Introduction
by Carolyn MacArthur, Editor, SIDEBURNS Magazine
Two years ago, I contacted Dorian Baxter, aka Elvis Priestly, about the possibility of an interview. After a phone call, several messages and emails, and a lot of research, I sent an interview questionnaire to Dorian. Jump ahead to 2020, and the most interesting turn of events has happened.
Wisconsin ETA Garry Wesley with his Canadian agent, Nigel Husing. Photo Credit: Carolyn MacArthur.
You may remember an article I wrote after ETA Garry Wesley’s performance in Burlington, ON, May 29th, 2019. In the article, I mentioned Garry’s agent in Canada, Nigel Husing. Nigel shared a story of how he first met Garry and how he subsequently became his manager. Besides managing Garry Wesley’s shows in Ontario, Nigel has also booked other well-known ETAs, such as Gino Monopoli and Bruce Stewart; and it was Nigel’s suggestion that I interview Jay Zanier.
During our messages last week, Nigel asked if I would like to interview Elvis Priestly which prompted me to check my old emails from Dorian. When I contacted Dorian, he said he thought he had answered my questions (“unless I was dreaming!!! Lol!!!”). Turns out he was dreaming; so I sent him another copy of the questionnaire.
Archbishop Dorian Baxter talks about the self-published book, From Mombasa to Memphis, which details key moments in how Elvis Presley changed his life. Kim Champion/NewmarketToday
Dorian has been very busy since we last spoke. In his recent email, he wrote about the "take-over" of the Collingwood Elvis Festival by ‘myself’, the originator Billy Cann and the World Famous Johnny Stuart of Las Vegas; and he suggested, “Our website may be a good place to start wtac.info. Although Elvis is the obvious headliner, we are expending it exponentially by making it The World Tribute Artist's Convention and Competition".
On February 23rd, 2020, Dorian posted a photo of himself in a bed at the Toronto Western Hospital after emergency brain surgery the night before to deal with a "delayed brain bleed" that was initiated in December, 2019 when he slipped on ice delivering Christmas hampers. Fully recovered, Dorian, an Archbishop at the Federation of Independent Anglican Churches of North America, offers daily sermons on his Facebook page.
ETAs Donny Edwards and Garry Wesley with a vendor fan. Photo Credit: Donny Edwards.
So, over the past two years, an amazing web of ETA connections has been created: In his interview, Donny Edwards mentioned Garry Wesley, who performed in my town, which led to me meeting Nigel Husing, which led to posting Jay Zanier, and then back to Dorian Baxter! Sounds a little like “This is the House that Jack Built”…lol. There is something in the works that involves ETAs, Nigel Husing, 89.7 radio personality Jim Glover, and Dorian Baxter; but that is all I am at liberty to say at the moment. Keep following SIDEBURNS Magazine for some exciting news.
Jim Glover, 89.7 FM Northumberland Small Town Radio. Photo from Jim’s FB page.
Continuing on with the subject of Dorian Baxter and his new festival venture, and the new look of the ‘old’ Collingwood Elvis Festival, the following three articles - the first two by Erika Engel, posted in Collingwood Today on January 27th, 2020, and on February 2nd in Orillia Matters, and the third by Kim Champion, posted in Newmarket Today on January 3rd, 2020 - provide valuable information about both festivals.
Editor’s Notes: Due to CoVid 19, many of the planned events mentioned in the articles had to be cancelled. With the uncertainty of the times we live in, it must be extremely difficult for organizers to plan any events.
For your enjoyment, I have added my own photos of happy times at Collingwood to the articles and a photo album at the end. All other photos have been credited. If you wish to read my ETA interviews, please click on any of the names that appear in brighter white. Best regards, Carolyn MacArthur.
What's an Elvis Presley experience without a little handshake or kiss from the performer? Erika Engel/CollingwoodToday.
Collingwood Elvis Festival Under New Management...Again
by Erika Engel, Collingwood Today, January 27, 2020
There will be an Elvis event in Collingwood in 2020, but the town announced the private enterprise that originally signed on to run it will no longer be doing so, and it will move to the next company in the queue. The town has confirmed it is working with a new (second) private company for the special events permit process.
Group photo of ETAs, 2019. Photo Credit: Carolyn MacArthur.
Collingwood's Elvis Festival is changing hands again.
