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
Hi everyone…
I’d like to start by firstly congratulating everyone involved with Lady Luck Music for the great job they do, not only by keeping Elvis’ music and name alive but also for the fantastic job they do in helping to promote Tribute Artists from all over the world. It is always nice to be able to click onto the site and listen to fellow ETA’s singing.
My story begins really at the early age of around 10/11 years old when I would sit in front of the TV and watch Elvis movies. For me, Elvis was always the hero in the movies, the guy who always got the girl in the end, and no matter what the odds against him were he always won the fight! Sometimes even I found the movies a bit hard to believe at times, but at such a young, impressionable age I looked up to him and was starting to fall under the spell of his magic, as were a lot of the friends I grew up with.
I started listening to Elvis records more and more and you could say I became a fan at that age in my life. I used to sing along to his records and as I grew older I grew braver and would start to sing in front of my friends. It was not long before I would be asked to get up and sing when we were out in various restaurants or parties to the audiences there.
My love for music and Elvis’ music in particular was the biggest influence in my life and I decided as a teenager that I wanted to pursue a career in music, although I trained as a hairdresser and started working in a salon when I was about 20. I was frustrated as I knew deep down it was not what I wanted to do with my life. So I started taking singing lessons with a very well-known singing teacher named Glynn Jones who was responsible for working with such great singers as Tom Jones, Annie Lennox and Shirley Bassey. He taught me how to sing correctly using techniques used by opera singers. These techniques would serve me well in life as you sometimes perform every night in shows and good, correct vocal technique is the most important thing in a singer’s life.
At the age of 28, I auditioned for a drama school, The Academy Of Live And Recorded Arts, and successfully gained a place and a partly funded scholarship which paid my fees. The fees at the time were extortionate -- approximately $15,000 a year and it was a 3-year course!
It was during my 2nd year there that I went into an American Diner type restaurant called “Jailhouse Rock” where they had entertainment on a nightly basis. One of the singers there was an Elvis tribute singer. I remember thinking to myself, “ I could do that!” So as fate or chance would have it, about 2 weeks later I was reading an actor’s newspaper called “The Stage” and there was an advert in it from the restaurant stating that they were looking for “Elvis singers” for their restaurant. I got a friend of mine to make me a jumpsuit, got some backing tracks together, and auditioned for them on a quiet night. I made sure I got a lot of my friends to eat in there that night and had a lot of support.
The audition went very well and I was offered a job there on the understanding that I had to have another costume made. I got my friend to make me a PVC 68 comeback costume to go with the chain suit he had made me earlier (I still use the chain suit to this very day 12 years later!!).
It was at the Jailhouse Rock restaurant that I really learned my trade. If you can play to audiences in a place like that, then you can really play anywhere because sometimes you play to people who have had a fair amount to drink and sometimes to rowdy, boisterous crowds and sometimes to people who don’t even want to be there in the first place but have been dragged along by their partners or friends, so it was very good training for me.
I spent a few years there and started to do some private work in between. By this time I had given up hairdressing and had sold my half of a business I had acquired to my friend and partner. I was fortunate to have appeared in a few theatrical productions, but nothing to shout home about. I managed to be cast in a feature film alongside Armand Assante, Eric Roberts, Isabella Rossilini and Gretta Scaachi called “The Odyssey.” I was finding it harder and harder to get acting work as it is a very tough business and I was started to get a little disillusioned by the business. However, my Elvis tribute work was really taking off and I was making a very comfortable living as an ETA.
I was booked to do a promotional appearance at a book launch by Donna Presley (Elvis 1st cousin) and she was so taken by me and my performance that she invited me to come and visit her in Memphis and said I should perform in the prestigious “Images Of The King” competition there – that it was regarded as the “Mecca” of all contests. So in 2000 I set out to go to Memphis. It was my first trip to the States and it is where I really was introduced to the enormity of the ETA scene. I met some fantastic people from not only America but from all over the world...people I have kept in touch with and people I regard as not only fellow co-workers but as friends.
