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First of all, in the name of all the ETA's out there I'd like to say a big THANK YOU to the wonderful LLM staff for the great work you do to keep the King’s legacy alive!
My musical beginnings date back to the late seventies/early eighties when I started becoming interested in the music my sister played on her record player. I had not much interest in music at that time but that guy on those records had a style and sound that was different, personal and powerful. Through these songs, Elvis soon became a kind of "best friend" through the times of a teenager’s every day challenges. I started to pluck along to the songs on my first guitar. Involving some school friends-- my first rock-a-billy combo was born.
We played local events and parties for a few years and with time the band grew to a 7-piece band with upright bass, saxophone, harmony singers and up to a 4-hour show with all the trimmings. The sound got pretty good so we produced recordings during our gigs and in the studio. It was a great time and many nights were filled with jam sessions until early morning. Time went on and the group got harder to hold together and the gig market seemed limited for a big band like that. At the time karaoke became popular but the back up track quality was pretty bad so I started recording my own back up tracks in my studio to accompany solo and duet assignments. This honed my skills as multi- instrumentalist with playing guitar, bass, drums, steel guitar, banjo and piano to lay down the tracks for a night’s worth of music.
Following an extended musical odyssey through the US with stops at all major music destinations I ventured to classic country, mixed with hints of Elvis and other “roots” music in small manageable formations (solo, duet, sometimes combo).
After a permanent move to the US to a region without much going musically, I spent some time exploring my other talents and markets. Then, after some rather turbulent circumstances that life can bring, I was presented with a new opportunity pursue my passion for music. “Simply Elvis” seemed the natural choice considering years of audiences and musicians pointing out that, whatever the song, I sounded like Elvis.
Years ago, when radio stations would play some of my non-Elvis material they had people call in the studio wanting to find out where to buy this “unreleased Elvis album” they thought was currently airing. Elvis' music has still its very special way to make me and the listeners happy and it lets me make new friends instantly wherever I go. At this point in my career as an ETA, I'm looking for a booking agent with international booking connections. I think it will be a win/win situation since there is a growing need for touring ETA's all over the world. For example there is a new "Las Vegas" being built in China soon...
I feel very privileged to be able to bring back to audiences good memories of one of the greatest singers/entertainers and of their own lives. For me and other ETA's, the feedback from audiences lets us know that our performing renews their respect for Elvis and in return it renews our respect for him.
Believing in quality of stage performance, I see my time as an ETA limited. Elvis’ career ended when he was 42. To do Elvis stage shows when I’m 60 is not my plan but, Lord willing, I will keep singing for the rest of my life. Until it’s time for me to give back the stage to the great "Legacy of Elvis," and give my musical endeavor a new direction, I will enjoy singing “his song” to the best of my ability, the way he did, and make people happy with it.
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