'The Elvis Of Phoenix' Passed Away On Christmas Eve

By Lauren Gilger, Steve Goldstein
Published: Thursday, December 27, 2018 - 1:40pm
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A Phoenix fixture in the music scene passed away on Christmas Eve.

Jerry Riopelle was, according to his concert promoter, the “Elvis of Phoenix.”

Especially in the early days — and like Elvis — his shows sometimes got a bit raucous. Here’s a clip of a 1975 New Year’s Eve show at the Celebrity Theatre interrupted by fans rushing the stage:

New Year’s Eve and holiday shows were Riopelle’s calling card. He was even set to play Talking Stick resort this week.

His music will surely be missed.

The Show