I placed in the finals and can safely say I was bitten by the bug!! I returned the following year and the year after that. In 2002, I placed first runner up to Brandon Bennett. It inspired me to make it my goal to try and win the contest.
I returned to England and carried on with my work, got a band together and did some shows in theatres all over England, calling my show “Elvis - the tribute.” The shows were an enormous success and audiences were asking me when I would return with the show. However, I was never to return as bigger doors were about to open for me. In March 2003, my agent retired from the acting business so I resigned myself to the fact that my acting career would be no more as it is important in the acting business to have a good agent to get you the auditions you need and to be seen by casting directors.
As fate or destiny or God’s will would have it, I bought a copy of the Stage newspaper in June and saw that there was an open casting call for the role of Vince Everett in a new musical called “Jailhouse Rock.” There was no mention of “Elvis” in the audition and I found out later that the producers were keen to keep away from the Elvis Image and wanted to try and create the role along the lines of “Marlon Brando/James Dean” and not Elvis. They had not been successful in past auditions via agents and decided to make a final attempt at casting the role nation-wide in the hope that some unsigned talent might walk through the door. The breakdown stated that they were looking for an 18-25 year old to play the role. At the time I was 37 and thought there was no way I should even turn up at the door let alone go inside and audition!
However, I did, and I turned up with my Elvis wig on and with my fringe combed down so as not to appear too “Elvis like” and sang a couple of songs. I was asked to read the script and come back inside after ten minutes. There were national television cameras filming the auditions and the presenter came to talk to me outside. She said that the producers were talking about me and were wondering how old I was.....some were saying 28, some 30. So I was prepared. I was asked back inside and told to sit down and read the script which I did. Then I was asked my age to which I replied “28.” I said, “I know you were looking for an 18-25 year old but I hope you don’t mind me coming along” to which they replied, “No it’s fine; some of us thought you were between 27-30”.....so I managed to get through the first stage of auditions!!
I’d like to start by firstly congratulating everyone involved with Lady Luck Music for the great job they do, not only by keeping Elvis’ music and name alive but also for the fantastic job they do in helping to promote Tribute Artists from all over the world. It is always nice to be able to click onto the site and listen to fellow ETA’s singing.
My story begins really at the early age of around 10/11 years old when I would sit in front of the TV and watch Elvis movies. For me, Elvis was always the hero in the movies, the guy who always got the girl in the end, and no matter what the odds against him were he always won the fight! Sometimes even I found the movies a bit hard to believe at times, but at such a young, impressionable age I looked up to him and was starting to fall under the spell of his magic, as were a lot of the friends I grew up with.
I started listening to Elvis records more and more and you could say I became a fan at that age in my life. I used to sing along to his records and as I grew older I grew braver and would start to sing in front of my friends. It was not long before I would be asked to get up and sing when we were out in various restaurants or parties to the audiences there.
My love for music and Elvis’ music in particular was the biggest influence in my life and I decided as a teenager that I wanted to pursue a career in music, although I trained as a hairdresser and started working in a salon when I was about 20. I was frustrated as I knew deep down it was not what I wanted to do with my life. So I started taking singing lessons with a very well-
At the age of 28, I auditioned for a drama school, The Academy Of Live And Recorded Arts, and successfully gained a place and a partly funded scholarship which paid my fees. The fees at the time were extortionate -
It was during my 2nd year there that I went into an American Diner type restaurant called “Jailhouse Rock” where they had entertainment on a nightly basis. One of the singers there was an Elvis tribute singer. I remember thinking to myself, “ I could do that!” So as fate or chance would have it, about 2 weeks later I was reading an actor’s newspaper called “The Stage” and there was an advert in it from the restaurant stating that they were looking for “Elvis singers” for their restaurant. I got a friend of mine to make me a jumpsuit, got some backing tracks together, and auditioned for them on a quiet night. I made sure I got a lot of my friends to eat in there that night and had a lot of support.
The audition went very well and I was offered a job there on the understanding that I had to have another costume made. I got my friend to make me a PVC 68 comeback costume to go with the chain suit he had made me earlier (I still use the chain suit to this very day 12 years later!!).
