Thursday, Mar. 31, 2011

Elvi are in the building

As reported in "Tribute Wars," a Weekly Surge Music Notes column from Feb. 24, multiple Elvis impersonators, or Elvi, as they're known, keep arriving on the Grand Strand. In addition to those working fulltime as tribute artists in area theaters, the Grand Strand is now home to the first and only official Graceland-sanctioned-Elvis Presley Enterprises-recognized Elvis fan club in the area. Fan club president Anne Collins found out just how much of an Elvis fan she was when she married an Elvi of her own 30 years ago, tribute artist and husband Jeff Collins.

With monthly club meetings at area restaurants, periodic Elvis Karaoke contests, two-fulltime tribute theater Elvi, and others who visit regularly, Elvis is definitely in the building.

"I knew I was a fan when I found out my husband could sing like Elvis," said Anne Collins. "He's trained formally in theater and opera. But he started imitating singers and found out he could do Elvis. I listened to Elvis on the radio, like everyone else, but I had never seen him in concert. But when Jeff started singing Elvis, I found I knew every word to every single song."

The Collins' have parlayed their love of music, Elvis especially, into a cottage industry that takes them to birthday parties and Elvis contests around the Southeast, especially in the Charlotte, N.C. area where the couple lived before relocating to North Myrtle Beach last fall. Their business, King Shazaam, pimps out Jeff Collins in a variety of tribute-related shows including the Rat Pack, Dean Martin, Bobby Darin and others, but Elvis remains king in their lives.

"I've been performing since I was about 13," said Jeff Collins, whose Charlotte-born-and-bred Southern twang is befitting of an Elvi. "I had an opportunity to join the Metropolitan Opera in Atlanta, but didn't. I was so young I didn't really appreciate it [at the time]. The first [professional] Elvis song I sang was on a cruise boat about 10 years ago, and I got [my own] outfits about four years ago. It's been fulltime ever since."

King Shazaam is a small entertainment company seeking to promote the versatile Collins for wherever a gig might present itself. "I do 14 different variety styles and 55 different voices," said Collins, "including Kermit The Frog. My wife is my manager and she's the best in the business." The Web site (www.kingshazaam.com) reports that Collins sings Elvis, gospel, country, oldies, etc. for any occasion. "We've done birthday parties for 8-year-olds to 95-year-olds," added Anne Collins. "This is a fulltime occupation for us."

President Collins found a ready audience here on the Grand Strand for the area's first sanctioned Elvis fan club - three others exist in S.C. - in Batesburg, Lexington and Summerville, and there are 431 worldwide, according to www.elvis.com. Elvis has more than 3 million Facebook friends - not bad for a guy that's been dead 33 years. "I touched base with Elvis Presley Enterprises, and they confirmed there was no [official] Elvis fan club here so we started this one," she said. The club usually meets the third Tuesday of every month, but may move to two meetings per month, and will meet again 7 p.m. April 7 at Socastee Station. "We have around 30-40 in attendance," said Anne Collins, "including 20 charter members." Five professional Elvis impersonators are on its membership roles, including Michael Sokolic, Jr., the 2007 Legends In Concert Ultimate Elvis Contest winner. "We prefer to be called Elvis Tribute Artists," added Jeff Collins, tiring of the "impersonator" label. "Thursday nights we do Dinner With The King at Socastee Station," said Anne Collins. "By the end of our first year we hope to have 100 [dues-paying] members." Dues are $10 annually. "Elvis Presley Enterprises expects us to do one or two fundraisers per year," she added. "We're working on the 2011 fundraisers and as of yet don't have them designated."

The Collins know how difficult the entertainment business can be, and especially the Elvis tribute game, which is global in scope and highly competitive. Famed actor/comedian Andy Kaufman brought the funny side of Elvis impersonating to his stage show, and was reported to be Elvis' favorite impersonator in comments Presley made before his untimely death in 1977 at 42-years-old. But most Elvi take their craft seriously - they don't do it for the money, of which there is very little, unless they land a permanent gig at a tribute theater. The Myrtle Beach area is now home to two such theaters; Legends In Concert, which recently moved to the former Club Kryptonite site, and Celebration Theatre in Legends' old digs in Surfside Beach. "I know we're the new kid on the block," said Anne Collins, "but Jeff has a phenomenal voice. We love it and get to do it together."

For more information contact Anne Collins at 424-9124, visit the club's Facebook page, or www.kingshazaam.com

Have a thought, comment or newsworthy item for Weekly Surge Music Notes? Send an e-mail to pgrimshaw@sc.rr.com.