Well Shawn says something different here with his interview for Lady Luck Music
Sorry Carol just had to paste it here
I was born in a little coal mining town in Pennsylvania. My Dad was a DJ who played a lot of Elvis music and used to bring home Elvis records from his work. I must have listened to them because when I was 3 I sang the entire version of “Blue Suede Shoes” in the bath tub! That was really the start of my becoming a huge Elvis fan. My other musical influences were Mahalia Jackson, Billy Joel, Bon Jovi, Garth Brooks, Dean Martin but always, most importantly, Elvis. I also enjoyed sports....basketball, football and baseball mostly, but my first love was music.
I started doing Elvis Tributes when I was 12 years old at parties, etc. I also started playing guitar and singing as much as I could. Eventually, I joined a local band (Nightmoves) and began performing around the local area. Luckily, we were well received and word spread that there was an ETA on the scene. Eventually I was asked to play the Poconos Resorts with a showband called Northern Lights.
One thing led to another, and after that, I toured Canada with a show called Legends Alive, working for John Kondis in Toronto. I toured with Legends Alive from Montreal to Victoria. I played so many hockey arenas that I can’t remember them all! It was truly a great experience, not only musically but from a personal standpoint. When stage manager Roy Buster passed away, I felt I had lost a great friend. The shows I did in Canada were some of the most professional shows I have done.
In l997, I heard about the 1st World Elvis Impersonator Contest in Montreal, and at the urging of fans, I entered! The contest was amazing! I competed with some pretty talented ETA's and was quite surprised to take home the $5000 prize. That is where I met Dan Lentino, who is now my manager and the godfather to my daughter.
Almost immediately after that, I began touring the US, and landed a role as Elvis in the famous Legends in Concert show, based in Las Vegas. Ray Anthony (Ritchie Valens tribute artist) had taped one of my shows in Canada and had given it to Jimmy Osmond of the Osmond Brothers who then passed it along to John Stuart, CEO of Legends in Concert. He called me for an audition in Atlantic City. I went home that day from the audition and received a call from John Stuart to perform in Myrtle Beach and the rest, as they say, is history.
I worked for Legends until 2004, mostly in Myrtle Beach, but also in Branson, Atlantic City, Las Vegas, Seattle, and Minneapolis. During this time, I also did several national TV shows and recorded 2 CD's. I was also chosen to play Elvis in the CBS and VH1 mini-series Shake, Rattle and Roll. John Stuart is a great man and because of him I have met many stars and was able to support my family. It was a great run.
In 2005 my wife and I moved back to Pennsylvania to be closer to our families who have missed us and their grandchildren. Life after Legends, believe it or not, is less stressful and I get to spend more time with my children and my family. When I do shows now I have more control over the material and the way the shows are run (a BIG PLUS!). I am more at ease in this situation and enjoy this more than ever. Another annual event I really love performing at is the US Cellular Field for the Chicago White Sox - it’s such a thrill to hear 50,000 fans screaming at the same time! Two years ago, as luck would have it, there were tourists from Switzerland in the crowd who, on seeing the crowd's reaction, were sure that the Swiss fans would react the same way, and believe it or not they eventually arranged to bring me to Switzerland to perform in front of huge crowds. Again, I was touched by the fans' reactions and ovations which meant so much to me.
I also performed at a Festival in London, Ontario and was received really well. I returned there 2 more times and enjoyed it very much. I hope to go back there soon.
In the last 2 years, Dan has kept me very busy traveling all over the Midwest, Nashville, Pennsylvania, Alabama, Michigan, Wisconsin, Boston and Collingwood, where I will be in the headliner in their show again this year. I’ve also had the chance to work with Donny Edwards who in my book is a class act (love ya! Keep Rockin, Donny). In the near future, Hawaii will be one of the stops, as well as South America and Switzerland again.
Elvis Presley is, and always will be, a big part of my life -- so much so that I think of him as a family member and I identify with his personality. I think more of him as a human being now that I know some of the people who worked with him and have heard the many stories of Elvis the Man not the Entertainer. My thinking about Elvis has changed over the last 10 years because I know more about his personal struggles now (God Bless Elvis). Elvis’ music revolutionized a generation and broke open a whole new genre for years to come. When Elvis sings “If I Can Dream,” that is the Elvis that will live on forever.I’ve also tried my hand at entering a few more competitions. In January 2005, I won the $25,000 "World Elvis Tribute Artist Competition.” In March 2005, I won the Lady Luck Music King of Kings People’s Choice contest at the Gibson Showcase Theater in Nashville. Another recent honor for me was to be presented with a Certificate from the House of Representatives of the State of Pennsylvania.
This journey I am on (including, for example, the annual Elvis Birthday Tribute Tour in January of each year) has led me to work with some of the people who were very close to Elvis: Joe Esposito, Charlie Hodge, The Jordanaires, The Sweet Inspirations, JD and The Stamps, DJ Fontana and Al Dvorin. I have heard they have paid me many compliments, not directly to me but to other folks. I guess they don’t want me to get a big head so they don’t tell me directly, LOL!
I was touched to hear that Joe Esposito actually told someone that my "Elvis" mannerisms on stage were the closest he'd ever seen to Elvis and the way I walked, talked and acted was "downright scary." As you can imagine, this was a huge compliment. Ray Walker of the Jordanaires, has also paid me a great compliment by saying that the first time he was on stage with me, he became weak in the knees when I turned around and smiled at him like Elvis! He even said he thought for that very moment he was back on stage with Elvis. To receive compliments like this means a great deal to me because they were so close to Elvis and I've worked so hard over the years to develop an authentic Elvis performance.I am so often asked why I do what I do and here’s all that I can answer - I try to portray Elvis in as tasteful a manner as I possibly can. I have a tremendous amount of respect for Elvis the entertainer and Elvis the person. By what I’m doing, if I can help keep his memory alive and help bring his music and memory to new fans and new generations then I’ve done what I feel I was called to do.
As far as my career as an ETA, the work and sacrifice never stops, but in the end it is the faces of the people that make it worth while. I have never won an academy award or any other trophy and that is fine with me. The people in the audience are my trophies. GOD BLESS THEM, THANKS FOR THE CHANCE.
I would like to thank all the fans for their continued support. I hope that I am doing the right thing for you all. The more you like it, the more I will be there. To my wife Beverly, I would never want to trade places with you. I don’t know how you do it. You have the strength of many women. I Love You. To Terri and Joyce, for your continued hard work and many hours of sacrifice in keeping the Fan club going and the Merchandise updated and all the stage work you do on the road: MY HAT’S OFF TO YOU.
Last but not least, To Dan Lentino. What can I say? He has it all. God Bless you and thanks for having a vision and seeing through things when no one else cared. I will stand by you as you stand by me till the end.
Thanks to Lady Luck Music for featuring me as this month's Spotlight ETA. And thanks to all my fans for their continued support and love for me and my family. It means a great deal to us.
TCB Forever
ShawnVisit Shawn’s site: www.shawnklush.net
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Tue Aug 12, 2008 7:35 pm
. . . only joking! I think he's fantastic and so glad he's brought the closest thing to Elvis over to the UK for us to get a taste of how it must have been.