It was at the Jailhouse Rock restaurant that I really learned my trade. If you can play to audiences in a place like that, then you can really play anywhere because sometimes you play to people who have had a fair amount to drink and sometimes to rowdy, boisterous crowds and sometimes to people who don’t even want to be there in the first place but have been dragged along by their partners or friends, so it was very good training for me.
I spent a few years there and started to do some private work in between. By this time I had given up hairdressing and had sold my half of a business I had acquired to my friend and partner. I was fortunate to have appeared in a few theatrical productions, but nothing to shout home about. I managed to be cast in a feature film alongside Armand Assante, Eric Roberts, Isabella Rossilini and Gretta Scaachi called “The Odyssey.” I was finding it harder and harder to get acting work as it is a very tough business and I was started to get a little disillusioned by the business. However, my Elvis tribute work was really taking off and I was making a very comfortable living as an ETA.
I was booked to do a promotional appearance at a book launch by Donna Presley (Elvis 1st cousin) and she was so taken by me and my performance that she invited me to come and visit her in Memphis and said I should perform in the prestigious “Images Of The King” competition there – that it was regarded as the “Mecca” of all contests. So in 2000 I set out to go to Memphis. It was my first trip to the States and it is where I really was introduced to the enormity of the ETA scene. I met some fantastic people from not only America but from all over the world...people I have kept in touch with and people I regard as not only fellow co-
I placed in the finals and can safely say I was bitten by the bug!! I returned the following year and the year after that. In 2002, I placed first runner up to Brandon Bennett. It inspired me to make it my goal to try and win the contest.
I returned to England and carried on with my work, got a band together and did some shows in theatres all over England, calling my show “Elvis -
As fate or destiny or God’s will would have it, I bought a copy of the Stage newspaper in June and saw that there was an open casting call for the role of Vince Everett in a new musical called “Jailhouse Rock.” There was no mention of “Elvis” in the audition and I found out later that the producers were keen to keep away from the Elvis Image and wanted to try and create the role along the lines of “Marlon Brando/James Dean” and not Elvis. They had not been successful in past auditions via agents and decided to make a final attempt at casting the role nation-
However, I did, and I turned up with my Elvis wig on and with my fringe combed down so as not to appear too “Elvis like” and sang a couple of songs. I was asked to read the script and come back inside after ten minutes. There were national television cameras filming the auditions and the presenter came to talk to me outside. She said that the producers were talking about me and were wondering how old I was.....some were saying 28, some 30. So I was prepared. I was asked back inside and told to sit down and read the script which I did. Then I was asked my age to which I replied “28.” I said, “I know you were looking for an 18-
ETA Spotlight on Mario Kombou
I was asked to come back about 6/7 times over the course of the next few months and the producers even flew to America and held auditions over there for the role and flew back 2 actors from the States for a final head to head audition with me for the lead role. The actors were not ETA’s but straight acting/singing actors and it was because they were still undecided as to whether to portray the character of Vince as an Elvis-type character or not. I was told later that day on my way to a show that I had been cast in the role of “Vince Everett” and it was the day that really changed my life. The producers decided it was too strong an influence to ignore and Vince had to be able to act but also sing like Elvis and that is what the public would expect if they came to see a musical called “Jailhouse Rock.”
I played the role for 14 months in the Piccadilly Theatre in London’s West End (which is the equivalent of being on Broadway). We played 8 shows a week and I was on stage for nearly the whole 2 ½ hours singing most of the songs. It was grueling and challenging but I loved every minute of it.
As a result of landing the role many fantastic things have happened.
I was asked to sing the 1000th UK number single in chart history on a music programme broadcast live to millions at home called “Top of the Pops.” It was Elvis’ “One Night” as EPE wouldn’t allow the programme to show any live footage of Elvis and it worked out to my benefit. I was asked to sing live at Twickenham Rugby Stadium -- the national anthem of Great Britain and also the New Zealand anthem in English and in Maori!!! I have appeared on television programmes singing songs from the show; also on national radio stations; and in newspapers and magazines which are too many to mention but just as equally important.
