Per Granberg , best known under the artist name Per "Elvis" Granberg , (March 9, 1941-February 4, 1980) was a Norwegian rock & roll singer.
He spent some of his childhood years in the United States, where he, among other things. got to see Elvis Presley on television. Granberg's artist career began around 1957, when he began performing in the Oslo area. He traveled around with the band The Suvenirs, and according to sources has had a phenomenal audience.
Granberg was named Oslo's rock king in 1958, but was beaten by Swedish Little Gerhard, Norwegian Per Hartvig and Danish James during the Nordic Championships at Jordal Amfi in Oslo the same year. Granberg, however, got a record contract with Philips and released a couple of singles and an EP in Norway in 1958. He went to Sweden in 1959, and released some singles and a couple of EPs there on the Sonet label, the last of which came in 1960.
Granberg then took a break, although he continued to sing on a hobby basis. He sang on an LP with Ila Storband in 1968, but continued his career in earnest in 1972 with the album Rock'n'roll Forever .
Among his backing group were Øystein Sunde and Nils Petter Nyrén on guitar, while the rhythm section consisted of bassist Johnny Sareussen and drummer Leif Jensen, both at the time in The New Vanguards group. This band went by the name the New Jordal Swingers . The album sounded very compelling, especially a version of "Got A Lot Of Livin 'To Do" which was a favourite of his fans.
The following year there was a sequel, this time with the same rhythm section and band name, but now with Arne Schulze and Terje Rypdal as guitarists. At this time, Granberg was strongly influenced by the 70's Elvis Presley who he emulated in his attire and shows, backed again by The New Jordal Swingers.
A few more albums were added on the Philips label, before he died from cancer in Askim, Norway on 4 February 1980. Since then, there have been several collections, and his earliest recordings have been re-released on compilation albums.
Granberg was a member of the Norwegian Elvis Presley fan club “Flaming Star” and was part of a delegation who met with Elvis before his matinee show at the Nassau Coliseum on June 24, 1973 where they presented Elvis with the Norwegian silver record for She's Not You/Just Tell Her Jim Said Hello and Aloha From Hawaii.
(Edited from vegaforlag,no)