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Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular MusicA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZDONNER, Ral(b Ralph Stuart Emanuel Donner, 10 Feb. '43, Chicago; d 6 April '84) Singer. Owed celebrity to sounding like Elvis Presley, doing creditable imitations from age 15; worked on local TV; spotted by Sammy Davis Jr; tape of "Girl Of My Best Friend' (song of obvious potential hit which Presley had not released on a single) sent to Gone Records, went top 20 USA '61. Biggest hits same year: "You Don't Know What You've Got (Until You Lose It)' no. 4, "She's Everything (I Wanted You To Be)' no. 18; no chart action after mid-'62 despite work on bewildering variety of small labels. Made remarkable 2-disc album 1937-1977 I've Just Been Away For A While Now, a soundalike Presley tribute with his former sidemen Scotty Moore, D.J. Fontana, Jordanaires; narrator and Presley's voice in film This Is Elvis '81. |