ETA Spotlight on Matt Lewis
Elvis Tribute Artists Radio
Ladyluckmusic.com
LLM Copyright © 2006
USA Today calls him the "Best Elvis In Las Vegas" - Matt Lewis performs at "Legends In Concert" 12 months a year, does12 shows 6 nights a week on the Vegas strip and Vegas won't let him go even after 5 years! As our ETA Spotlight guest, Matt tells of his exciting career from the beginning right through today and filling us in on his performances in between - from Singapore to Canada. LLM welcomes Matt Lewis!
Matt Lewis
People always ask me how I got started performing as Elvis. It really was not my life's long ambition to become an Elvis entertainer. I was raised just outside of Kansas City Missouri in a small town called Lee's Summit. I have always been an entertainer. The only "real" jobs I have held in life have been washing dishes, painting houses, and parking cars. And that was all before the age of seventeen.
When I was twelve, I entered a talent show as Elvis and took second place. After that people started asking me to sing at different events locally. While studying to become a schoolteacher in my fifth year of college, I decided to throw caution to the wind, and become a full time entertainer. Can you imagine that phone call to my father saying, ". . . Dad, I'm dropping out of school to become and Elvis impersonator!" Even though that decision shocked my family back then, my parents are more than supportive and very proud of how far I have come.
I have had the opportunity to perform for audiences in Singapore, Germany, Australia, Poland, Canada, Japan and almost every major city in the United States. I have spent the last 5 years performing nightly at the Legends In Concert show in Las Vegas. I hesitate to even mention this next part, because it seems that every tribute artist claims to be the best Elvis in the world, but USA Today did name me, "Best Elvis in Las Vegas", for what it's worth. I never claim to be the best, but I do think that I could possibly have the best job as a tribute artist. I have the pleasure of performing twelve months out of the year, 12 shows a week, 6 nights a week on the Las Vegas strip. It doesn't get much better than that.
I take the opportunity to tour my own show about 10 weeks out of the year. "Matt Lewis - Long Live The King" is a multi media event with video, dancers, live band and a full light show. You can check it out at www.lewisplanet.com. With 2007 being the 30th anniversary of the death of Elvis, we are booking the show all over the country to celebrate his life.
Las Vegas has been my home for the past 5 years with my wife Janell, and two children, Xander and Chloe. Janell and I have formed a production company and are currently producing several shows around the country. You can check them out at www.simonwill.net.
I approach my impersonation as an actor would a role in a movie. I was a theater actor from a very young age, and have been pursuing that aspect of my career a lot lately. I have appeared in several films and television adds. My latest film is called, "Tears Of A King", directed by Rob Diamond. You guessed it, a story about Elvis. It was an incredible experience and I am very excited to see the final product. There is a lot of controversy surrounding this film because of the religious theme that is carefully woven into the story. I am here to tell you that the movie has a tremendous amount of heart, and Elvis fans should not miss it. Although the movie is based on factual data, it is truly a dramatic, work of art that will move people and open up discussions about the essence of who Elvis really was.
So that's my story. If you like you can learn more about me on my web sites: www.thekingonline.com or for a more personal touch: www.lewisplanet.com. Stop by and drop me a note to say hello!
People always ask me how I got started performing as Elvis. It really was not my life's long ambition to become an Elvis entertainer. I was raised just outside of Kansas City Missouri in a small town called Lee's Summit. I have always been an entertainer. The only "real" jobs I have held in life have been washing dishes, painting houses, and parking cars. And that was all before the age of seventeen.
When I was twelve, I entered a talent show as Elvis and took second place. After that people started asking me to sing at different events locally. While studying to become a schoolteacher in my fifth year of college, I decided to throw caution to the wind, and become a full time entertainer. Can you imagine that phone call to my father saying, ". . . Dad, I'm dropping out of school to become and Elvis impersonator!" Even though that decision shocked my family back then, my parents are more than supportive and very proud of how far I have come.
I have had the opportunity to perform for audiences in Singapore, Germany, Australia, Poland, Canada, Japan and almost every major city in the United States. I have spent the last 5 years performing nightly at the Legends In Concert show in Las Vegas. I hesitate to even mention this next part, because it seems that every tribute artist claims to be the best Elvis in the world, but USA Today did name me, "Best Elvis in Las Vegas", for what it's worth. I never claim to be the best, but I do think that I could possibly have the best job as a tribute artist. I have the pleasure of performing twelve months out of the year, 12 shows a week, 6 nights a week on the Las Vegas strip. It doesn't get much better than that.
I take the opportunity to tour my own show about 10 weeks out of the year. "Matt Lewis -
Las Vegas has been my home for the past 5 years with my wife Janell, and two children, Xander and Chloe. Janell and I have formed a production company and are currently producing several shows around the country. You can check them out at www.simonwill.net.
I approach my impersonation as an actor would a role in a movie. I was a theater actor from a very young age, and have been pursuing that aspect of my career a lot lately. I have appeared in several films and television adds. My latest film is called, "Tears Of A King", directed by Rob Diamond. You guessed it, a story about Elvis. It was an incredible experience and I am very excited to see the final product. There is a lot of controversy surrounding this film because of the religious theme that is carefully woven into the story. I am here to tell you that the movie has a tremendous amount of heart, and Elvis fans should not miss it. Although the movie is based on factual data, it is truly a dramatic, work of art that will move people and open up discussions about the essence of who Elvis really was.
So that's my story. If you like you can learn more about me on my web sites: www.thekingonline.com or for a more personal touch: www.lewisplanet.com. Stop by and drop me a note to say hello!
