Alis Lesley

Alis Lesley (born Alice Lesley; April 20, 1938) is an American former rockabilly singer, once billed as "the female Elvis Presley."[1][2][3][4]

Lesley was born in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Her family later moved to Phoenix, Arizona, where she attended Phoenix Junior College. She majored in television and radio, and began singing rockabilly while a student. She was discovered by Kathryn Godfrey, a popular Phoenix television personality and the sister of Arthur Godfrey. With Ms. Godfrey's help, Lesley became a local favorite following her appearances on television station KTVK and in local night clubs.[5]

Lesley achieved brief national celebrity with the 1957 release of her Era single, "He Will Come Back to Me" b/w "Heartbreak Harry" (Era Records 45-1034).[6] Lesley's stage persona as "The Female Elvis Presley" included a guitar slung around her neck, greased-back hair, and combed-down sideburns.[1]

She toured Australia in October 1957 with Little Richard, Eddie Cochran, Gene Vincent, and local rocker Johnny O'Keefe.[7] The tour was cut short when Richard underwent a "religious experience" and he retired from rock and roll for several years.

References
  1. "Ace Records". Ace Records. Archived from the original on 2006-01-16. Retrieved 2014-07-30.
  2. Telegraph, 2017-12:00AMThe Daily (2017-10-11). "Little Richard saw Sputnik as a sign from God". dailytelegraph. Retrieved 2021-01-11.
  3. "El Sótano - 50's RnR y Rockabilly - 13/04/16". RTVE.es (in Spanish). 2016-04-13. Retrieved 2021-01-11.
  4. Tochka, Nicholas. "Rock and roll and nuclear weapons: how the Cold War shaped Little Richard". The Conversation. Retrieved 2021-01-11.
  5. "Alis Lesley – Free listening, videos, concerts, stats and pictures at". Last.fm. Retrieved 2014-07-30.
  6. "Rocking Country Style listing"
  7. "98/77/7 Concert program, 'Lee Gordon Presents the Big Show Rock 'n' Roll with Little Richard', paper, printed by Publicity Press Pty Ltd, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 1957 - Powerhouse Museum Collection". Powerhousemuseum.com. Retrieved 2014-07-30.


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