It wasnt Vegas, but it was close, and it came with perks, like all the alcohol and Perrier anyone wanted. He also has an Elvis tribute act. Fans who wish to pay homage to the King of Rock n Roll might enjoy attending Wises annual show commemorating the passing of Elvis. From left: Rhyne, ODay, and Hazebrouck performing as Linda Ronstadt, Kenny Rogers, and Jim Croce at a Florida club in 1981. The new-tech twist is the hologram, which has brought Michael Jackson, 2Pac, Frank Zappa, and Whitney Houston back to a semblance of life. Written in 1968 by Mark James, who was also co-writer of \"Always on My Mind\" (which Presley would later record), the song first was recorded and released by James on Scepter Records in 1968. This time, the surgeries werent quite as invasive as theyd been with Wise. The author, professor of American Studies at the University of Virginia, has also written a long piece on Elvis impersonators and the EPIIA (Elvis Presley Impersonators International Association) to be published in his next book. I wasnt able to travel.. '"[13] Professional Elvis impersonation can be called a special branch of the entertainment industry. James said that late one night, he was fooling around on his Fender guitar and using his Hammond organ pedals for a bass line and came up with what he thought was a catchy melody. It was a Method-acting thing, says Caywood. Know more in just minutes with our free newsletters. ODay later admitted the idea was also suggested by Rhyne and that he had his own doubts: I said, What, are you crazy? He has every album Elvis ever recorded and pictures by the thousands. The film's soundtrack contains multiple Elvis songs with the titular Hawaiian girl named Lilo being a huge fan. The 24th season of the American adaptation of Big Brother featured Daniel Durston, an Elvis impersonator from Las Vegas, Nevada. All rights reserved. CKX, INC, which now owns Elvis Presley's estate, has full control including the grave of Elvis Presley and his family members along with his home Graceland in early 2008. When ODay proposed the idea of surgical transformation to them, the newly hired hands were either eager or puzzled, depending on the singer. Wise still feels he and ODay could have gone all the way with the act: He had Disney World, all these people calling us he had it in the palm of his hand and let it go, he says. Original faux-Elvis Dennis Wise practices post-surgery with promoter Danny O'Day, 1978. He is considered to be one of the first notable Elvis impersonators and even Presley himself supposedly said that Kaufman was his favorite impersonator. Jeff Yagher played an Elvis impersonator (as well as Elvis himself) in an episode of The Twilight Zone called "The Once and Future King". I was 30 or 32 and wild and crazy anyway. O'Day's first foray into the world of tribute acts came in 1977, when he met Dennis Wise, who sounded close enough to Elvis that O . It was just not right. The Reno Gazette-Journal agreed, noting, Caywood-Moores Ball and Chain is a showstopper., As the Reno run began winding down, ODay planned to take Rock and Roll Heaven to its natural destination: Las Vegas. Following the transformation, he made his TV debut on Good Morning America in early 1978. RAINBOW UMAMI: a Queer Club Remix Series: Celebrating diversity and creativity in the queer music community. EXCELLENT CONDITION, SIGNED SLEEVE SAYS, "SHIRLEY BEST WISHES, DENNIS WISE". Recalling those early performances, the groups Janice Joplin impersonator, Mona Caywood-Moore, was quoted saying, they were bombs, man. Ironically, the makeover would be inspired in part by Erin Rhyne, the female Elvis in Rock and Roll Heaven and the member of the troupe whod been the most damaged by it. This has seen some impact on what Elvis impersonators and contests have on the media and marketing industry. Only after Elvis' untimely death on August 16, 1977, did impersonating Elvis start to become popular in the mainstream. Professional Elvis impersonators, commonly known as Elvis tribute artists (ETAs), work all over the world as entertainers, and such tribute acts remain in great demand due to the unique iconic status of Elvis. Besides performing throughout New Zealand, he has performed in Australia, Hawaii, Fiji and the United States.