TRAGIC LOSS: Popular ‘Elvis Presley’ Dies In A Devastating Plane Crash!
Leo Sayer invited to sing with Elvis Presley – day before music icon tragically died
Leo Sayer revealed that during a phone call, Elvis Presley told him he had ‘great energy’ and was ‘a very positive guy’ so he wanted to try and sing something together.
The daughter of an English pop legend who once beat Elvis Presley to number one has paid tribute to her father following his unexpected death. John Alford, born Brian Alford, was a member of 60s pop duo The Allisons who came second in the 1961 Eurovision Song Contest.
The duo consisted of John and his good friend Bob Day, who were marketed as being brothers, using the surname of Allison. Their song ‘Are You Sure?’ earned them 24 points at Eurovision, behind only Luxembourg, and soon after it shot to number one on the UK NME pop chart, beating the likes of Elvis Presley and The Everly Brothers.
John moved to Lincoln with his family in 1980 and remained there ever since, becoming a much-loved figure in the city’s west end community. The 84-year-old, who was a larger-than-life character, had been on a long walk in November 2023 when he suddenly fell ill.
After being taken to hospital, it was discovered that John suffered an aortic dissection. Despite doctors saying he should have died instantly, John battled through three more days and even spent his final moments “doing what he did best”, singing songs and entertaining the entire hospital ward.
John leaves behind his daughter Wanda and son Steven, who both still live in Lincoln. Wanda said: “He was a great dad to me and Steven. We always had stuff to do and places to go as kids. We were always on the allotments, going bike riding and things like that.
“When we weren’t out and about there was always someone famous in our front room recording something. He was very chatty, very outgoing and always had a story to tell.”
Wanda recalls a number of famous people coming and going from the house as a child, including Emile Ford, PJ Proby, Del Shannon and Marty Wilde. She said: “Our house was always full of music and singing. That’s how we were raised. You could never get away from music in our home which was good.”
The Allisons’ hit song ‘Are You Sure?’ sold over one million records, earning three gold discs. Although the duo disbanded in 1963, John and Bob continued to team up for short tours and gigs over the next few decades.
Bob Day died in November 2013, aged 72, after a long illness. When John met with us at Lincolnshire Live in 2022, he performed their hit song for us which can be viewed above.
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