The ETA Spotlight is a column written by ETA’s themselves (ranging from those just starting out to those who are fully established in their careers)........about something they’ve accomplished, an experience they’ve had, something that might be of value to other ETA’s.
Email: ETASpotlight@ladyluckmusic.com
Email: ETASpotlight@ladyluckmusic.com
Everything has happened so fast I almost don’t know where to begin. I owe several friends and fans and fellow ETA’s so much for making my dream of becoming a full time entertainer come true. I’d like to extend my sincere thanks to them and bring them to know me a little better in this article.
First of all, I grew up in the “Windy City” Chicago. I come from a very poor background. I remember mom and dad fighting to keep all of what we had and maintaining just enough to keep us fed and taken care of. I come from a family of 3 brothers and 5 sisters (and yes one other brother does sing Elvis as well).
I remember at a very young age of about 4 becoming curious about Elvis and his music. See my father started working with many musicians along with my mother to make a little extra money and have fun doing it. They began to form a Rock ‘n’ Roll & Blues band at first where everyone pretty much sang and took part and had a good time. They played out several big Chicago night clubs before realizing that they needed a better gimmick besides what every other club band was doing at the time. Dad being the Elvis fan he was since a child decided to approach the band with the idea of adding an Elvis set. The idea took off like it was meant to be. And at the time only one other Elvis Impersonator was in the Chicagoland area. Dad searched for a costume maker to make him a somewhat Elvis-like jumpsuit to perform in. Well, to make a long story short it took off very well for him. I remember all the band practices in my home until early in the mornings almost 3 nights a week. So music has always been a strong part of my life to help forget about the hard times. Once things took off for my mom and dad there were literally weeks that would go by and I wouldn’t see them from all the performing they would do. I started thinking about the whole idea when I would stay with relatives and family. Wow, my family is pretty cool to be traveling and performing all over. As a child it was the next best thing to being famous to me. It wasn’t until years later before I realized the hard times they had to put all of that together and the fact that it really didn’t pay much once all was said and done.
So anyway I began to steal Dad’s records and watch the Elvis movies and before you knew it Mom and Dad were too busy to realize that what they had done had carried down to me. My 13th birthday came and went very fast and we decided to move to Wisconsin because the area was beginning to become pretty bad. My freshman year in high school they had a lip sync contest. Well, everyone called me Elvis in school because of my hair and wild clothes I wore. So I decided to put on Dad’s jumpsuit and try it out in this contest. Well I took 3rd place and gained many friends from that point on because of the Elvis performances.
Once high school was over, I began to work factory work as a material handler for 4 years. Many of my friends tried to convince me to try singing at what was called karaoke and I thought no way it just sounds cheesy. Well, needless to say, I finally tried it. The response was so overwhelming that it became an addiction and became something I wanted more and more each time I did this. I would practice for 4 or 5 hours a day on into the morning.
In 1998 I became more curious about the business and performing part time. South Bend, Indiana seemed to be the hot spot for all of the Elvis entertainers. I attended and performed at many venues here thanks to Cindy Amador, Cortney’s mother. She introduced me to all of the ETA’s in her area. She then gave me a video tape to borrow with a man named Doug Church on it. I watched it over and over in awe at what I was hearing. I thought then and there I want to do what he is doing. Some time after I received an email from Doug asking me to call him. We talked what seemed like forever before he invited me to perform with him at one of his shows, then another, then another. Once I began to make a name for myself It was time to get a jumpsuit. Well I was always on the heavy side so I had many made for me that have come and gone since I began.
In 2003 I decided to make a big decision. I was ready to compete. After years of self- improvement on my appearance and performance I felt I was ready. Milwaukee Wisconsin holds a huge competition that draws many big names in the business to compete in. Well 2003 was its first year. I was a nervous wreck. I looked around and saw people I have watched who I admired that I had to try and beat! No pressure lol. I was a bundle of nerves. Well to make my nerves worse, in comes Ryan Pelton. My stress level just went through the roof, hehe. I was still a little heavy at the time and fresh out of the dentist for some work done. It was my turn to do my 2 songs. I sang Kentucky Rain and of course Hurt.