[42]. The idea was to say I was trying to develop the sneer, I guess, he says. He spent years touring the U.S., living a rock and roll lifestyle while playing his favorite music. Cruise kept asking James if he had any songs that would be right for Elvis. However, some ETAs may utilize both a live band and karaoke (either one or the other, in most cases depending on the type and size of the venue). Some people thought it was very bizarre, but people were interested in it from the standpoint of business.. (Photo by Getty Images). ODay then arranged for the performers, still bandaged up and looking like mummies with large eyeholes, to be publicly unveiled on a network daytime show, America Alive! We've recently seen amateurs at the Elvis Tribute Contest in Vegas that blew Dennis away. Eric Lott, "All the King's Men: Elvis Impersonators and White Working-Class Masculinity." To become the Gambler balladeer, ODay had a hair transplant, dyed his hair gray, and had his jowls tightened. In a lengthy piece for Rolling Stone, David Browne digs into the "rogue '70s promoter," who decided to try to make a living by putting cover artists on stagewith faces surgically altered to look something like the late singer they were mimicking. Erwin, D.H. and Droser, M.L., 1993. The band shifted into Also Sprach Zarathustra (the theme from 2001: A Space Odyssey), the traditional orchestral opener for Presleys shows, and Gamble, in full Elvis sunglasses and jumpsuit, welcomed everyone to the performance. He was always looking for his new project, says Patten. At a hotel pool in Florida, an on-message ODay introduced his clones to a writer from the Miami News and regaled the reporter with tales from his rock & roll crypt. The large growth in Elvis impersonators seems tightly linked with his ever-growing iconic status. New York-native Erin Feinberg is a master observer of musical subcultures, and has snapped diehard tribes of metal-heads, prog-rockers, and punks. Caywood was already a fireball, get-out-of-my-fucking-way person, as she says, with a bad-ass stare and freewheeling vibe to match. The shit hit the fan. When the run ended in March 1979, Caywood recalls a big blowup over money, and the band broke up. James felt Elvis needed a mature rock 'n' roll song to bring him back as Tom Jones was a hot artist at the time. And he has four . His mom said shed be fine with it as long as it was done in good taste, and that was good enough for her son. (I knew it wasnt the original, the woman said of ODay. It was such an odd thing. (Actually, they didnt go on the road so fast: The first gig, at a club in St. Petersburg, Florida, perhaps aptly named J.P. Bottoms Lounge, never happened. An advertisement for State Farm Insurance featured four Elvis impersonators, each of which performed the company's "magic jingle" in succession, causing representatives from the company to appear out of thin air. It took a long time to get over that.. He was the whole package of music.. By Clicking "OK" or any content on this site, you agree to allow cookies to be placed. $52 million Amount the Elvis estate made in 2008, according to Forbes. America," "Today," "Oprah Winfrey," "The Mike Douglas Show," "48 Hours", The voice, the lip curl, the jumpsuit he's a dead ringer. [4][5], Contrary to popular belief, Elvis impersonators have existed since the mid-1950s, just after Elvis Presley himself began his career. By coincidence, Wise had a brother, Dennis, who knew how to sing like Elvis. They bought us out as well. (Photo by Getty Images) Save PURCHASE A LICENSE Get personalized pricing by telling us when, where, and how you want to use this asset. [48] His single "Love's Not Made of Time" by "God Will Rule" was produced by John Centinaro,[49] who would work with another Elvis impersonator, Johnny Charro. It was very fresh at that point compared to now. Halfway through the He was a former dancer with a Polynesian troupe. In 2003, at age 54, ODay succumbed to non-Hodgkins lymphoma. >Article Archives his performance, Wise imparts trivia about Elvis's music, as well as I just say, I want plastic surgery done on her nose and his chin and this and that and, oh, by the way, I just happen to have a picture here of exactly what we want done. When the six-hour procedure was finished, Wise was rolled out in a wheelchair, his face covered in bandages. You know that saying about a lightbulb going off