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, or -- if just starting out -- simply to introduce themselves. Suitable photos should also be provided. Some of the articles will be in response to invitations we issue to ETA’s whose stories we feel will be of interest -- while other articles will be initiated by ETA’s who feel they have an interesting topic to write about. LadyLuckMusic/ETARadio will make the final selection for this feature. We look forward to hearing from ETA’s around
I can remember listening to Elvis from the early age of two. My first memory of this was watching the Aloha concert on t.v with my family. I used to drive my Dad nuts as every time he wanted to listen to his 8 track tapes of Elvis I had them all in my room. I used to sing along with him and dance in my room, dreaming of how it would be like to really be like Elvis. Seeing Elvis was my biggest dream as a young child and the day I heard that Elvis died I was 5 years old. I still feel that great emptiness of never being able to fulfil this dream.
I grew up in Cheyenne Wyoming and went to East High School. I was never really popular with the girls back then as I was a real young looking boy with blond hair. I always looked about 5 years younger than I was and the girls all seemed to want the older football player back then. Something else that drew me to Elvis was his style and the way he was admired by the girls. I started to comb my hair and pattern my dressing after Elvis. This again was not popular for the 80's but I stuck to it. I have never been one to be a follower. I have always wanted to stick out but in a good way. Even when all the other kids were listening to the new 80's sounds I was hooked on Elvis never knowing that someday this would all pay off. My Wife says I am just now discovering the 80's music. I have had people ask if I can sing in another voice. I don't try to sound like Elvis when I sing it is just how I sound. I think that maybe all those years of singing along with Elvis and a huge blessing from God is what I have to owe this to.
I ended up moving to Denver Colorado where I worked for a bread company delivering bread. A lot of the guys I worked with were my age and at night we would go to the bars to do what young guys go to the bars to do. Find girls. By this time I had started to get more confident with both my style and my singing and I think it showed. We started to discover that when I sang it helped us meet these girls. We would scope out every place that would have Karaoke and we would go. After a couple of years of this I was really starting to love it.
In the early 90's I ended up breaking my ankle and hurting my knee very badly and couldn't work delivering bread. I moved back home to my Dad's. After some time to just get back on my feet my family and some friend encouraged me to enter an Elvis contest held in Black Hawk Colorado. When I got there I never felt more out of place as I did then. I saw guys in the best jumpsuits and outfits. All I had was a black shirt and pants and white shoes. After all was said and done I didn't make the finals. I vowed that if I should ever do this again I would do it right. At this contest I met a group of people called the Elvis Connection, an Elvis fan club out of Denver. They invited me to join and became really good friends. They also invited me to perform at their functions. I had my Grandmother make me a gold lame jacket for this. I was starting to feel like I fit in. It was at one of these functions that my Dad first saw me perform. I think he was really impressed as he went out and bought me the 68 leather outfit from B&K. Soon after receiving this I entered three more contest and took first in every one. My Dad then set up a show at Little America in Cheyenne and it was a great success. Our next time on stage would be in Collingwood Ontario Canada one of the biggest contests in the World.
Collingwood was the start of my professional Career as being an Elvis Tribute Artist. I ended up taking third with there being a lot of controversy about this. Those people were really good to me there. The most important thing to happen was me meeting my wife. After two days together I told her I was going to marry her. After going home I needed a way to go 1500 miles from Wyoming to go visit her in Canada, So we would set up shows different places to pay for my flights and enough extra for me to spend a month with her at a time. I entered every contest I could to get my name known thorough the country and although I did not win them all I made a great impression on people and I was finding that I was becoming known every where I went. I decided that if this was going to be what I am going to do I need to do it right so I really bucked down and to this day put a lot of work into being the best I can . I ended up marrying Cindy one year later almost to the day. Our first child was born one year after that almost to the day. Cindy is pregnant again and due sometime in February. Since then with the support of my family, Joanna Johnson and Lady Luck Music, Nance Fox, and fellow Etas, friends and most of all, my wife Cindy. I have won numerous contest . Two World Championships and just this year the $25,000.00 Isle Of Capri contest. I am also the headliner at the Yellow Rose Theatre in Moor Oklahoma two months out of the year. January and August. I stay busy doing my own shows and also private functions.
After five years things are going strong for me right now as I have been blessed with my chosen career. One thing I can say from my heart is that I love all of my fans and even people that might not be fans but still listen and watch and just allow me to perform for them. It is because of these people that I am able to do what I love so much. Like I say at my shows and speak every word with the truest of love. Of all the places you could have been, you choose to be here with me tonight and I could never tell you in worlds how much that means to me. Thank you Everyone.
Johnny Loos
ETA Spotlight on Art Kleiner
Pic by Doug McCready, LLM Staff photographer, Collingwood ‘05
