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The US singer who became the Soviet Union’s Red Elvis

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Witness History: The US singer who became the Soviet Union’s Red Elvis

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21/07/2023 GMT

BBC World Service - Witness History, The US singer who became the Soviet Union’s Red Elvis

In 1966, American Dean Reed was the first western rock star to tour the Soviet Union

In 1966, at the height of the Cold War, American Dean Reed became the first western rock and roll star to tour the Soviet Union. He was soon christened ‘Red Elvis’.

In 1966, at the height of the Cold War, American singer Dean Reed became the first western rock and roll star to tour the Soviet Union. 

His visit was such a success that over the next two decades Dean became known as ‘Red Elvis’. 

His concerts behind the Iron Curtain were sell-outs and he was mobbed by fans. 

But when he wanted to return home to the United States, the reaction he faced was very different, as Dean’s daughter Ramona told Jane Wilkinson. 

(Photo: Dean Reed in East Berlin, 1976. Credit: Getty Images)

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