over your head? When Wise reexamined his contract at the time, he realized hed signed with ODay for 50 years and that ODay was entitled to half his earnings. This tribute to Saturday, January 18 at 8:30 pm Cascade Lounge. ensemble. It also featured Clearance Giddens, a black Elvis. Later that year, he was joined by the rest of the clone army for their post-surgery reveal on the daytime show America Alive! Leilani, who had referred to himself as a "rock 'n' roll-singing Polynesian guy", had formed a rockabilly band in the early 90s and had performed in Hawaii. For this paper, he interviewed many impersonators and draws parallels with minstrelsy. Jesus Christ thats some twisted shit, says Croces son A.J., who was only a grade schooler when ODay hired an upstart to be resculpted as Croces father. In "Meltdown," an episode of the British TV series Red Dwarf, Clayton Mark portrays a 'wax droid' version of Elvis who, under the command of Arnold Rimmer along with other 'wax world' historical figures, is engaged in battle with the evil historical figures. Arona Mane Shows Off His Production on Thandi Phoenix's new single 'Hot Sauce'. Hes great.. "[15] There are even some performers who satirize other Elvis impersonators. I bless you, Daniel ODay, she says, for opening up such a large part of my life that came out of that.. Dennis Wise Tickets, 2023 Concert Tour Dates | Ticketmaster Home Concert Tickets Dennis Wise Tickets 3.0 Dennis Wise Tickets Events Reviews (1) No Concerts Near Raleigh & Durham Select Your Dates Sorry. From as early as five years old, Dennis can remember Some ETAs perform under stage names, mostly using names associated in some way with Presley's life or career (such as Presley's character names in his movies). A.J. Its become the most collected U.S. stamp with more than 124 million saved and more than 500 million sold. You dont miss your water until the well runs dry. 3000 Miles to Graceland is a 2001 thriller film, starring Kurt Russell, Kevin Costner, Courteney Cox Arquette, David Arquette, Bokeem Woodbine, Christian Slater, and Kevin Pollak. They mainly fall under three main levels of impersonation, which are: Enacting a typical 70s Elvis concert is a preferred choice of most ETAs; however, some ETAs may portray various phases of Presley's career in a single show. [21], Blackpool in the UK, features a busy Elvis wedding chapel[22] based at the Norbreck Castle Hotel, Queens promenade, where couples can have their wedding vows renewed by Martin Fox. Dennis expertly recreates Elvis's movements, phrasings, and But a drinking problem that had developed on the road soon overtook him. SUMMERS: So it is deep cuts and classics all weekend at the Birmingham Hilton. Saturdays show will be a family affair. In the late 90s he started up a group called Alphonso Keil and the Kavaliers. Honeymoon in Vegas is a 1992 comedic movie which was directed by Andrew Bergman. Dennis Wise is the ultimate fan and the ultimate Elvis performer, with more than 10,000 shows honoring the king. I dont see a morbid aspect, he said. [59][60] Like Alphonso Keil before him,[61] Angel regularly performs at the Parkes Elvis Festival, an event that now attracts 20,000. The Complete History of Elvis Impersonators in 10 minutes [from the documentary Almost Elvis] BlueSuedeFilms 1.65K subscribers Subscribe 43K views 14 years ago The complete history of Elvis. In Many Shapes and Colors: King's Spirit Infuses Multicultural 'Elvi' - Trin Yarborough, Page 1 Elvis devotee ready to perform - Stephen Forbes, Samoan Elvis sings his last, Alphonso Keil dies, Talking with an Angel, Page 1 - 4, By Ruth Jackson, 20,000 for one day Elvis Festival in New Zealand by Gail Bartley, Thousands 'all shook up' at Auckland's Elvis in the Gardens - TARANNUM SHAIKH, Pasifika programme Sunday 13 March, Sunday programme, > Samoa, 2.10pm Elvis of Samoa, "Hong Kong legend 'Melvis' dead at 68, local branch of International Elvis Presley Fan Club says", Warren makes time for grandson by Stuart Michael, LIFESTYLE, Tony Warren still rocking by Sonja Mustaffa, From Memphis to Vegas / From Vegas to Memphis, Elvis Sings The Wonderful World of Christmas, From Elvis Presley Boulevard, Memphis, Tennessee, Amazing Grace: His Greatest Sacred Performances, Command Performances: The Essential 60s Masters II, Suspicious Minds: The Memphis 