea as "simply ludicrous". " After negotiating
with Phil for a month I agreed to do it. I didn't know what I let my
self in for. El rehursed the show with a fourteen piece band during the
day, and worked at nights with his regular five piece band for seven
weeks. The first Elvis show was held at the Council Club hotel (now called
Cramers) in Preston, to a recored breaking attendance which still stands
today.
The show was called "The Life and Times of Elvis Presley" and
had a run of 286 record breaking attendances over thirteen months.
El had had enough of performing as an Elvis act, and decided to take
several months off, before joining a regular Show band "Ramrod".
Since then El has been the front man for the award winning best rock
'n' roll band in Queensland for five
years running "The Cadillacs"(Queensland). EL Gamble returned
back to Melbourne in August 1997, and was snapped up by Kenny Leroy in
the duo "Tom and Gerry" . In 1999 he joined Tony Dee in "Fifties
- Sixties Revival" until 2003, when he teamed up with Marcia Rae
as the "Fifties - Sixties Revival" which lasted until the 12th
of February this year.
Halfway through last year El was struck down by "a mystery virus" which
attacked and killed the nerves on both legs from the knees down, and
had him almost paralysed. "Both of my legs have no feeling in them
even know, and it's hard to balance as I walk, but I was determined,
and now all the hard work has paid off.
I am finally walking again. But I'm amazed at how many people in
this business, had me all washed up and finished. Let me tell you,
no bloody
way".
El is now working as a solo act and is flooded with work for this
year already.
Rock 'n' Roll News has heard a little whisper that EL GAMBLE
will soon have a tribute show on ELVIS' music that is totally
different,
and
has never been done before by any other entertainer untill now.
We all can't
wait, and wish EL the very best of luck in the future.
Finally. EL " I wish to thank everyone who still believed in me
through out my hard times, and I'd like to wish Marcia Rae all the success
that she deserves.
She's a great lady and a top entertainer". That also goes from us
all at Event of Events.
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Biography
The man with the big voice looks to a great year
2006 promises to be an exciting time for El Gamble, the star of club
and cabaret performances around Australia.
Inspired by the success of 'new-take' performers such as Michael Bublé,
El is creating a new act, ending a two-year duo partnership, and long
after putting his Elvis costume into mothballs.
"
I will never wear another jumpsuit again," laughs the singer with
the giant, knockout voice.
That last statement is a big one, considering he once did a full-on Elvis
tribute show for 286 shows to packed, screaming audiences.
Elvis has been good for El. His interpretations of the King's songs have
brought him plenty of work, wild applause, and the critical acclaim of
his peers. Around the traps, it is accepted that when it comes to doing
Elvis, El is the man. But it has tended to paint him into a corner.
"
What ever I sing has got a bit of an Elvis undertone," he says. "Sometimes,
after I've done a non-Elvis song, people will come up to him and say,
'I didn't know Elvis sang that!'."
The solution? New material for his act - including some self-penned -
plus concentration on other big ballads, and an Elvis mini-opera at the
crucial point, squeezing together six or seven Presley classics.
"
I think what Michael Bublé has done is good for singers like me," El
says. "It's a fresh take on classic songs, creating a whole new
audience for them.
" We're looking to developing new arrangements and a style that will give
me a chance to approach songs from a different angle. We want to flesh
it out with a bit of comedy and inter-action with the audience, and
make them go home feeling good."
All this is a long way from the eight-year-old boy who began his career
playing maracas in his uncle's Latin American band. By 11, he had progressed
to drums, by 15 his vocals had developed to the point of flagging interest
amongst local promoters, and for six years he was lead singer for a
cover band, El Gamble & The Rangers.
After more solo work and a stint in The Ramrod Show Band, El was recruited
by Phil Golotta, of the legendary Blue Echoes, for a new show he was
producing, "The Life & Times of Elvis Presley." For 13
months El simply was Elvis. On stage with 16 performers, the crowds
loved him.
It was such an exhausting tour, he needed a break. After that, work
in Melbourne with The Rainbow Show Band and Fat Chance ("the best time
in my life") was followed by a move to Queensland for the health
of his asthmatic son. Within weeks he was heading The Cadillacs, a
premier rock 'n' roll outfit, which saw both El and the band win multiple
awards.
When El returned to Melbourne in 1998, he was thinking of retirement.
But duo stints - with Kenny Le Roy as Tom & Gerry, and with Tony
Dee as The Fifties Sixties Revival - soon had him back on stage. For
the last two years he has been combining solo work, such as Morning
Melodies at Crown Casino, with dueting with Marcia Rae. They mix and
match Tom
Jones with Brenda Lee, and Rick Nelson with Connie Francis.
Along the way, El has worked with everybody from John Farnham to Johnny
O'Keefe, from Wendy Stapleton to Kylie Minogue.
"
I feel confident about our new approach," El says. "I think
I've got the right mix of experience, talent and material to go to
a whole new level."
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