Elvis is officially in the building, and the building is in Dudley.

Express & Star

The Village Hotel in Dudley hosted a special event to mark 90 years of the King himself, Elvis Presley. Hotshots Elvis Fan Club was the organiser and people had travelled in from far and wide.

Transcript

00:00We're here at the Village Hotel in Dudley and who've we got? What's your name, sir?

00:03I'm Phil Shakespeare.

00:04And?

00:05Mindy Luke.

00:06What's happening today? I mean, the poster gives it away there and the music in the background.

00:10What's happening, Phil?

00:11We're at the Village Hotel and we're celebrating Elvis's 90th birthday that would be this week.

00:1790 years, yeah.

00:1890 years celebrating the king.

00:20So you've got, what's happening today? You've got a video set up dance floor.

00:23We've got a video disco. We've got a celebration cake.

00:27Yeah.

00:27We've got three live acts and just party, party, party.

00:31What is it about Elvis for the pair of you then that's kind of, you know, keeps you captivated?

00:37We've always been Elvis fans. Well, since I was eight years old.

00:40Probably the same with you, maybe.

00:42Yeah.

00:42Yeah, and so we keep Elvis alive in the West Midlands.

00:46Running Hot Shots Elvis, which is a club based in, uh, in Albury.

00:50Okay, yeah, so you have regular meetups?

00:52Yeah, we're there 12 times a year.

00:54Yeah, yeah.

00:54We've come to the Village Hotel for a real special party to celebrate a very special occasion.

00:59Where's your base in Albury that you meet up with?

01:01Yeah, we're based at Hot Shots, hence the name.

01:03Oh, okay.

01:03Hot Shots Snooker Club.

01:04Oh, okay, okay.

01:05We're there every, uh, end of every month.

01:08Awesome.

01:09So.

01:10There's no one like him, was there really? Do you know what I mean?

01:12No.

01:12And his music just, just lives on with, with next generation, doesn't it really?

01:16It does, it does.

01:18Any particular favourite songs? I was thinking as I was coming in, I'd struggle.

01:22There's so many great Elvis songs.

01:22Yeah, I'd struggle to pick a favourite song.

01:25You know, I mean, everybody goes with Suspicious Minds or something like that.

01:28Yeah.

01:28Um, I love a song that you probably won't know called I'm Leaving from 1971.

01:33Yeah.

01:33One of my favourites, your favourite is.

01:35Any day now.

01:36Cool.

01:37From 69.

01:38So there's, there's, there's so many Elvis songs.

01:40You can have a different favourite every day.

01:42That says, that says it all about his back catalogue, doesn't it really?

01:45Do you know what I mean? The fact so many people have got different songs they love.

01:48And it never seems to go out of, um, fashion.

01:51Yeah.

01:51You know, we've got young people coming in.

01:53And we've got generations, you know, we also do holidays in Blackpool every year.

01:57Yeah.

01:57Every July we do Blackpool Rocks.

01:59I suppose that film that came out kind of brought a whole new generation again, didn't it?

02:04It did.

02:04It did, yeah, yeah, yeah.

02:06It focused exactly on how brilliant Elvis was.

02:08Yeah.

02:09Well, we'll let you enjoy your day.

02:10Thank you, Phil.

02:11And thank you for inviting us down.

02:12You're welcome.

02:12Jean from Ronald Regis, how are you?

02:14I'm fine, thank you.

02:16Now, you met the man.

02:18You met the king.

02:19What was, go on then, so set the scene.

02:21Where were you, where did it all happen?

02:23Well, I was in the stage seat in Las Vegas.

02:26Yeah.

02:26The Hilton in Las Vegas, yeah?

02:28Yeah.

02:29And Elvis was singing with the stamps.

02:33And when Elvis stopped singing, when he stopped singing and let the stamps carry on.

02:38Yeah.

02:38What I did, I got some binoculars.

02:41Yeah.

02:41Although I was stage seat, but still, put the binoculars on and watched Elvis from top to bottom.

02:48Yeah, yeah.

02:49Charlie Hodge noticed this.

02:52And he said, he told Elvis.

02:55Elvis come across the stage and he said, I'll be over in a minute, will you?

03:00Yeah, yeah.

03:01And he sang two songs and then he came over to me.

03:05And I had the scarf.

03:06Yeah.

03:07He came to me, I put the scarf around his neck and I had the scarf with him.

03:12Yeah.

03:13And he kissed me on the lips.

03:15Wow.

03:16Cool.

03:17And the scarf I gave Elvis.

03:19Yeah.

03:20For another two songs.

03:22Yeah, yeah.

03:24No way.

03:25That's awesome.

03:25So have you got your special scarf still?

03:27Did you ever get it back?

03:29I have.

03:29No, Elvis had that scarf.

03:31Yeah, yeah.

03:31Never had it back.

03:32But I have done a photograph of Elvis with mine.

03:35Oh, that's awesome.

03:37What is it about Elvis the King then that's kind of, you know, that you really love?

03:42What is it about that charm of him that's kept you going?

03:44Oh, come on.

03:44Hey.

03:45Come on, what?

03:46Can you start with a man that's as beautiful as him?

03:51Yeah, yeah.

03:52So was there ever a man you met in your life that lived up to Elvis?

03:58You've got to say that though, haven't you?

04:00Yeah, yeah.

04:02So you're still a fan all these years later.

04:04You're still listening to him, still enjoying his music.

04:07Okay.

04:08Yeah, yeah.

04:09Well, thank you for your wonderful little story.

04:11Thank you, Jim.

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