But there was one aspect of my life which still remained a personal challenge to me. Memphis!
So in 2005 I returned to Memphis (I could not go in 2004 as I had commitments to the musical). I competed once again in the “Images “ contest and this time I won! It was the icing on the cake for me as far as being an ETA is concerned. It was the chance for me to get the recognition from the rest of the world and fellow ETA’s.
My philosophy on life has always been of a competitive nature. I feel it is important to set yourself goals and try to achieve targets. It is equally important that whatever you do in life to try and do it to the best of your ability. Whether you are a singer, hairdresser, athlete, try and be the best at what you do. This is why I could never be happy being a hairdresser because my heart was never in it.
I have made many friends along the way in this business of being an ETA – friends I admire and respect, friends who always offer support and help, people I can learn from. You can always learn things from others and also help others; never think you are the finished article because nobody is. Only Elvis.
I’d like to say hello to friends like John Fix who has brought me over to America for shows and allowed me the chance to perform for my friends in the States; people like David Lee for his support and kindness; Todd Martin, Robert Washington, George Elias, Kavan, Joe Trites, Richard Atkins, Lou Jordan.....the list is endless.
And finally a big thank you to Lady Luck Music once again for the support you give all the guys. May you continue doing the wonderful job that you do. And finally, thank God for giving us guys the gift we have been blessed with.
Please feel free to check out clips from “Jailhouse Rock “ the musical, on my website for those of you who couldn’t get to London to see it.
Best Wishes…….Mario
www.elvisartist.com
I played the role for 14 months in the Piccadilly Theatre in London’s West End (which is the equivalent of being on Broadway). We played 8 shows a week and I was on stage for nearly the whole 2 ½ hours singing most of the songs. It was grueling and challenging but I loved every minute of it.
As a result of landing the role many fantastic things have happened.
I was asked to sing the 1000th UK number single in chart history on a music programme broadcast live to millions at home called “Top of the Pops.” It was Elvis’ “One Night” as EPE wouldn’t allow the programme to show any live footage of Elvis and it worked out to my benefit. I was asked to sing live at Twickenham Rugby Stadium -
But there was one aspect of my life which still remained a personal challenge to me. Memphis!
So in 2005 I returned to Memphis (I could not go in 2004 as I had commitments to the musical). I competed once again in the “Images “ contest and this time I won! It was the icing on the cake for me as far as being an ETA is concerned. It was the chance for me to get the recognition from the rest of the world and fellow ETA’s.
My philosophy on life has always been of a competitive nature. I feel it is important to set yourself goals and try to achieve targets. It is equally important that whatever you do in life to try and do it to the best of your ability. Whether you are a singer, hairdresser, athlete, try and be the best at what you do. This is why I could never be happy being a hairdresser because my heart was never in it.
I have made many friends along the way in this business of being an ETA – friends I admire and respect, friends who always offer support and help, people I can learn from. You can always learn things from others and also help others; never think you are the finished article because nobody is. Only Elvis.
I’d like to say hello to friends like John Fix who has brought me over to America for shows and allowed me the chance to perform for my friends in the States; people like David Lee for his support and kindness; Todd Martin, Robert Washington, George Elias, Kavan, Joe Trites, Richard Atkins, Lou Jordan.....the list is endless.
And finally a big thank you to Lady Luck Music once again for the support you give all the guys. May you continue doing the wonderful job that you do. And finally, thank God for giving us guys the gift we have been blessed with.
Please feel free to check out clips from “Jailhouse Rock “ the musical, on my website for those of you who couldn’t get to London to see it.
Best Wishes…….Mario
www.elvisartist.com
Elvis Tribute Artists Radio
Ladyluckmusic.com
LLM Copyright © 2005
This month’s ETA Spotlight features Mario Kombou, 2005 Images of the King Winner and star of the West End musical, Jailhouse Rock. Many thanks, Mario!
