Brian Cadd will be inducted on the Wall of Fame at Kerry Reserve today, 20th April at 2pm (free event), and his one-hour show follows at 5:30pm at the Parkes Services Club (ticketed event).
Australian singer-songwriter, keyboardist, producer and record label founder, and staple of Australian entertainment for over 50 years, Brian Cadd is this year’s Elvis Wall of Fame honouree.
You’ve received many awards and honours in your career, how do you feel about being honoured on the Wall of Fame at the Parkes Elvis Festival?
All awards are special. Making it onto the Wall of Fame is a wonderful honour. I truly appreciate it and look forward to the ceremony and my time in Parkes. Being able to do a show as well is most exciting.
Do you listen to Elvis? Do you have a favourite Elvis song?
I think everyone listens to Elvis from time to time. He was a huge part of my musical upbringing when I first started to learn the piano. Blue Suede Shoes is still a tremendous song and recording. Very simple and perfectly written, performed and recorded.
What can fans expect to hear at your concert in Parkes?
All the hits and memories. Some stories and some laughs. The most fun I can have is onstage and the audience usually goes right along with it.
Why do you think Elvis has such an enduring legacy after all these years?
He was really the first truly unique rock artist we experienced. There were others before him but no one had anywhere near his originality. And now, sixty years on, there may still not have been anyone quite as unique
Do you think the Parkes Elvis Festival plays an important role in the music landscape in Australia?
To me the true test of a vibrant music scene is about the variety of musical experiences the audience can enjoy. We are blessed with lots of lovely festivals in Australia, celebrating a wide diversity of tastes. The Elvis Festival is a superb example of that. A most deserved place in our musical landscape.
Have you ever performed an Elvis song?
I’m 75 years old and have been playing in front of audiences since I was 13. I can’t imagine how many times I’ve played an Elvis song.