Fan and friend of Jamie Aaron Kelley, Ronda Marson, president of the Love For Elvis Fan Club, writes about Jamie’s career and a May 2006 performance in ELVIS STORY at Gatineau, Quebec. Thanks, Ronda!
Jamie Aaron Kelley Has Canada ‘All Shook Up’
Jamie Aaron Kelley transforms himself into as close a replica of Presley as you will ever encounter in this life!" Phil Roura, New York Daily News
By: Ronda Marson
"Our lives are inspired by the dreams we have from the earliest stages of our youth. When you combine passion & hard work, then success is always possible. While no road is ever straight, dedication & persistence will always lead to your dreams," ~ Arte Moreno ~ Businessman
Each of us are blessed with talents and abilities that propel us to pursue distinctive career paths. For some there is often confusion as to which path to choose. Thankfully that calling was inevitable very early on for a small-town boy from Boone, Iowa who unmistakably was born with a passion for music reverberating through his soul.
Jamie Aaron Kelley, born a mere 3 years after Elvis’ death, began singing at the tender age of 3. His father, Larry Kelley, had a band of his own which covered oldies music’ of the 50s, 60s & 70s and would prove to be an opportune environment for Jamie to foster his own dreams of one day pursuing a musical career. In fact, Jamie has much to thank his parents for. This early exposure to the quality music of the bygone era that the Kelleys would continuously listen to at home is that which would first evoke a musical awakening in their son. It seems almost improbable to wrap one’s mind around the fact that at the current age of 26 Jamie’s career span had already stretched beyond 20 years. Improbable - perhaps, but true: Yes. Luckily for his ever-growing legion of fans world-wide it means that Jamie still has a long career ahead of him. His list of accomplishments thus far reads as that of a career veteran. He has graced the stage with the likes of: Carl Perkins, Del Shannon, The Coasters, Bobby Vee, The Shirelles, Freddie Cannon, Bryan Hyland, Narvel Felts and Peter Noone of Herman’s Hermits. During a ten year span from 1995 - 2005, and playing songs from every Era of Elvis’ career, Jamie performed in his own show with his TCB Dancers. In 1999 he set a world-record in Memphis, TN by singing all 790 of Elvis Presley’s known recordings by memory. Jamie is the only person in the world who knows and can sing every single Elvis song, including the home recordings, that have been released! As a result Jamie was presented with a certificate from Elvis Presley Enterprises to commemorate his achievement thanking him for ‘being an ambassador to a new generation of Elvis Fans.’ That statement itself speaks volumes, but most especially to someone like Jamie who is first and foremost an Elvis Fan. His fascination with Elvis from an early age led Jamie to absorb not only Elvis’ distinctive sound, but all the Elvis related material and information he could get his hands on. His vast knowledge of the man who would be dubbed ‘The King of Rock N Roll’ is unquestionable, and it all stems from his respect and understanding of the man many refer to as the greatest musical icon of all-time.
Jamie has already recorded two solo albums - one released in 2002 titled ‘Unfinished Business’ and featuring artists that had themselves worked with Elvis such as: The Jordanaires, Millie Kirkham, D.J. Fontana, Boots Randolph, Bob Moore and David Briggs. There is no mistaking the sound contained on this hauntingly soulful album - it was purposely recorded in much the same way as the music in the 50’s - with nearly all the musicians working in the studio together at the same time. Jamie had visualized an album that would contain music, artists and songs that Elvis had loved and admired. It took over three years, and the process of paring down an initial list of over 200 songs before the album would come to fruition, and it marked the beginning of Jamie’s vision of a solo career. The second album, ’The Sun Also Rises’, which was released in 2004, was a culmination of a slightly different undertaking that was recorded at 706 Union Ave., or more recognizably referred to as: Sun Studio - the birthplace of Rock N Roll. This album features the rockabilly sounds of the band The Dempseys, and even contains two original songs written by Jamie himself. His third solo album will also be released this year, recorded much in the same context and style as the aforementioned compilation. It is through these recordings that Jamie is continuing to grow as an artist in his own right. His ability to take both well-known and lesser known musical gems of the past, and distinctly make them his own by infusing these songs with his personal flair and musical reverberation is what sets Jamie uniquely apart from all the rest.
It’s no wonder Jamie is the person called upon time & again for various Elvis related projects, products and promotions. In June 2004 Edy’s Ice Cream launched two new Elvis Flavors and came a knockin’ on Jamie’s door in an effort to enhance their advertising by touring stores in Tennessee, Mississippi, Louisiana and Arkansas and hiring Jamie to perform Elvis songs at their in-store promotions. That same year during Elvis Week in Memphis, TN in August, Stern Pinball Machine Company of Chicago made it’s public debut of the 1st musical Elvis Pinball machine. The Elvis songs contained on the game are Mr. Presley himself which Jamie has publicly stated “is as it should be.” The speaking voice however isn’t - it’s Jamie Aaron Kelley. When Stern contacted Graceland inquiring who they could hire to record the voice ‘as close to Elvis’ as possible’ they pointed them in the direction of Jamie, and the rest as they say, is history. History in the making, perhaps…..