I was there with Shirley and Bill, my seamstress and her husband. We gathered round and held hands and prayed that I would make it. When they announced I made the finals and I would be going on that evening against Ryan Pelton, Donny Edwards, and Matt Joyce I was sick to my stomach. I lost my voice in the process and I was worried if I could sing any more. Evening came and I drew number 3. I watched the other guys perform and thought, wow these guys are all awesome, what am I going to do with no voice?
All of our songs were done and we all watched Garry Wesley perform with the Jordanaires where I was once again in awe of the level of performers I was among. They counted off 4 through 1, 4th place Matt Joyce, and I thought wow okay, 3rd place Donny Edwards and my heart started racing. Second place Ryan Pelton and I felt my heart stop! I had a lump in my throat so big I became emotional on stage and was tore up. he emcee Kurt Brown got to first place and when he said “and first place goes to” the crowd was deafening as they screamed my name! When Kurt announced me I lost it! I am actually shaking writing about this because it still stands out as the single most best feeling I have ever had to this date in this business. I got to sing with the Jordan aires and became close friends with Ray Walker from that day on. People ask me all the time why I still continue to compete in competitions because of the talk of politics and fixed competitions. My answer has always been the same. I don’t care about winning. Its being given that opportunity to perform in front of a new audience that is the challenge to me. Being around my peers is enjoyable to me, I have gotten very close to a great number of them. I admire all of them for their efforts in what they do.
Unfortunately there have been other sides of this business that I have seen first hand that just cause all sorts of friction between us ETAs. And I don’t hold any of my brothers accountable for any of that. Doing what I do has brought me to know Elvis’ personal friends more and more each time. It has brought many friends into my life both in and out of the business. I have met the most wonderful and giving people I have ever met since I started doing this. For every negative thing that’s happened its countered by a dozen or more positives.
First of all, I grew up in the “Windy City” Chicago. I come from a very poor background. I remember mom and dad fighting to keep all of what we had and maintaining just enough to keep us fed and taken care of. I come from a family of 3 brothers and 5 sisters (and yes one other brother does sing Elvis as well).
I remember at a very young age of about 4 becoming curious about Elvis and his music. See my father started working with many musicians along with my mother to make a little extra money and have fun doing it. They began to form a Rock ‘n’ Roll & Blues band at first where everyone pretty much sang and took part and had a good time. They played out several big Chicago night clubs before realizing that they needed a better gimmick besides what every other club band was doing at the time. Dad being the Elvis fan he was since a child decided to approach the band with the idea of adding an Elvis set. The idea took off like it was meant to be. And at the time only one other Elvis Impersonator was in the Chicagoland area. Dad searched for a costume maker to make him a somewhat Elvis-
So anyway I began to steal Dad’s records and watch the Elvis movies and before you knew it Mom and Dad were too busy to realize that what they had done had carried down to me. My 13th birthday came and went very fast and we decided to move to Wisconsin because the area was beginning to become pretty bad. My freshman year in high school they had a lip sync contest. Well, everyone called me Elvis in school because of my hair and wild clothes I wore. So I decided to put on Dad’s jumpsuit and try it out in this contest. Well I took 3rd place and gained many friends from that point on because of the Elvis performances.
Once high school was over, I began to work factory work as a material handler for 4 years. Many of my friends tried to convince me to try singing at what was called karaoke and I thought no way it just sounds cheesy. Well, needless to say, I finally tried it. The response was so overwhelming that it became an addiction and became something I wanted more and more each time I did this. I would practice for 4 or 5 hours a day on into the morning.
