Jason "JT" Tikao chats with Mark Kogan from Legends in Concert about managing Elvis Presley, Eric Clapton, Frank Sinatra and Led Zeppelin

JT caught up with Mark Kogan, Legends in Concert's tour manager.

"I mean, this is a true downunder tour," Mark said, "This will be the first time we're performing in New Zealand, and I think all your listeners and all the people that come to the show are going to really love it."

Mark also shared about his early days working for entrepreneur impresario Jerry Weintraub, with the concert touring company, Concerts West. His first-ever tour was with none other than Frank Sinatra. "A lot of stories there, JT."

Mark also shared the moment he had to break the news of Elvis Presley's passing to Frank Sinatra. "I could see from the look on his face that nobody had told him, but when you really think about it here is a great legend, hearing about another great music legend. And you have to feel not only the sadness that he must have felt, but also the would you call it the vulnerability of a legend?"

"And the next night, though, he held up a glass for the actual performance that he did the next night. And he said, I'd like to make a toast. I may be the chairman of the board. But the king is dead. And he held up his glass, which I thought was incredibly classy. "

Mark also shared about gambling with Colonel Parker, Elvis's infamous manager. Describing a late-night rendezvous at the roulette table, he said, "I asked the croupier, 'What are these chips worth?' and he looked at me and said, 'Whatever the Colonel wins.' It was interesting - not a lot of money on my end, but the energy was captivating."

One of his most surreal moments was during a Led Zeppelin date at Pontiac Stadium, where Robert Plant sang acapella versions of Stairway to Heaven a day before performing it in front of 80,000 fans. "That's one of my fondest two real memories of the rock and roll road warrior type memories," Mark shared.

Perhaps one of the most poignant moments Mark revealed was having to break the news of Elvis Presley's death to Frank Sinatra. "I could see from the look on his face that nobody had told him," recounting the moment when a legend learned about the loss of another.

"Music is such a high energy vibration that really touches people's hearts." 

Mark is currently working on a book, teasing that more stories are in the works. "We'll have to chat sometime about some of the other stories."

Legends in Concert is coming to New Zealand for the first time, bringing not just a tribute show, but a journey through music history, guided by a tour manager who witnessed it all firsthand.

You can get your tickets now from LegendsInConcert.com

Listen to JT's full interview with Mark above!