Happy November Everyone! To those of you in the States, Happy Thanksgiving this month! To those of you in Canada, a belated Happy Thanksgiving to you! I hope everyone has a great holiday season! Next month I'm going to write a review of a benefit that is being held on November 8th, 2002. The benefit is for Huggz From Heaven, a non profit organization that collects stuffed animals for children that are ill in the Childrens Hospital in Birmingham, Alabama. The benefit will feature Arik Christopher and David Lee. For more info, please email me! On to this month's featured entertainer...Gene DiNapoli! :)

I've known Gene for I'd say about 2 years now, maybe a little longer. My friend Quentin Flagg, had met Gene in LaCrosse, WI one year and became instant friends with him. They both figured out that they performed one half of the Blues Brothers back in their hometowns, and instantly began a friendship that even turned into them doing their own Blue's Brothers tribute together!

Gene is an excellent entertainer. Not only does he do an awesome Jake from the Blues Brothers, but he of course puts on his wonderful tribute to Elvis too!! Gene loves to do the power songs and does them well! Gene has a big heart and is such a great person, he can instantly become ones friend!

I've seen Gene perform in Portage, Indiana, where he got on stage and had so much fun and had everyone up on their feet dancing. He even threw out 8x10 pics of himself to the crowd. What a treat! I have also seen Gene in Hickory Hills, Illinois; Davenport, Iowa; Argos, Indiana; Plymouth, Indiana; Yipsilanti, Michigan; and Memphis, Tennessee.

At a show in Hickory Hills, Illinois, as Gene was leaving the stage he had a fall. He really injured his foot, but was okay otherwise. Something that shows what a trooper Gene is and how dedicated he is to entertaining his fans, Gene did a show the following night, on crutches! He was hurt, but that didn't stop him from putting on a great show! Way to go Gene!

Gene was the featured emcee this year at the shows sponsored by Darwin Lamm and Elvis International Forum at the New Daisy Theater on Beale Street during Elvis Week 2002! He even did some performing of his own. Much to the delight of his current fans, and I'm sure he gained some new fans too!

Gene is quite the entertainer and an awesome friend to have. He'll make you smile no matter what, and is always fun to have around. Thanks Gene for putting on a great tribute to Elvis and keeping the memory alive! :)

Read below for the interview with Gene!

HOME

The questions:

1. What made you want to become an ETA?
I always sang in my room ever since I saw Elvis at age 7. My uncle owned a restaurant and my family went there for my brothers birthday one year. I got up with my uncle to sing a Engelbert Humperdink song for my brother. After the song I asked the band if they knew Blue Suede Shoes, they said yea and I jumped into the song just like that. The crowd loved seeing a young kid do Elvis .This was long before it was normal for young people to do it like it is today.

2. What is your main goal being an ETA?
I don't really have a goal. I just want to bring back some joy by the greatest entertainer in history since he cant do it live anymore.

3. What are some of your favorite songs to perform?
Oh well I love the power tunes like Hurt, My Way and America but of course I love them all.

4. Where has or where would you like your show to take you?
I've been everywhere I wanted to go so far but I love to go to the Elvis fests around the country and sing for true Elvis fans.

5. Have you been to Memphis? If so what did that experience mean to you?
I've been to Memphis over 30 times. Being in Memphis to me is like a kid being in Disneyland . It's a great place to be!

6. Have you attended Elvis Week?
I've only been to Elvis week the past 2 years. The reason being I was always doing shows that week. I finally said I'm going and now I know what I've missed all those years. If you know me, I'm a very talkative person but the minute I pass the gates on the eve of the 16th I feel the need to be calm and quiet and reflect on what Elvis has meant to me all my life, which of course was alot.

7. Have you ever considered throwing any "Non-Elvis" songs into a show?
Not in my Elvis show but I do other songs in shows. I do songs from Bronx born singers like Dion, Bobby Darin and Tony Orlando. I also do Jay Black and the Americans, Gary Puckett, Tom Jones and Engelbert Humperdink. It's fun to do those too.

8. How do your family and friends feel about what you do?
My family and friends have always supported me. Of course there are times when they cant be at every show but my Mom, my stepdad and my wife go to every one they can. My brother was my stage assistant and my nephew was my Charlie Hodge a few times.

9. Have you met anyone that worked with or knew Elvis? If so, name a few.
I've met quite a few. I sang Burning Love with the Jordinares and DJ Fontana in New York, that was cool because neither of them were on the original but they played it great. I met the TCB Band on my honeymoon but I got real friendly with Glen D. Hardin. Going to Memphis I meet all the guys and girls that worked with Elvis. Joe Esposito stopped me from buying a bogus Elvis item once, thanks Joe! Myrna Smith sang back up for me at an Elvis Fest and God was she good! I love all those people because they treat us really nice.

10. Have you made any new friends resulting from your tribute?
I've made so many friends especially other ETA's and the fans. I've never met a better bunch of people than Elvis people.

11. What era of Elvis do you like to portray?
I love the 70's Elvis with the jumpsuits and the big songs. Right now I cant fit into a Gold Lame' lol but I'm trying.

12. What other interests/hobbies do you have?
I'm so into music. I'm also a DJ and karaoke host of my company, Lightning Entertainment I produce oldies shows with the acts from the 50s and 60s. I'm an avid CD collector. My Elvis collection just got a nice piece of memorabilia, a belt buckle Elvis owned in 1974 . I'm trying to find a picture of it but its worth the chance.

13. Any Comments to the fans/friends?
I don't have a comment really, but to those who seen me sing and have made me feel great, thank you for being so kind and you'll never know what it means to me.