Like most nights, I listen to Elvis singing his way into my heart.  
       …I’ll remember you … long after this endless summer has gone …I’ll be lonely oh so lonely … living only to remember you … I’ll remember too … your voice as soft as the warm summer breeze … your sweet laughter … mornings after … ever after … I’ll remember you.      
        Gifted with an enormous talent and charismatic appeal beyond words, Elvis was a true American artist, a performer of magnetic dimensions, and a singer of incredible brilliance.  He rocks the world even now!
      … We’re caught on a trap … I can’t walk out, because I love you too much, baby … oh, oh, oh … why can’t you see what you’re doin’ to me … when you don’t believe a word I say … we can’t go on together with suspicious minds … and we can’t build our dreams on suspicious minds …
       His music and his songs, his vibrancy and his charisma, his sensual good looks and incredible voice, will always remain in our hearts.  He is gone, but will never be forgotten!  Our burning love for Elvis will never be quenched.
      … You’re gonna set me on fire … my brain is flaming … I don’t know which way to go … your kisses lift me higher … like the sweet song of a choir … you light my morning sky … burning love … burning love …
       That is why we find such joy listening to Elvis sing.  That is why we enjoy attending Elvis competitions wherever they are.  And that is why the EPE-sponsored Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artists contests during Elvis Week in Memphis, Tennessee, draw thousands every year.
       Through all the years, the Elvis Tribute Artists around the world continue to bring Elvis back to us.  So with pleasure, I present to you (to the accompaniment of the beat of the drums and Zarathustra music) the Top 3 Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artists of 2009: Bill Cherry, Donny Edwards and Kevin Mills.  Here they are!  
 
Bill Cherry – the 2009 Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist World Champion
      “Being the World Champion for 2009 is the highest honor an ETA can achieve,” the new champion said in an interview with this reporter after the contest.  “It is both an honor and a privilege to be recognized by the Elvis Presley Enterprises.  It’s almost like being recognized by Elvis himself.  It just doesn’t get any better than that!”
      As Ultimate World Champion, Bill was awarded prizes to die for:  the title and the crown, together with the belt and the recognition from the Elvis Presley Enterprises; cash prize of $20,000; the opportunity to sign a performance contract with the Legends in Concert; and other valuable prizes.  Cherry will also be a showcase performer for this November’s Elvis Cruise to Cozumel, Mexico, together with other Elvis Tribute Artists.
      After becoming World Champion, what is ahead for Bill? “The ride has just begun and I am ready to rock n’ roll!  Up on the stage dressed as Elvis, I feel like Clark Kent becoming Superman!  It’s a great feeling.  When I am on the stage, I am Elvis.  It’s a thrill and a fantasy!  It is a time capsule of sorts, and it’s like the 70’s all over again.”
      Bill Cherry hails from Collinsville, Illinois, and is the son of a Pentecostal minister who has a deep-rooted love for Southern Gospel music.  A life-long fan of Elvis, Bill has been keeping Elvis’ memory and music alive since 1989.  With his award-winning performances, he has entertained and touched the hearts of countless fans.
      “Performing a tribute to the greatest entertainer the world has ever known is a dream come true for me,” Bill declared.  “Performing lifts my spirits and is a magical experience.  I am happy to entertain and touch the hearts of Elvis’ fans.”
      “As an ETA, I try to represent Elvis in an honorable way,” he continued.  “Elvis is the one and the only King of Rick n’ Roll, and I can never fill his shoes or take his place.  I only want to do an honest and loving tribute to him.  When I am off the stage, I am a fan.  I leave the show to the stage where it belongs.  After all, there is only one Elvis Presley.”
      To prepare for performances and competitions, Bill focuses on how Elvis sings and moves by watching his idol over and over.  His favorite outfit is the Owl jumpsuit because it has so much character and stud work, he said.  The songs he loves most to sing when he performs are “Suspicious Minds”, “Polk Salad Annie” and “American Trilogy.”
      “Elvis has a great love for gospel music,” Bill pointed out, “and when the King sings ‘How Great Thou Art’ and ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ you can tell that he has a deep religious background.”
