‘All Shook Up.’ Elvises to descend on Myrtle Beach. Here’s when you can see them
Alex Mitchell is immediately transformed into the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll when he puts on a jumpsuit.
“The jumpsuit, it really does it for me,” Mitchell said. “When you put on one of those jumpsuits, you feel like Elvis.”
Mitchell has been “feeling” like Elvis for the last 15 years - eight of those professionally. The Myrtle Beach area man is a full-time Elvis tribute artist, traveling from city to city to perform as the late musician.
But Mitchell will be performing in Myrtle Beach Feb. 1-3 as part of the Myrtle Beach Elvis Festival. He will be one of a number of Elvis tribute artists, including other locals, such as Maxlee James, who will perform at the Hilton Resort. This is the third year for the festival.
The festival will have 11 headliners with two concert shows a day and a live band, as well as other activities and events for participants, Mitchell said. Each show highlights a certain era in Elvis’ career up until his death.
Elvis died of a heart attack at age 42 on Aug. 16, 1977, at his Graceland home in Memphis, Tennessee. The musical icon produced such classics as “Love Me Tender,” “Hound Dog” and “Jailhouse Rock.” He has sold millions of records and is still one of the most popular music artists of all time.
Mitchell focuses on Elvis’ music during the 1970s. He also enjoys dressing up in the leather outfit that Elvis wore during his ‘68 comeback show and performing songs from that time.
“I obviously know way too much about this man,” Mitchell said.
Mitchell has been an Elvis fan since he was a child. Having grown up in Conway, Mitchell’s grandparents took him to Myrtle Beach to see well-known local Elvis performer Eddie Miles. From there, the soon-to-be 30-year-old was hooked.
“I was an Elvis fan because my grandparents raised me,” Mitchell said. He said his mother, who passed away, along with his grandparents “were the Elvis people” and performing “constantly reminds me of them.”
Over the years, he has honed his performance, getting much better since he first performed “Blue Suede Shoes” in a talent show at Black Water Middle School.
Mitchell was working in restaurants until the bookings began to come in and turned to being Elvis full-time. At one point, he had a residency at GTS Theatre in Myrtle Beach.
Mitchell said Elvis is a phenomenon. Mitchell said there has been a resurgence of the singer’s popularity since the 2022 movie “Elvis,” starring Austin Butler. He now sees a much younger crowd at his shows, some 10 to 13 years old.
“I can’t think of anybody else that is still this popular after this long,” Mitchell said. “(His music) has some sort of timeless appeal.”
