Peter Singh, stealing the spotlight from The Clash
 
Since we’ve recently covered both Orion and El Vez here on Dangerous Minds, I felt I had a moral imperative to spread the good word about Peter Singh, the Sikh manifestation of Elvis! Born in Punjab, Pakistan, Peter moved to England when he was just ten years old and eventually settled in Swansea, Wales. His unique stage persona was born after he was visited by Elvis in a dream in 1980—aren’t we all?—when Singh would have been around the highly sensible age of 33. He felt truly moved, as if by a higher calling, proclaiming in a 1990 interview:

‘‘Elvis said I would entertain millions of people, and that I would be wearing a white suit. Three weeks later, I had the white suit. Now I’m the rocking Sikh. I don’t smoke dope. I don’t drink bourbon. All I want to do is shake my turban.”

This short documentary from 1986 gives some dimension to might otherwise be a patronizing account of an immigrant man with eccentric hobby. Commentary from members of Peter’s musical accompaniment, the Welsh group Man, show an absolute faith in his connection with The King, and they reject the suggestion that Singh is a mere novelty act. He may be funny guy doing Elvis-inspired songs about turbans and bhindi bhaji, but he’s also a fascinating and deep person. Though the film takes an intense turn when Peter starts talking about losing his young son, he’s ultimately a happy guy with a curry shop and a supportive family—though his kids prefer Michael Jackson and pop-and-lock to their father’s Elvis hip swivel.

Peter Singh and The Poppadoms still perform the world over.