Last year the town received proposals from private companies to take over the Collingwood Elvis Festival, and began working with a proponent to plan for the 2020 festival.
However, the town announced today it has switched proponents and is now working with Jason Sherry Management for the permitting process for an Elvis event in 2020.
"After several months of working with the initial proponent through what is an extremely challenging business case, a joint decision was made with the initial proponent to move on to the second proponent in the interests of trying to ensure a successful festival for 2020," states a notice posted to the town's website this afternoon.
Last year, council voted to end municipal funding for the annual Collingwood Elvis Festival, which ran for 25 years, most of them as a town-run event.
ETA Bruce Stewart and his wife, Blaze, at the 2018 Collingwood Elvis Festival. Photo Credit: Carolyn MacArthur.
The plan was for the festival to continue under the operation of a private enterprise, and the town would issue a special event permit for the festival organizers. The permit applications are received and reviewed on a first-come, first-served basis.
In April 2019, the town already had an unsolicited proposal from Gardhouse Enterprises Inc. to take over operation of the festival, and the town received two more proposals after the Gardhouse submission. The town did not release the names of the companies who submitted the other two proposals.
According to town staff, the applicant of a special event permit must meet conditions put forward by the clerk, the parks, recreation and culture department, the fire department, OPP, public works, and the BIA for events in the downtown district. The applicant in the special event permit process is typically asked for traffic management plans, security and emergency plans, noise control plans, and proof of insurance, according to the staff report.
Enthusiastic fans gather at Blue Mountain Village in Collingwood to enjoy ETA Gino Monopoli’s show in 2018. Photo Credit: Carolyn MacArthur.
Karen Cubitt, manager of culture and events told council in the spring, the town would also be asking to see proof of the licensing agreement with Elvis Presley Enterprises.
If the first applicant is unable to meet the conditions, staff will not issue a permit, and will move on to the next proposal in queue.
The fee for a special event permit for the Collingwood Elvis Festival would be $750, and the town would also receive revenue from the rental of town-owned facilities and property for the Elvis Festival should a successful applicant be issued a permit.
Ultimate ETA Gordon Hendricks at the 2018 Collingwood Elvis Festival. Photo Credit: Carolyn MacArthur.
As of mid-January the town has been working with Jason Sherry Management for an event tentatively scheduled from July 23 to 26 and tentatively titled Collingwood Tribute Festival, states the town's website.
The town notice also states more information can be found at the proponent's website here. According to that website, TributeFestival.rocks is the company behind the new Collingwood Festival. The company's website states it was founded in Lake George, New York and has since produced over 60 festivals and hundreds of concerts.
More to come.
Collingwood Elvis Festival Still Needs a Host
by Erika Engel, Orillia Matters, February 2nd, 2020
Grand Champion winner, Tim E Hendry, at the 2018 Collingwood Elvis Festival. Photo Credit: Lori-Anne Crewe for SIDEBURNS Magazine.
Mayor Brian Saunderson said the town is working with proponents on a 2020 or 2021 festival.
The town announced at the beginning of this week it was working with a second proponent, Jason Sherry Management, in the permitting process for an Elvis festival for Collingwood.
The town recently posted an update to that announcement, saying it was moving down the list again to work with a third applicant after Jason Sherry Management withdrew its application.
The town has not announced the name of the third proponent.
Rosemarie Garrity O’Brien was honoured with an autographed framed photo for her many years of dedicated service to the Collingwood Elvis Festival. Photo Credit: Lori-Anne Crewe.
Mayor Brian Saunderson, in an email to CollingwoodToday, said the town was working with proponents to facilitate the festival in 2020 or, possibly, 2021.
As of now, no event permit has been granted.
Last year, council voted to end municipal funding for the annual Collingwood Elvis Festival, which ran for 25 years, most of them as a town-run event.
The plan was for the festival to continue under the operation of a private enterprise, and the town would issue a special event permit for the festival organizers. The permit applications are received and reviewed on a first-come, first-served basis.
In April 2019, the town already had an unsolicited proposal from Gardhouse Enterprises Inc. to take over operation of the festival, and the town received two more proposals after the Gardhouse submission. The town did not release the names of the companies that submitted the other two proposals.
