This young man’s physical resemblance to Elvis is so uncanny you would think he is a blood relative of the King.  Though he is also a Southern boy, he is not Elvis’ relative. Six years after Elvis’ death, Brandon was born in Ponchatoula, Louisiana.  But even at a very young age, everyone noticed how much he resembled the Ultimate Entertainer of all time.

       Having been born with almost the face of Elvis, it is Brandon’s destiny to become an Elvis Tribute Artist!

       Every time Brandon performs, it is like watching Elvis in all his fantastic glory!  It’s not just the looks, it’s the complete package: the moves, the voice, and the unrivalled charisma! Brandon also has a deep enthralling voice, Elvis’ hand and body movements, the teasing long-lashed hooded eyes, and the curl of the lips.  His incredible entertainment style reinforces the illusion that you are watching the King!

     As one of the top-rated Elvis Tribute Artists, Brandon has appeared in many venues, including festivals, corporate events and commercials around the United States and Canada.  He has back-to-back performances scheduled almost every week, not only in his Louisiana hometown and neighboring Mississippi, but also in Las Vegas.

      Las Vegas was the city chosen by Elvis for his first stage appearance after eight years of making movies.  And Elvis became a towering legend!  Once or twice a year, Brandon performs in this city of dreams, because he is under contract with the Boyd Gaming Conglomerate to do some shows for them in their string of casinos.

      It was a pleasure for me to watch two nights of his 6-night tribute show at The Orleans Hotel & Casino in Vegas last month.  He performed at the hotel’s Lounge from 4:00 to 8:00 in the evening, and every night he wowed the crowd with his incredible performance.

      Brandon has his own band – the HEART BREAK ORCHESTRA composed of four gifted musicians:  CASEY DAVIES, bass; KAROL WINTON, lead guitar and vocals; PAT THORNTON, key board and vocals; and GREG VAUGHN, drums and vocals.  During breaks in the show, three of the four took turns entertaining the audience.  All three vocalists are superb singers!

      The 4-hour nightly show was divided into three segments, encompassing all the years of Elvis singing career.  The first segment was the “50’s Elvis” with Brandon wearing a white Western outfit, complete with an “E.P.-embroidered white shirt and white neckerchief.  He also wore the white blazer with black pants popularized by the young Elvis.  The second segment was the “1968 Comeback Special”, with Brandon sporting the sexy, body-hugging black leather outfit.  The third and last segment was the “70’s Concert Years” with Brandon wearing the trademark Elvis jumpsuit.

       Like Elvis, Brandon also took the bright lights of Vegas by storm!  In fact, in the last segment of the show, lead guitar and vocalist Karol Winton introduced him with these words:  “Ladies and gentlemen, the 1970s were a time of tremendous success for Elvis.  He was named one of the Ten Outstanding Young Men of the nation, won his second Grammy, and received a Lifetime Achievement Award.  We now welcome you to Las Vegas and the International Hotel where for the next several years Elvis would take the bright lights city by storm!  Will you please welcome back … Brandon Bennett!!”

      Brandon came out wearing the white Aloha jumpsuit that the King wore for his unforgettable “Aloha from Hawaii” via satellite concert in February 1973.  Brandon walked to center stage, which was bathed in a reddish glow, while the pulsating and throbbing “2001: A Space Odyssey” theme entitled “Also Sprach Zarathustra” was played.

       With a flick of his hair, and a shrug of his shoulders, just as Elvis always did, Brandon sent the audience on fire.  The illusion was complete!  Elvis was back on stage again!

      Then Brandon sang “See See Rider”, “Burning Love”, “You Gave Me a Mountain”, “Kentucky Rain”, “Hurt”, “Promised Land”, “Proud Mary”, “Walk a Mile in my Shoes”, “In the Ghetto”, “Can’t Stop Loving You”,  “Always on my Mind” “Polk Salad Annie”, “Suspicious Mind” and “My Way.”

      The audience rewarded him with thunderous applause after every song.  Before the last song of the evening, he introduced the members of his orchestra.  After his signature ending song “My Way”, the audience accorded Brandon with a standing ovation.

      After the show, I was privileged to speak with Brandon for a few minutes inside “Seattle’s Best”, one of the coffee shops at the Orleans Hotel & Casino.  As we chatted, casino goers often interrupted us for a picture-taking session with Brandon.  At the coffee shop Brandon was no longer wearing his Aloha jumpsuit.  He changed into a comfy blue T-shirt and shorts.  But even without his Elvis outfit, he still looks so much like the King!