1969 Anthology, The King of Rock 'n' Roll: The Complete 50's Masters, From Nashville to Memphis: The Essential '60s Masters, Walk a Mile in My Shoes: The Essential '70s Masters, Peace in the Valley: The Complete Gospel Recordings, The Frank Sinatra Timex Show: Welcome Home Elvis, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Elvis_impersonator&oldid=1139034895, Articles lacking reliable references from June 2020, All articles with vague or ambiguous time, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 13 February 2023, at 00:58. Dennis Wise knows exactly where he was when Elvis Presley died Aug. 16, 1977. Dennis Wise knows exactly where he was when Elvis Presley died Aug.16, 1977. It is a story of theft and betrayal, revolving around a plot to rob the Riviera Casino during a convention of Elvis impersonators in Las Vegas. 91 on their list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. Just as he arrived, ODay was hauled off to jail for being behind on his child-support payments. Lilo and Stitch is a 2002 animated Disney movie that has Stitch, a blue alien, impersonate Elvis for a scene. And I wasnt being paid anywhere near what Jim Morrison was. But ODay had one more tour to launch, and in a way, it was his eeriest one yet: He would become one of his own clones. Debbie loved all that. [57] Keil was influenced by Elvis impersonator Andy Stankovich who he saw live. Cram him into brown leather pants and he might pass for the Lizard King. Dennis Wise, 54, has been an Elvis tribute artist since before Elvis died (or allegedly passed on if you are one of those who believe he is in hiding). He has been performing as Elvis since around 2000. My first gig was in March 1978 in Florida. For more information, please call (702) 631-7000. >Las Vegas Leisure Guide. Ive never missed a year, says Wise. Rolling Stone later ranked it No. there are currently no upcoming events. They wanted the whole property to themselves.. Dennis Wise has been paying tribute to Elvis for more than 30years. Elvis Presley: The King's best impersonators. Wow your guests with a visit from the King of Rock and Roll! 1970's Dennis Wise Enterprize ELVIS Impersonator jacket Men's Large satin look . As she later told the Orlando Sentinel, the whole show gave her the creeps due to real weird girls who started hanging out during my shows, biker types. She complained to ODay about her female-Elvis role, but he wasnt listening: Nothing I said seemed to sink in, Rhyne said. Of course theyll come., Rhyne sang credible Ronstadt covers, while her new husband dug into his performing past to mimic Rogers husky delivery. Spencer would perform as Elvis (often in a gold lam suit) as the main part of a mini-set in which he also did other impersonations of figures such as Buddy Holly and slide guitarist Elmore James. O'Day made sure there was fanfare around itWise recalls exiting the plastic surgeon's clinic in a wheelchair to find "100 people from the press all over the world taking pictures. The TV appearance was a mixed bag: Dr. Joyce Brothers, the star psychologist and talk-show regular, accused ODay of being a Manson-style cult leader. [38], Des Perenara, a Maori Elvis comes from Auckland but is now based in Cardigan, Wales. "Michael Chapa, an Elvis impersonator who works in Los Angeles and Las Vegas, helped entertain more than 2500 of his relatives at what is believed to be the country's largest Hispanic family reunion "[14], There are also some Elvis impersonators who specialize in experimenting with gender, sexuality, race, taste and decency. Almost Elvis[29] is a 75-minute 2001 documentary film that follows a variety of professional Elvis impersonators such as they prepare for a large annual contest in Memphis, Tennessee. But a lot of the nightclubs were afraid it was just a freak show. Rock and Roll Heaven opened with the backup band playing an instrumental version of the Righteous Brothers dead-rocker hit of the same name. Since Wise was persona non Presley in ODays world, a new King was needed. Wise isnt totally focused on Elvis. Later that year, Don Cruise, Moman's partner, told James that Elvis had booked their studio to record what would become the From Elvis in Memphis album. Some ETAs perform with a live band in the style of the TCB Band, complete with a brass ensemble and background singers to