The next pivotal chapter of Jamie’s career as actor, performer and musician would again come to formation through another recommendation by Graceland & EPE, whom he has an extraordinary working relationship with. Elvis Story, a live exuberant musical production spanning the entire career of Elvis Presley which had premiered in 1995. It had run for 10 successful years when Martin Fontaine, the star portraying Elvis, decided to leave the production in pursuit of his own solo. Already committed to present the show in Atlantic City in 2005, producer and owner of Le Capitole de Quebec, Jean Pilote had to hasten to find a successor. Usually not an easy task when a production has already triumphantly run for a decade - but as fate would have it, in steps Jamie Aaron Kelley, after impressing the powers-that-be with his uncanny ability to capture the charisma, charm and pure essence of everything that Elvis Presley was, and continues to be, for scores of Presley fans. As reported in an article published in Le Journal de Quebec on the eve of Jamie’s premiere on July 5, 2005 in Atlantic City, Pilote stated, “He (Jamie) is truly exceptional; he sings well, he moves well and he has a lot of charm.” These very qualities is what completely captivated the audience during 76 sold-out performances at Atlantic City’s Harrah’s Hotel and Casino Resort. Originally slated for 48 shows at this venue, the enthusiastic response and huge success of Kelley’s portrayal led to the decision that culminated in the extension of the production. In reaction to the extension Jean Pilote exclaimed, “We are overwhelmed by the public’s enthusiastic reaction; we are granted with a standing ovation every night!” Elvis Story would delightfully continue on with the same Quebec musicians and chorus it had begun with - and Kelley had more than single-handedly won the hearts of audience members. The next step was to bring the production back to Canada.
May 3, 2006 ~ is Kelley’s Canadian debut at Casino du Lac Leamy in Gatineau, Quebec, and once again he is captivating the enraptured audiences, only this time North of the border. Jamie has worked hard the past few months in learning to speak and comprehend French in order to enable him to interact with his expanding rooster of Canadian fans in Quebec, which grows with each show. Although Jamie isn‘t French himself, the fans have embraced him with enthusiasm. Admittedly he knows “a little French” (spoken by Kelley in French) which he proclaims with sincerity thanking the audience at the conclusion of each nights show. The fact that he is earnestly trying causes the Theatre to erupt with unanimous applause. It’s apparent they are completely responsive to him, in any language - which, in this case, is considered anything but a barrier, and further proves the fact that Elvis music is triumphantly a universal language. Understandably some fans were slightly skeptical initially at the prospects of someone new taking over the role of Elvis Presley in the production, but once Kelley was given the chance it’s becoming more evident daily that Jamie is successfully dispelling any of those skeptics. The press in Quebec and Ontario have been eagerly reporting on how enamored the fans are at Lac Leamy once they’ve seen Kelley’s performance. This is evidenced by the increasing number of ticket sales since Kelley’s debut which have reportedly tripled in number !! Much of this can most likely be attested to his commitment to connect with his fans, which he manages to do both on and off the stage. During the show he playfully interacts with audience members in response to their shouts of adoration. Female audience members rush the stage for the chance of receiving a scarf, or perhaps a kiss to which many respond with giggles of delight. He dutifully meets with fans signing autographs and taking pictures voluntarily after each performance. Witnessing the immediate and natural connection he has with the fans and how enthusiastically they respond to him is heartwarming. One man in line proclaimed while waiting to meet Kelley, “Wow - look at his eyes! So much like Elvis’!“ There is only one man that I know of who could exude that kind of bewildered response in both men and woman alike, and that was Elvis Presley himself.
During the show Jamie has 14 costume changes, which showcase the start of Elvis’ career both at Sun Studios and the Louisiana Hayride. It also touches on the significant moments of Elvis’ musical career such as The 68 Comeback Special, The Aloha From Hawaii telecast, and Presley’s triumphant return to the live Vegas shows of the 70’s. The impressive sets include the re-creation of the choreographed dance number from Elvis’ movie Jailhouse Rock, along with various other fun-filled numbers from Presley’s movie career. One of the innumerable touching moments of the Production occurs during the recreation of the interruption of Elvis’ musical career following his induction into the Army. The scene encompasses Kelley’s rendition of Love Me Tender that sends chills through one’s body at the eerie resemblance of his voice to Presley’s. In fact, close your eyes and you would swear that it is Elvis at that moment who is actually singing. Jamie has proclaimed before, albeit very modestly, “No one will EVER match Elvis exactly in any way, but it’s like a true student of Karate who strives toward the image of perfection even though perfection isn’t possible.” Not possible - perhaps, when referring to the musical genius of the one and only Elvis Presley, but to those hearts that Jamie Aaron Kelley is capturing in Canada, definitely close enough. Perfect however is the word that can be used to describe this role for Jamie Aaron Kelley. It’s the culmination, it would seem, of what Jamie was born to do, and they couldn’t have found anyone to take over the role who is more perfect!
