P.J. Proby
P. J. Proby, originally born James Marcus Smith on 6th November 1938 in Houston, Texas was educated at San Marcos Military Academy, Western Military Academy and Culver Naval Academy. After graduating he moved to California and became an actor and recording artist, he released two singles "Go, Girl, Go" and "Loud Perfume" on an independent label which went unnoticed. In 1962 he started writing songs and recording demos for artists like Johnny Cash and Elvis Presley. He then auditioned for Liberty Records.
Proby created an individual fashion style wearing buckle shoes, pirate shirts, tying his ponytail back with a ribbon and wearing different coloured velvet suits for each day of the week. His trousers split on a number of occasions sending female fans into a frenzy but eventually causing tour managers to drop him in 1966.
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In 1964 he had a string of successful hits including "Hold Me" and "Together" (featuring guitarists Big Jim Sullivan and Jimmy Page), "Somewhere", "Maria" and "I Apologise". A royalty dispute in 1966 saw Proby split with Liberty Records. Proby then turned his hand to musical theatre and was very successful playing Elvis Presley in 'Elvis - The Musical'. The 1980s saw Proby covering a number of popular songs including Joy Division's "Love Will Tear Us Apart", Gloria Jone's "Tainted Love" and the Sex Pistols "Anarchy In The UK". Proby is still touring now.
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