add to the originality; while others rely solely on karaoke for their performances. After the tape was mixed, James and Chips flew to New York, where James's manager had contacts with Scepter Records. RAINBOW UMAMI: a Queer Club Remix Series: Celebrating Somewhere Sounds: Download Free Sample Packs. On "the thriving phenomenon of Elvis impersonators", see also Gilbert B. Rodman, Elvis After Elvis: The Posthumous Career of a Living Legend (1996). It was amazing. It's almost like being in your zen, your spot.". But long before Las Vegas residencies, biopics, and massive publishing buyout deals, ODay imagined a world in which classic-rock nostalgia would be a lucrative business. $10 million Approximate worth of his estate when he died in 1977, More than 1 billion Best guess of his record sales, according to Elvis Presley Enterprises (the company that owns his likeness and everything else), 147 Number of albums and singles that had been certified gold/platinum/multi-platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America, 31 Number of feature films that Elvis appeared in from 1956 to 1969. [37] In February 2013, he was set to appear at the annual fourth tribute to Elvis Presley event, held at the Auckland Botanic Gardens in Manurewa, Auckland. But for ODay, it probably didnt matter: He already had a bigger, grander, and wilder scheme in mind. It was like the stream of consciousness off the top of his head. Each show is an electric, high-energy performance backed by a full He was popular in the South, but not so much around the rest of the country. 'Rolling Stone' has the story of 'rogue '70s promoter' Danny O'Day. This (ODay bragged to a reporter that it was a small but mighty crowd.) He is played by Frank Wagner. He has performed more than 10,000 shows as an Elvis impersonator. ", O'Day landed him a week-long gig in Florida for an eye-popping $15,000 (roughly $60,000 today), but the professional relationship soured after Wise said he never got paid and sued. He only lasted there about a year, and soon after opened another spot, ODays Pub. king's untimely death at the age of 42. The first known Elvis impersonator was a young man named Carl 'Cheesie' Nelson from Texarkana, Arkansas, who in 1954 built up a local following on WLAC radio with his renditions of "That's All Right, Mama" and "Blue Moon of Kentucky." The atmosphere and show itself proved to be too much for Rhyne. Infuriated, Gamble says he followed ODay back home to Florida to demand his money. 2016 Rampart Casino at The Resort at Summerlin. He would sit around talking about things like that. He could visualize things happening or ways to promote them. Dennis Wise - King for a Night - A Tribute to Elvis Presley Las Vegas Entertainment. We just want to bring back audition for Wise as an Elvis Presley impersonator. My parents come to talk about our unique musical family. On the 15th of May, 2011, he entered the Elvis Down Under competition in Upper Hutt. Elvis Extravaganza is a 60-minute 2009 Elvis impersonator documentary featuring amateur Elvis impersonators and their quest for the title of the "World's Finest Elvis Impersonator.". Kwok Lam-sang, known as Melvis, was a long-time Elvis impersonator in Hong Kong. There Wise lay, on a table in an Orlando hospital, surrounded by photos of the King. "The King" of Rock and Roll has been gone for more than 30 years, but on any given night in Las Vegas the spirit of Elvis Presley lives on. The mementos may be gone. The horns, strings and vocals of the Holladay Sisters were later overdubbed. There have been at least three prominent Elvis impersonators of Samoan descent. first song, he got the job. He and Effie were divorced in 1979. The Disney Channel sitcoms Hannah Montana and The Suite Life of Zack & Cody both featured main characters dressing up and acting like Elvis. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. And I said, Well, you know, I guess I could do something. Caywood was up for singing Joplin tunes: I thought, Cool, that sounds fun! Im famous for picking up and moving my entire life. Wise is King for a Night on Saturday at Boulder Station. He wound up in one called the Flim Flam Band, where his future wife Effie saw him perform covers in her hometown of Ocala, Florida, in the early Seventies.
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