In 1998 I became more curious about the business and performing part time. South Bend, Indiana seemed to be the hot spot for all of the Elvis entertainers. I attended and performed at many venues here thanks to Cindy Amador, Cortney’s mother. She introduced me to all of the ETA’s in her area. She then gave me a video tape to borrow with a man named Doug Church on it. I watched it over and over in awe at what I was hearing. I thought then and there I want to do what he is doing. Some time after I received an email from Doug asking me to call him. We talked what seemed like forever before he invited me to perform with him at one of his shows, then another, then another. Once I began to make a name for myself It was time to get a jumpsuit. Well I was always on the heavy side so I had many made for me that have come and gone since I began.
In 2003 I decided to make a big decision. I was ready to compete. After years of self-
I was there with Shirley and Bill, my seamstress and her husband. We gathered round and held hands and prayed that I would make it. When they announced I made the finals and I would be going on that evening against Ryan Pelton, Donny Edwards, and Matt Joyce I was sick to my stomach. I lost my voice in the process and I was worried if I could sing any more. Evening came and I drew number 3. I watched the other guys perform and thought, wow these guys are all awesome, what am I going to do with no voice?
All of our songs were done and we all watched Garry Wesley perform with the Jordanaires where I was once again in awe of the level of performers I was among. They counted off 4 through 1, 4th place Matt Joyce, and I thought wow okay, 3rd place Donny Edwards and my heart started racing. Second place Ryan Pelton and I felt my heart stop! I had a lump in my throat so big I became emotional on stage and was tore up. he emcee Kurt Brown got to first place and when he said “and first place goes to” the crowd was deafening as they screamed my name! When Kurt announced me I lost it! I am actually shaking writing about this because it still stands out as the single most best feeling I have ever had to this date in this business. I got to sing with the Jordan aires and became close friends with Ray Walker from that day on. People ask me all the time why I still continue to compete in competitions because of the talk of politics and fixed competitions. My answer has always been the same. I don’t care about winning. Its being given that opportunity to perform in front of a new audience that is the challenge to me. Being around my peers is enjoyable to me, I have gotten very close to a great number of them. I admire all of them for their efforts in what they do.
Unfortunately there have been other sides of this business that I have seen first hand that just cause all sorts of friction between us ETAs. And I don’t hold any of my brothers accountable for any of that. Doing what I do has brought me to know Elvis’ personal friends more and more each time. It has brought many friends into my life both in and out of the business. I have met the most wonderful and giving people I have ever met since I started doing this. For every negative thing that’s happened its countered by a dozen or more positives.
ETA Spotlight on Jesse Aron
JesseAron.com
Today after being managed to do this full time by Steve Kerchoff whom I met in 2003 at Potawatomi. I find myself overwhelmed with all the opportunities it has opened for me. Steve did very well for me in his time of management but we came to an agreement that he should enjoy his retirement with his family. I have enjoyed being a part of Lady Luck Music’s ongoing Showcases and Peoples Choice competitions, and I thank Jimmy and Joanna for all they have done for me.
You know there have been many times I have sat at home in silence telling myself I don’t ever want to do this again. I sometimes let the bad get the best of me because I care so much for what I do. I will never understand how I can admire someone so much whom I have never met or how he continues to have this effect on me and fans. All I know is those times I want to let it all go and move on, I listen to him and fall in love with all of it all over again. When I think of all the people I have met and I am friends with, I just look up at the sky and say Thanks Elvis
Thanks friends for this opportunity for me to tell things from my point of view and I can’t wait to see all of you again soon.
You know there have been many times I have sat at home in silence telling myself I don’t ever want to do this again. I sometimes let the bad get the best of me because I care so much for what I do. I will never understand how I can admire someone so much whom I have never met or how he continues to have this effect on me and fans. All I know is those times I want to let it all go and move on, I listen to him and fall in love with all of it all over again. When I think of all the people I have met and I am friends with, I just look up at the sky and say Thanks Elvis
Thanks friends for this opportunity for me to tell things from my point of view and I can’t wait to see all of you again soon.
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