MONSIEUR GASTON'S SOUVENIRS

"ELVIS PRESLEY"

Perhaps you asked yourself:

«Why Elvis Presley never came to Québec?»

I'm going to tell you.

I had been working only for a few weeks at RCA, when the record company was still named that way, as a sales representative, for the record division. I was selling their products to the record stores and promoting to the radio and TV stations in the province of Québec.

Elvis was only beginning to be known in Québec.

Unfortunately for him, (and for me) I had to fight with our radio stations, so they would play his records.

Not because he was singing in English in a French speaking province, but because

"he was a bad example for the youth."

This was the excuse given to me, for not to play his records.

But TV was starting to make inroad with the listening audience. Elvis had been on Ed Sullivan's

"Toast of the Town",

a show that was competing with a French show on Radio-Canada on Sunday night, hosted by Michelle Tysseyre:

"Music Hall."

The first song that I was successful within the radios stations was:

"I Want You, I Need You, I Love You".

It was a ballad that had nothing provocative. In a few days, it was a hit, followed by the theme song of his first movie:

"Love me Tender".

I remember seeing that movie, at the Capitole Theater in Québec City.

Elvis was the worst actor that I had ever seen in a movie. People were laughing, even when it was supposed to be a tragic scene.

But when he was singing, people were applauding.

Quebecers have always known to recognize real talent, even if a little late, like for Félix Leclerc, our national poet and singer.

But, better late than never, and Elvis, that was real talent.

My aunt Gilberte, who was in her late forties had seen him on Ed Sullivan's. I remember her saying:

«He is beautiful as a Greek God.

And how he moves.»

One day, on my return to the office, around four thirty in the afternoon, our office manager, Lucien Trottier tells me:

«Gaston, you have a message.

The Colonel Parker.

I thing he is Elvis Presley's manager. He would like you to call him back. Here is his number.»

My English was still not very good, but, I returned his call.

He is the one who answered.

«We would like Elvis to give his show in Québec City. What is the largest Auditorium? He asks.

-Le Colisée, (yes, the one that Maitre Aubut later found too small for his Nordique Hockey Team that moved to Colorado to win the Stanley Cup.)

-How can I get in touch with the owner?

-Le Colisée belongs to the City of Québec. I will get all the information, and call you back.»

I call the City Hall to get the information, get back to him.

The mayor and the counselors decided not to rent their Colisée for an Elvis show, because as they said:

"Elvis was a bad example for the youth."

Fine thinking we had in those days.

But even after forty years, have things changed that much?.

I am wondering . . .

And the Colonel decided to give the show in Ottawa.

The Québec City radio stations, that two months before, would not play his records on the air, were organizing contests, renting buses to transport their listeners to Ottawa, to hear and see Elvis sing and sway his hips and pelvis.