Services for Elvis Entertainer Ted Prior Set for Thursday

Friends, family and fans are mourning the loss of Ted Prior, an Elvis entertainer who became a fixture and a favorite at events throughout the region.

Visitation is set for 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday, May 19, at Parsels Funeral Home in Absecon with a service immediately following, according to Neil Regina, The funeral home is at 324 New Jersey Ave. Memorial donations in Prior's memory can be sent to: eeFuerst Foundation for Brain Cancer Research, 75 Iroquois Dr., Galloway Township, NJ 08205.

Prior was a Galloway Township resident and a staple of special events in Ocean City. Through the years, he became a friend of Mark Soifer, Ocean City's public relations director. Soifer wrote the following tribute on the Ocean City Regional Chamber of Commerce website. It's hard to imagine anybody who could say it more eloquently:

Elvis performer Ted Prior, a talented musician and good friend of Ocean City, passed away on Saturday. Ted, 68, had been battling pancreatic and brain cancer for months. He died at home in Absecon under hospice care and round the clock attention from his wife, Carol, and members of his family.

Ted’s association with Ocean City began over 15 years ago when he contacted me about performing here. Ted became an immediate favorite. He entertained in our parades, at First Night, for the Street Rod weekend, at our Easter events, Miss Crustacean, Martin Mollusk Day, the Doo Dah Weekend, you name it.

Ted was a very generous person. He and his band played for youngsters at the Primary School during the Quiet Festival for free. This is true of many other Ocean City events including Barks on the Boards for the Humane Society, most of our parades, during Weird Contest Week, and so on. He never turned down a request for a benefit from us or from anyone else that I know of.

Ted was also generous in other ways. When we had to visit New York to meet with the Consul General of the Philippines or celebrities of the Doo Dah Parade such as Carol Channing , Ted drove us there as a favor in his van. He knew New York inside out, thanks to his experience as a limo driver. He saved us hours of time and aggravation. And he wasn’t intimidated by New York drivers. He intimidated them right back. He also performed at these visits and never charged.

Ted began his career at age 18. He and his boyhood pal, Jim Albertson, formed a band called the Other Brothers, an allusion to the famed Everly Brothers. They played at high school dance parties in Atlantic City where Ted was born and raised. This began an amazing 50-year run.

Ted never missed a performance, and there were hundreds, until he became afflicted with cancer. Ted’s activities were interrupted by a two-year stint in the Army where he became a Barrack’s Balladeer entertaining his buddies and the surrounding community. Upon his discharge he was hired to lead a touring band and performed from coast to coast. He was on the road for 15 years and played with many outstanding musicians, including a tour with the Ohio Express.

Some facts you should know about Ted Prior: He memorized more than 400 songs, never needed a crib sheet when he performed. He was a perfectionist, everything had to be just right before he stepped on stage. And he made sure that it was.

Ted was an expert guitar player, composed many original songs and released his own albums, had a recording studio at home and brought his own sound system to his appearances. As far as Elvis was concerned, it was 24-7.

He was meticulous about his appearance. Maintained a ward robe of Elvis apparel authentic from jackets to boots. Had an Elvis Museum filled with the King’s memorabilia at home.

When he walked down the street people would lean out of their car windows and shout "Hey Elvis!" When he went into a restaurant he would be nice to the waitresses and leave a big tip. He carried small stuffed animals with him and gave them to children if the parents said it was okay.

He was a great guy, fun to be with, could take and return a joke. There will always be just one Elvis for Ocean City. And that’s Ted Prior.

-- Mark Soifer

A tribute to Prior is set for Sunday, June 5, at the Ram's Head Inn in Galloway Township. Champ Hoffman and Ava Holly Lewis will emcee, and many of Prior's friends will perform.

The event will run from 2 to 6 p.m., and there will be a light buffet and cash bar. Tickets are $30 per person, $50 per couple. Memorial donations can also be made payable to the eeFuerst Foundation for Brain Cancer Research with a notation check that it is for Ted Prior. For information and tickets, call Regina at 609-377-1769.