Professional “kings” rocked, rolled and remembered at metro-east Elvis Festival
A dozen Elvis Presley impersonators descended on Collinsville over the weekend during the city’s third annual Elvis Festival at Gateway Convention Center.
The convention consisted of three days of scheduled performances from each Elvis, along with heaps of merchandise paying homage to both the original Elvis and those who honor his legacy through imitation. Fans as near as a mile down the street and as far away as Norway came to see the show.
“It took us more than 12 hours to drive here,” said Paula Harrison of Richmond, Wisconsin “I saw Elvis in the 60s and it was so incredible that I knew I just had to come.”
Festivities kicked off on Thursday with performances from Bernie, Missouri performer Finley Watkins, one of the junior Elvises in the bunch. Opening with “One-Sided Love Affair” and performing hits from the 50’s, it didn’t take long for fans to approach the stage with flowers and selfies.
Finley has been performing Elvis songs since he was a child, according to his mother Tcheanina.
“We were going through Memphis and saw an Elvis billboard and he was like, ‘who’s that?’ So we looked it up on the iPad and he’s been hooked ever since.”
Tcheanina Watkins, who loves Elvis but says he “isn’t neccessarily her favorite,” said her son’s talent far surpasses mere impersonation. Not only does Finley Watkins play eight instruments and is a straight-A student, he also performs acts as other artists and even met Jerry Lee Lewis when he was a child.
He’s also been on the Ellen DeGeneres show twice since he started his Elvis impersonations at age 5.
“At first he would just perform in his little jump suits,” his mother said, “then it became an every day thing. We weren’t sure how far it would go but he’s good at it and I’m proud of him.”
Most of the performers in the convention share a similar story; they’re well-rounded musicians, started young and are often classically or professionally trained. Some are college educated as well, like Chicago-based Elvis, Hugo Colin.
Colin majored in fashion design and designs all of his own clothing, including a leather cover for his guitar, which he auctioned off at the event. Colin has been performing since his first rendition of “Viva Las Vegas” in kindergarten, giving him 19 years of experience in the world of Elvis Presley impersonators. He says he always enjoyed making his own clothing for the performances.
“I’ve known I wanted to do Elvis,” Colin said, “I love making the clothes, it feels like I’m really doing it right. My first performance was ‘Viva Las Vegas,’ I always love doing that one because it gets the crowd going. I wish I was doing it this weekend.”
Almost all of the performers have their own managers, handlers or support staff, ranging from parents to friends and professionally hired talent managers.
Sandy works as support staff for Alex Mitchell, who she met in her home town of Myrtle Beach nine years ago after a family tragedy.
“My husband died and I wasn’t leaving the house,” Hall explained, “I was just totally lost. My daughter came and told me about this Elvis guy down by the boathouse and that I had to see him, so I did and we became good friends. Nine years later here we are. I just go around and sell merch and promote for him, just really give the people what they want.”
The production company who hosts the convention, 49th Place Productions, practices what they sing. Their founder, Cote Deonath, is himself a grand champion Elvis Presley impersonator and a classically trained opera musician. He also does Franky Valle and other musicians, but Elvis has always had a special place in his heart.
“He’s just perfect, man,” Deonath said.
Deonath’s company has operated since 2018 and puts on a range of tribute shows, ranging from Elton John to Johnny Cash and more. Based in Florida, the company has become a nationwide attraction for music tribute lovers everywhere, but comes to Collinsville because of Bill Cherry, the city’s locally grown Elvis impersonator.
“We wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for Bill,” Deonath said.
The demands of being an Elvis tribute actor, or ETA, are high. Not everyone can pull off being a full-time actor, and even fewer can pull off being champions or award-winners. But part of the allure of 49th Place Productions is that all of the Elvis actors in their employ can boast of such credentials.
“It’s awesome,” Deonath said. “I’m only 28, doing what I love, and the people love it too. You can feel the energy. It’s high demand — you can’t have an off night at all. Elvis rarely, if ever, had off nights, and you have to keep that energy alive.”
That energy was present in not just the performers and merchandise sellers, but also in the 750-some people who attended the show. Many claim to be Elvis Presley’s No. 1 fan.
“I like to think I’m the biggest fan but I think my wife might actually have that title,” said Rande Clark of Ossian, Indiana. “We have two rooms full of Elvis stuff and the wife is looking to make a third. We got married at the steps of Graceland. There’s just no one like him — he’s got the fast ones, the bluesy ones and even gospel ones.
“There’s just nobody that compares.”