      “Off stage, I enjoy being me!” he said, “On stage, I’m an actor putting on the Elvis persona and pulling off the illusion that I’m the King.  But when I’m not performing, I am myself.”

        I admire Brandon’s down-to-earth attitude and philosophy in life.  Despite his obvious success he remains humble and completely devoid of airs.  Which is as it should be!  Elvis would be mighty proud of Brandon for carrying on his legacy!

       At one point I asked Brandon when did he became aware of his striking resemblance to the King.  He said that when he was still very young, his Mom, MELBA BENNETT, an Elvis fan, noticed how much he resembled Elvis.  So did many of his friends.  In high school, Brandon was asked to dress up as Elvis and sing an Elvis song for the school’s show.  The song that he sang for the very first time was “Suspicious Minds.”

     That was an auspicious beginning for this talented ETA!  Later on, listening to his Mom’s Elvis’ records, Brandon started learning other Elvis’ songs.  Now that he is a much-requested performer, he continues to study Elvis as much as he can.  He watches and listens to all of Elvis’ film footage, photographs, records and CD’s.

      He remembers researching everything about Elvis and discovering “the joy of the Elvis’ world” including the numerous contests available to the ETAs.  He joined some of these contests and won!  Brandon is the 2002 World Champion of the  “Images of the King” Contest, a competition held annually during “Elvis Week” in Memphis, Tennessee.  He also won the “King of Kings” contest on the “Ricki Lake Show.”

      Until 2007, the “Images of the King” competition was the premier contest for Elvis Tribute Artists.  But starting last year, the EPE-sponsored “Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist” event became the premier one and is considered the equivalent of the movie industry’s Academy awards.

     Last year, Brandon was a finalist at the “Ultimate ETA International Finals” held in Memphis, Tennessee.   This year, he will again compete in the upcoming “Ultimate ETA Preliminary” scheduled July 12 at Sam’s Town Casino in Shreveport, Louisiana.

      “I realized that being an Elvis tribute artist is so amazing, so phenomenal!” he said.  “In my teen-age years, I didn’t sit down to say I wanted to be an ETA.  It just happened!
Now, all I want is to continue being an Elvis tribute artist.  And when I’m serious about something, and I am serious about this, I am very disciplined.  So I take a lot of time trying to improve and perfect my art.”

      I asked him if he is a martial artist, and I found out that he also studied kempo karate, just like Elvis.  No wonder he can do those karate moves when he performs!

      “How has his life changed after becoming an ETA?” I asked him.   Brandon said that becoming a performer definitely changed him for the better.  “It brought me out of my shell, and made me more outgoing” he said
 
       I did see that!  The very first time I met Brandon, he was still so shy.  That was in 2002 at the River Palms Hotel & Casino in Laughlin, Nevada, when he competed at the “Elvis Extravaganza” contest sponsored by Jamie Coyne.

         Do all these women Elvis fans who try to kiss and grab him bother him?  “Not really,” he said, “since it goes with the territory.  For the most part it is harmless, it is all in good fun.  And it makes me feel good that people enjoy what I do, that my hard work is being appreciated.”  However, he said, because he is married, “I don’t kiss them on the lips!”  

        Brandon is a devoted husband and father, and has been married to his wife, Rachel, for three years.  They have two kids:  a son, Beau, 2 1/2 years old, and a six-week old baby girl named Jozee.  I asked if his wife is an Elvis fan, and he smilingly informed me that Rachel always said, “I am a Brandon fan!”

        Taylor, Brandon’s 23-year old sister, is also a singer.  If Brandon decides that someday he will no longer do Elvis tribute shows, brother and sister may do a country music act with songs by some of Brandon’s favorites, Garth Brooks and George Strait.  However, Brandon said he wants to continue performing as an ETA, and would love to someday do a remake of some of Elvis’ movies, like “King Creole”, “Jailhouse Rock” and “Loving You.”

      Brandon’s best friend and mentor in this business is MATT LEWIS, who performs as Elvis in the “Legends in Concert.”  “Matt has given me a lot of advise on how to be successful in this business,” he said.   Brandon, by the way, has also performed for the Legends!

    DARREN BENNETT, Brandon’s dad, is his manager.  Here are Brandon’s websites: www.brandonbennettlive.com and www.elvismyway.com.   



                                                                     XXX

    
Zena can be reached by email at: email at  
blue-orchid@hotmail.com                

In more ways than one, BRANDON BENNETT is so much like the young Elvis!  He is just 25, incredibly good-looking, and very charismatic.  With his popular tribute show entitled  “Brandon Bennett:  Elvis My Way”, he brings Elvis back to life!.................