A former Llantarnam Comprehensive pupil has been voted the UK’s best Michael Buble tribute act. Rickie Arthur, aged 25, grew up in Llantarnam and now lives in Caerphilly
He started singing at 13 but only thought about doing a tribute to Michael Buble in 2009 when people in the street starting shouting out ‘Buble!’.
“I knew of him but he wasn’t as famous then. So my dad said to give it a shot and pay tribute to Buble and make some serious money because as a classical and theatre singer I wasn’t making great money. I first tried to sing like him about three years ago. I didn’t change the way I look. I’ve always looked like this. It just so happens people think I look like him. I still think it’s strange how they think .
“My most memorable moment was being voted best Buble tribute in the UK in April 2013. This was the official no1 tribute act in UK as awarded by The Agents Association of Great Britain.
“I am picking up my trophy on 30 October in The Garrick Theatre in Lichfield and performing with my band from Wales. I’m told their will be celebrities there and over 400 agents watching the show and a sell-out capacity of over 2,000 people.”
Here is a video of Rickie doing a show in Essex.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=73VAUGxT8HM?feature=player_detailpage&w=640&h=360]
Later this month on 22 June Rickie is doing his show ‘Buble Fever, at the Congress Theatre. This is the end of an 80-theatre tour and means his family and friends get to see him perform.
You can get tickets from the theatre’s website.
Rickie met Michael in 2010 at the Motorpoint Arena Sheffield. He said: I wore the same suit as him when he came offstage.
“I was quite surprised though as I put my hand out to him. He shook my hand and the fact that he is about 5 ft 8inches and I’m 6ft 2inches surprised me, because I always thought he was at least 6ft.
“My father / manager was by my side that evening and it proved something to him that night. Everyone was screaming Buble at me. It was quite embarrassing, but my dad said I could if I really worked hard I could possibly be very successful at this if I get my voice trained to sound like him.”
Rickie is meeting a casting director later this month and hopes to audition for a West End Show or tour Germany as himself and record an album.
Visit Ricki’s Buble website or find him on Facebook for latest info on his shows