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First of all I'd like to thank Joanna and Lady Luck Music for featuring me in this month’s Spotlight. It’s a great honor and a privilege for me to be here. Also I'd like to wish everyone a Very Happy Easter. Let's please don't forget the real reason for the season.
I grew up in a very musically enriched household having two very educated parents in that field. I've been raised on music of "quality," from classical all the way to the delta blues, country, gospel, jazz, and oldies rock classics. I've always been an Elvis fan, since I was a baby, and actually had the pleasure of meeting Elvis when I was almost a year old.
I can remember my first time ever singing in front of people at a May Day talent contest in my school where I got up on the cafeteria stage to sing, using a yard stick as my guitar, in front of my third grade class with the fourth grade class and school faculty present also. I think that was the only time I can remember getting away with pointing my finger at the male staff there and hollering, "You Ain't Nothing But A Hound Dog," and getting away with it!
When I was in sixth grade VCR’s started to appear and so my family got one. A requirement of the house, of course, was anything we could find with Elvis. My brother and I used to fight over whose turn it was to pretend to be, "the man." He was born just a year before Elvis passed but he was just as up on anything Elvis as we were. When "Elvis On Tour," came on the tube he was in front of it with a homemade cape complete with a "real" guitar, too. I guess there's something said for being the baby in the family!
The first time I ever saw an impersonator was in 1981 at Libertyland. His name was Andy Childs and he was awesome. The man had women passing out just like in real Elvis concerts. Watching that inspired me and let me know that it's possible to do a tribute to Elvis. Before that day I thought there could be no such thing as a tribute to Elvis Presley in that sense, in public,. After all, who could pull off something even close to what Elvis did in a concert?
It wouldn't be until around August of 2000 that I'd actually take the dive into the Elvis World as a tribute artist. I entered and won a local karaoke contest around the corner from where I lived in Memphis. From being in that contest I also got my very first gig singing at a local newsman's wedding which took place in Gelena, IL and also got highlighted on Channel 5 News in Memphis. In January 2001, I performed at a benefit to raise money for breast cancer which was sponsored by Doc and Jackie Franklin in Southaven, MS. This was my very first performance where I dyed my hair, called myself dressing the part in a homemade costume, bit my lip and dove off into what I'd been dreaming of doing all those years before. My very first professional showcase, wearing a professionally made outfit this time, was in 2001 with Lady Luck Music in Montreal. I had the best time there and met many other ETA’s with the same love of Elvis as I had.
Throughout the years I have competed in many contests with many wins, placings and even losses. What I've gotten out of those contests was the fellowship, with many of the Elvis fans and ETA’s, that takes place at every one of those events. The many friends I've made and people I consider family to me now, I've been blessed with all because of my being able to pay tribute to Elvis. I've met many people closely associated with Elvis and got to work alongside them during many events I performed at. I've also had the privilege of performing at many benefits like the Special Olympics, The Make A Wish Foundation, and many cancer drives to name just a few.
In 2002, I was handpicked by actor Matt Dillon to perform at a wedding for his brother Paul. And by the way, I was told by him that he'd first heard me on LLM's samples page while listening to all the ETA’s there, so thank you LLM for the air time you give all of us here.
In 2003, I was also asked to join the, "Kingtinued," group. As of now I've got two cd's in the can with more on the way so keep on the lookout for that.
In mid 2003, all the work I had been putting into my act was finally starting to pay off when I was chosen for the headlining position at Memories Theatre in Pigeon Forge, TN. This was a theatre where such great ETA’s as Eddie Miles, Pete Wilcox, and Lou Vuto had performed for many years before me. Working at Memories Theatre has given me the honor of working with the closest and best friend to Elvis among all the Memphis Mafia, Mr. Charlie Hodge. He is a part of the Elvis show where he backs me singing harmony the way he sang with Elvis during concert as well as giving me scarves to pass to the many fans that attend our show. He has also taken the time to give me a lot of insight and instruction into an Elvis performance so that ,as he puts it, "It'll remain the most authentic production of Elvis out there." Another benefit is being able to watch or listen to every bootleg video or audio tape of Elvis in concert, known to man, to study for my own performances. Also after working with many notable tribute bands in the past, I have to say that The Memories Showband is by far the best in the country. It's one thing to have a band that enjoys Elvis' music and tries to give some semblance of what his band played and it's entirely another to have a band that loves learning to play true to Elvis' band members. These guys literally study every lick or beat of music that came from an Elvis show or studio session to a "T." It's really very amazing to me to hear these guys and makes for a totally awesome sound coming off that stage.
Being at Memories Theatre has also given me the opportunity to learn from other Legends Artists that come in from around the world, in the different arts of entertainment and working with different audiences each night. It's been a great learning experience for me, one which started for me professionally just a few short years ago. I thank God each day for the blessings He gave me to be able to do what I do. Not many people can say they truly enjoy what they do but I can say I LOVE MY JOB! I can't think of any other job I'd rather be doing than this. I also want to thank my parents for introducing me to the wonderful world of music and also for bringing me up in the music of the biggest music icon of this century, Elvis Presley. Thank you also to the many Elvis fans out there and for all your wonderful support you bring all of the tribute artists out there, including me. Without You there would be no US!!!!
A note to ETA’s just starting out: keep your chin up, don't ever give up, keep rocking because Elvis would want you to. Don't be afraid to give or receive advice from others in the business no matter who they are or how long they've been in the business. You never stop helping until you stop giving to others and you never stop learning until you stop listening to others as well, "So help your brother along the way for the same God that made you, made him too......." Keep your heart in the right place and stay true to Elvis in performance. Remember that imitation is a form of flattery but tasteless mockery isn't an honorable way to remember who Elvis was and is today. Work hard, do your homework, and I promise your goals will become a reality and your dreams will come true.
God Bless and Take Care,
William Stiles
www.memoriestheatre.com
InTheStileofElvisATributeByWilliamStiles-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
www.williamstiles.com
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