     About the 75th birthday anniversary of the King come January next year, Bill said that “Elvis is here in spirit and in our hearts.  It’s kind of hard to imagine Elvis as 75 years old because in our minds, he is eternally young and vibrant.”  As his tribute to the King’s birthday, Bill will do a show in Tupelo, Mississippi, Elvis’ birthplace.
      Over the years as an ETA, Bill has met many of Elvis’ friends and musicians, like Charlie Hodge, DJ Fontana, J.D. Sumner, Ricky, David and Billy Stanley (Elvis’ stepbrothers), Kathy Westmoreland, Marty Laker, Sonny West, Joe Guershaw, Ronnie Tutt, Ed Parker, The Sweet Inspirations, and Vester Presley.
      Bill is single.  I asked him if he has a “special someone” in his life right now, but he is silent on this subject.

Donny Edwards – Three-time Ultimate Top 3 Winner
      This is the third year in a row that Donny Edwards made it to the Top 3, but not World Champion yet.  So I asked him how he feels about it, and here’s his answer:
      “To be in the Top 3 is quite an accomplishment in itself, and I am very grateful.  I brought my very best to the Grand Finals and I was confident I would make it to the Top 3 once again.  However, you always hope that your name is the last one called.  Who wouldn’t want to be named World Champion?”
       You never know, Donny, next year might be you chance!
       Donny’s family was originally from Iowa, but later moved to Texas. Now, Donny makes his home in beautiful Las Vegas, Nevada, the home of countless Elvis Tribute Artists, and at one time, Elvis himself.  He became an Elvis fan at the tender age of two, and little did he know that being an Elvis fan would lead him to a beloved career as an Elvis Tribute Artist.
      As an ETA, Donny has performed everywhere – all across the United States, Canada, Japan, Australia, Mexico, and in several countries in Europe.  Next year, from November 4 to 12, 2010, Donny will be performing on his very first cruise ever.  Dubbed as “Elvis Cruise: Fun in Acapulco II”, the ship Carnival Spirit will depart from San Diego, California, to Acapulco, Zihuatanejo/Ixtapa, and Manzanillo, in the Mexican Riviera.
      To hundreds of Elvis fans, Donny’s ability as a performer is top notch!  He looks and moves like Elvis, sings and talks like Elvis, and also has the charisma of the King.  His Southern manner, uncanny resemblance to Elvis, warmth and great charm, makes him a favorite anytime, anywhere!
      “Elvis has brought great joy to my life and I want to bring that same joy to the fans,” Donny said.  “I owe Elvis and the fans my career and my continued success.  I’ve had much help and advice from many people and I’m grateful, and I am especially grateful to my mentor and fellow ETA, Garry Wesley, for his guidance, and also to my friend Shawn Klush and his manager, Dan Lentino.”
      Donny’s favorite jumpsuit is the Concho, first seen in “That’s The Way It Is.”  The Concho, Donny said, is the representation of Elvis’ return to Las Vegas and reclaiming his throne.  The songs Donny loved best as a kid are the ones he loves to sing in his tribute shows, namely: “Suspicious Minds”, “American Trilogy”, “Memories” and “Hound Dog.”   
        How does it feel when he puts on the Elvis outfit and assume the Elvis persona?  “It’s the greatest honor!” Donny replied.  “I feel I have to do my best because I am representing someone I love and respect.”
      How about the adulation of the women fans, how does he deal with it?  His answer: “I don’t do my shows for that reason – I am humbly not in it for the attention but as a serious and respectful tribute to Elvis.  I just go out there to perform the most authentic Elvis show I can, and hope to have it appreciated by all Elvis fans, both men and women alike.”
      Donny considers getting to perform with the Jordanaires, DJ Fontana, and the Sweet Inspirations as memorable experiences in his ETA career.  Through the years, he has met so many people close to Elvis, and has gotten close to a few, namely, Cynthia Pepper, DJ Fontana, Charles Stone, Ed Bonja and Jimmy Velvet.
      Speaking about the “special someone” in his life, here’s his heartfelt reply: “I’m lucky that I have a lot of special people in my life who encourages me and believes in me, but my wife Donna is hands down my biggest inspiration, and she makes me feel I can do it all and that anything is possible.  She is my best friend, and together, we make a great team.  Not only is she my wife, but she is my partner in business as well.  With her by my side, my life will just continue to be great!”
