Liam Murphy
(The King)

It is believed that there are in excess of 85,000 Elvis Impersonators in the world today! (Source experts.about.com) In the USA the top impersonators from around the world compete in the "Elvis Idol" Competition for the title "The World's Finest Elvis Impersonator" In June 2006, an Irishman named Liam Murphy WON the competition beating off all his competitors from around the globe and catapulted him to international acclaim. Ten of Ireland's top musician (ex Riverdance, Mary Black, Brian Kennedy etc) immediately and enthusiastically joined up to this to form the GI Blues Band, Brass Orchestra and Gospel Singers. Upon his return from his win, an Irish Summer Tour kicked off in Vicar Street. The reactions to the shows have been phenomenal. To wide critical acclaim, the shows have enthralled and entertained audiences in all parts of the country.

Not only is Liam's voice identical to Elvis, his show is exhilarating and action packed. The two hour show features most of Elvis's big hits and also Elvis songs that most impersonators would be afraid to attempt, like Bridge Over Troubled Water, Proud Mary and You've Lost that Lovin' Feeling. Liam is one of the few Elvis performers that captures Elvis in his prime and every little nuance has the audience screaming for more. He kicks off the first half of the blistering show wearing the early "Las Vegas" suit. After a brief interval, he really gets the crowd going when he arrives out wearing the black leather "68 Comeback Special" suit and mingles with the screaming crowd. After another brief interval, he finishes the final third of the show off wearing the "Aloha from Hawaii" suit.

All Liam's costumes are hand made by the same company that made Elvis' and are exact replicas as is the pink paisley Fender guitar that was flown in especially for the "It's Elvis - A Liam Murphy Tribute" show which makes this show one of the most spectacular and authentic Elvis shows ever.

Listen to Liam

These are the full songs and are in MP3 format so please be patient  while they download, please note that these songs are not featured in the show, but are featured in Liam's stage show "Its Elvis"

"Always On My Mind"  Click here

"Viva Las Vegas"  Click here

"In The Ghetto"  Click here
 

                                   Review by George Twamley Sec. Irish Elvis Presley Fan Club.          

A new Irish "Elvis" tribute show made it's debut at Dublin's Vicar Street. Before an enthusiastic audience, Liam Murphy and The G.I. Blues Band played their first show at the famed Dublin venue before embarking on a nationwide tour, and if last night's show was anything to go by Irish Elvis fan's across the country are in for a real treat. The show on the whole is based basically around two legendary shows given by Elvis Presley in the seventies "That's The Was It Is" and "Aloha From Hawaii" with some songs from the 68 TV Special also featured.                                      
                                                

The show commenced with the 2001  theme familiar to all fans with Liam appearing on stage dressed in a replica of the jump suit worn by Elvis in the "That's The Way It Is" documentary which  was handmade in Elvis' home town of Memphis, with a guitar draped over his shoulder he opened the show with a driving version of C.C. Rider. This was followed by a set of songs mostly taken from the Vegas shows, but for me what was striking about this first set of songs was that many of them such as "Just Pretend"  "Bridge Over Troubled Waters" and "Steamroller Blues"  are songs that are not normally featured in most Elvis tribute shows certainly not here in Ireland, but I have to say that these big production numbers certainly showcased Liam's considerable vocal ability and received a very good response from the audience. Liam has to be admired for including these songs in his repertoire.

After a short break Liam returned to the stage when he then, suitably attired in a black leather suit featured songs from the 68 TV special such as "Trouble" "Guitar Man" Love Me Tender" and "Hound Dog" to name just a few, at several points in the show Liam left the stage and moved through the audience creating quite a stir amongst some of the female members of the audience.

After another short break Liam once again draped in his "That's The Way It Is" jump suit treated his audience to another tour de force of seventies songs and again many of these songs would not be a regular feature on other Elvis tribute shows and I was particularly impressed with his beautiful version of  "I Remember You" a song that Elvis featured in his 1973 "Aloha From Hawaii" TV documentary. Other highlight of the show was a fantastic version of "In The Ghetto" with a new arrangement of the song, a powerful version of "My Way" and of course to round of the show the obligatory version of "An American Trilogy" Liam then left the stage to a standing ovation  and by popular demand returned to sing one final number fittingly the song traditionally Elvis always finished his shows with in the seventies "Cant Help Falling In Love"

Apart from Liam himself a lot of the credit for the success of this show must be given to Liam's band The G.I. Blues Band and his backing vocalists who done a brilliant job and here special credit must be given to Musical Director Declan Kennedy whose arrangements were near perfect apart from playing a mean lead guitar, which incidentally is an exact replica of James Burton's famous pink Fender guitar. There was also a guest appearance of The Soul Glow Gospel Choir.

So There you have it, so just one last word if "Elvis - The Las Vegas Show" comes to a town near you I urge you not to miss it, you don't have to be an Elvis fan to enjoy this one.

Listen to "Elvis Extra" live on line on Dublins Country Mix 106.8 fm every Sunday 7-8pm. www.perfectstation.com

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