Collingwood Elvis Fest Founder Planning New Tribute Event in Markham
by Kim Champion, Collingwood Today, January 3rd, 2020
Billy Cann and Newmarket Archbishop Dorian Baxter are part of a trio that will bring the 2020 World Tribute Artists Convention and Championships to York Region this July. Missing from the photo is Legends in Concert creator John Stuart. Kim Champion/NewmarketToday
The resurrection of a world-class fest begins Sunday with a celebration of the King's birthday in Newmarket.
The King of Rock ‘n’ Roll’s 85th birthday celebration packages may be sold out at Graceland, but you can get your blue suede shoes on and head down to the Newmarket Legion Sunday for a party that promises to be fit for a king.
Newmarket Anglican Archbishop Dorian Baxter (left) and Billy Cann, founder of the now-defunct 25-year-long Collingwood Elvis Festival, are part of a trio that will revive that event into the new 2020 World Tribute Artists Convention and Championships to be held in York Region this July. The pair visited NewmarketToday Jan. 2 and drove up in Baxter's 1989 Cadillac Eldorado, a personal favourite vehicle of the King of Rock 'n' Roll himself. Kim Champion/NewmarketToday
The legendary cultural icon Elvis Presley died more than four decades ago, but his music and timeless talent live on locally through Newmarket Anglican Archbishop Dorian Baxter, who is known by the moniker “Elvis Priestley” for his rousing tributes to the rock star on the pulpit and off.
In honour of the King’s birthday and 17th anniversary of the founding of Baxter’s Independent Anglican Church of Canada parish, Christ the King, Graceland, the community is invited to attend a service and celebration that begins at 10:45 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 5 at the Royal Canadian Legion, Milton Wesley Branch #426, 707 Srigley St., Newmarket.
A band, other musical guests and tribute artists round out the event, which includes a free buffet lunch hosted by the parish’s Anglican Church Women group.
Archbishop Dorian Baxter and Christ the King, Graceland church members are shown here at the 2016 Newmarket Santa Claus Parade. The church theme was Touched by two Kings: Elvis Presley, the King of Rock 'n' Roll, who worshipped Jesus Christ, the King Of Kings. Supplied photo/Dorian Baxter
“After the service, I take off my robes and jump on the stage and turn into Elvis,” Baxter said with enthusiasm about performing his all-time favourite Elvis gospel song, How Great Thou Art. “It’s like Bob Barker, the price is right, it’s free.”
This Sunday’s event may get local Elvis fans particularly all shook up.
That’s because Baxter, together with the founder of the 25-year-long Collingwood Elvis Festival, Billy Cann, and the creator of the award-winning Vegas production, Legends in Concert, John Stuart, known as the father of the worldwide tribute artist movement, have joined forces to revive the world’s largest Collingwood fest after that town council voted unanimously last year to end its support.
The Collingwood festival was awarded to a private company, but is slated to occur at the same time (last weekend in July) in 2020.
Billy Cann is shown here in an undated photo during his starring role in Memories and Reflections of the King. Supplied photo/Billy Cann
Cann, who gained international acclaim as an Elvis tribute artist for the 25 years preceding his retirement in 1994, founded the Collingwood Elvis Festival in 1995 when he was living there. The event went on to become one of the world’s largest celebrations of Elvis and his music.
The trio have expanded the Collingwood festival concept to include a multitude of tribute artists and celebrity look-a-likes, with Elvises remaining as the headliner, and will launch the 2020 World Tribute Artists Convention and Championships in York Region in July.
The new event will be held July 22 to 26 at the Sheraton Parkway Toronto North Hotel at highways 404 and 7 in Markham, which would coincide with the Collingwood dates.
“Billy Cann rescued the Collingwood event and we’re bringing it to York Region,” Baxter said. “We’re moving forward. There’s enough Elvis fans to sustain Collingwood if they want to resuscitate it, and for this new one that we’re doing, it’s actually a world tribute artist convention and championship. The good thing about ours is that Elvis is headlining, but we’ve opened it up. We’ve got people coming from Europe, Australia, and all over the U.S.”
“You wouldn’t believe how thankful the Elvis fans are that Billy has stepped back in,” he said. “There’s enough Elvis fans for everybody. I’ve got 5,000 followers on Facebook and most of them are Elvis tribute artists or fans. There’s a lot of them who’ve been faithful to Collingwood, but it’s a long journey, and they are absolutely thrilled about this because they live here in York Region.”
For more information about the 2020 World Tribute Artists Convention and Championships, visit here.
Photo Album: Collingwood 2018