      Donny ended our interview session with these words, “I want to say a special ‘Thank you’ to all the fans – without them, none of this would be possible!”

Kevin Mills – Third Place Winner
      Talking about his win, Kevin smilingly said, “I’m really proud of my accomplishment.  I feel really pleased about my performance and I did the best I could during the contest.  I’m really happy about the outcome, and I’d like to offer my congratulations to Bill and Donny.  It was a great battle!”
      Kevin’s authentic portrayal and fascinating interpretation of Elvis has made him one of the country’s popular performers in the industry.  His crowd-pleasing style and mannerisms, mixed with his unique blend of talent, vocals and charisma has attracted for him fans from all over the world.
      Respected in the industry, he has appeared in dozens of high-profile productions including several television appearances and acting roles.  Some highlights of his career include Entertainment Tonight, Inside Edition, 48 Hours, ABC Primetime and most notably, his starring role and lead performance in “Elvis-  the Beginning” an A& E documentary.
      Kevin became an Elvis Tribute Artist because of his love and adoration of Elvis’ music at an early age.  He wanted to pay tribute and celebrate the life and legacy of the King.  His goal has always been to portray Elvis in the best way possible.  Currently, Kevin works for the world-famous Legends in Concert.
      To prepare for the Ultimate ETA contest, Kevin studied Elvis every day – E’s mannerisms, moves, voice, and even the way he walks. Working every night on the Legends in Concert stage in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, gave him the opportunity to practice again and again.  And he also works out everyday to keep in shape – yoga, gym, diet and vocal training.
      “My favorite jumpsuit is the Concho,” Kevin said.  “Elvis looks so amazing in that jumpsuit in ‘That’s the Way It Is’ because the suit is simple and fits his body like a glove.  Elvis was in the best shape of his career in 1970.”
      When I asked him how he feels putting on the Elvis persona, here’s his answer: “I love the attention, but hey, who doesn’t?  I feel everyone is so encouraging and so accepting of who I am, and especially of my talent.  I make sure I spend a lot of time with the fans, and I never leave a venue without taking pictures and signing autographs.  I stay until the last person leaves.  That’s just me, I really care about people.  I mean, they come to the shows to catch a glimpse of Elvis.  We are just carrying the torch for Elvis.”
      Kevin’s top five favorite songs are “Suspicious Minds”, “I’ve Lost You”, “How the Web Was Woven”,  “Bridge over Troubled Waters” and “Polk Salad Annie.”
      Being a believer and a person of faith, he also incorporates gospel songs in his repertoire.  His favorite is “Take my Hand Precious Lord.” He said singing this song is so emotional for him because he sang it at this father’s funeral church service.  “It was not easy for me to do it,” he remembered, “but with the help of the Lord, I was able to!”
      Kevin became a World Champion in 1990 in the “Images of the King” competition in Memphis.  In 2007, he won 1st place in the First Annual Elvis Cruise and was awarded $5,000.  Kevin’s most memorable experience as an ETA is performing for the U.S. troops in Diego Garcia, a small island south of India.
      “It was such an amazing experience performing in front of 5,000 soldiers serving our country,” he said.  “I mean these soldiers don’t really get a chance to see much entertainment like this.  After our show, Navy Capt. Judy Smith invited me to sit at the head table at the Captain’s party.  For a moment, I felt like I was the President of the United States.”
      Kevin and his beautiful wife Luana recently celebrated their 15th wedding anniversary in their home in Toronto, Canada.  They have two beautiful children: Selina, 10, and Jordan, 7 years old.
      He is so proud of his wife, and said, “What an amazing woman she is, always supportive of everything I do in my life and in my career.  I fell in love with Luana the moment I laid eyes on her.  I had to go to Toronto, Canada, to find her because I first met her in Memphis when I won the “Images of the King” contest.  I think winning that contest gave me better odds in going out with her.  I feel that Elvis had a hand in bringing us together, and I am truly blessed!”-zs

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