It’s quite possible there would be no Parkes Elvis Festival without Steve Binder!

Steve is the man behind Elvis’ iconic Comeback Concert which resurrected his waning career.

Elvis went on to become possibly the biggest star in the world.

Elvis’ manager, Colonel Tom Parker was keen on him making movies, but he was fast losing appeal to the younger generation.

Steve Binder had produced a now famous rock ‘n roll music feature film, TAMI and doing TV specials when he was approached to come up with a TV show to showcase Elvis.

Elvis at the time was not keen on TV because his previous appearances had not been flattering (although extremely popular), teaming him up with a hound dog in a tuxedo.

“We were the same age and I had been doing TV work, so they set up a meeting with Elvis and I,” Steve told the Champion Post when in Parkes this week for the Elvis Festival.

“Elvis asked me what I thought of his career and was perfectly honest, saying it was in the toilet.

“Well, he laughed and said it was the first time anyone had  been honest with him.

“After his movies, his career was at a standstill and kids were not accepting him.

“Elvis said he did not want to do TV, it was not his turf.

“So I said, you produce some hit records, and I’ll do the pictures.

“He agreed to let me do the special.”

Steve said Colonel Parker was keen for Elvis to do a Christmas special.

“I told him not to do it, to leave that sort of stuff to Perry Como, Bing Crosby and crowd.

“I said he should do something which reflected him, what he wanted to do - and he did the Comeback Special. The rest is history.”

Steve said he arranged for the final song in the Comeback Special, If I Can Dream, to be written especially for Elvis.

“I wanted something which told the story of who the real Elvis Presley was,” he said.

“It’s a very powerful song which says everything about Elvis.

“When I first met him, I wondered what he would be like.  Coming from the south, I thought he might be a bit of a redneck.

“But he was completely the opposite - humble, a great sense of humour, concern for others, a real humanity about him.

“Colonel Parker said Elvis would sing the ‘Binder Song’ (If I Can Dream) over his dead body.

“But, Elvis bought into it, and the emotion he sang with is clearly reflected in it.”

Steve and Elvis became firm friends although it was for the period of production of the Comeback Special.

“Elvis went to Las Vegas and that was it.   

“In the end, I think he probably died of boredom rather than drugs, he really didn’t want to be there, but that was the power the Colonel had over him.”

Steve and Priscilla Presley remain firm friends to this day.

“After Elvis died, Priscilla allowed me to go into Elvis’ bedroom.  

“No one else was even allowed in there.

“What I noticed was there was not one item in their about himself, not memorabilia.  It was all about other entertainers, nothing on him.

“It certainly showed he was not a narcissist like most other big names become. Materialism was not important to him.

“It was a miracle I got to be in Elvis’ world.

“I have had the good fortune to work with the best entertainers in the world and to a man or woman, they have all acknowledged that Elvis was indeed The King.”

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Steve is in Australia for just the second time. 

He is great friends with the 2016 inductee on the Elvis Wall of Fame, Rob EG (Robie Porter).

“I came out in the 1970s because of my friendship and partnership with Robie, to take several acts back to America, including Daddy Cool and Rick Springfield.

“Before we returned to the USA, we played in the major cities of Australia with Rick.”

Robie went to America in the 60s, and he and Steve have been friends and partners since 1971 - still are.

“This is the type of person Robie is,” Steve said.  

“My birthday is on December 12 - the same day as Frank Sinatra - and no matter where in the world I am, he phones me to wish me happy birthday.

On this trip, Steve is being accompanied by his wife, Sharon, a former actress who had guest roles in Charlie’s Angels and went on to become a teacher.

“Sharon has never been here before and we are loving it,” Steve said.

“Despite my association with Elvis, I have only ever been to three Elvis Festivals - in Vancouver, at Gracelands and now here in Parkes.

“We have really been struck by the friendliness of the locals.  They have made us most welcome.”

In concluding, Steve said he was delighted that the term Elvis Tribute Artist was now used instead of ‘impersonators.’

NOTE: Steve Binder will be doing a number of shows over the course of the Elvis Festival.