Blastzone Mike's Elvis Week Videos

Introduction

Twice a year, Mike Wilkerson, from Eastern, Kentucky, hosts live events via his “Blastzone Mike” Facebook page. In August, 2020, Mike is conducting a ten day marathon of Facebook video talks with an exciting list of ETAs that includes John Coates from Ireland and Norm Ackland Jr. from Ontario, Canada—two of our favourite ETAs whom have been featured on SIDEBURNS Magazine. If you are an ETA and wish to participate, time slots are still available. Contact information follows. Carolyn MacArthur, Editor, SIDEBURNS Magazine.

Elvis Week Line-Up

by Mike Wilkerson

It is that time of year again where I am gearing up for my 4th year of Elvis Week.  This time around I am calling it “Blastzone Mike & Elvis Week with ETAs All the Time”.  From August 7th. - 17th,  I will be recording all the shows through ZOOM and going live on Facebook for each one.  I will be using the recording for my new show “Blastzone Mike's Incredible Show” that will be on ROKU, IOS and Android devices.  Here is the schedule so far:

August 7th

7 PM Eastern - ETA Mike Slater (3rd year opening Elvis Week)

8 PM Eastern - ETA Mike Hartney

9 PM Eastern - TBA

August 8th

4 PM Eastern - ETA John Coates

8 PM Eastern - ETA Norm Ackland Jr.

9 PM Eastern - ETA Paul Thorpe

August 9th

8 PM Eastern - ETA Chris Collins

9 PM Eastern - Rick Lenzi

August 10th

8 PM Eastern - ETA Logan Ramey

9 PM Eastern - TBA

August 11th

8 PM Eastern - Landon James

9 PM Eastern - TBA

August 12th

8 PM Eastern - Lain Crew

9 PM Eastern - Braxton Sykes

August 13th

3 PM Eastern - ETA Shaun Hamilton

8 PM Eastern - TBA

9 PM Eastern - Aaron Smith

August 14th

8 PM Eastern - ETA  TBA

9 PM Eastern - Walt Sanders

10 PM Eastern - Oscar Wylde

August 15th

7 PM Eastern - ETA Michael Paul Callahan

8 PM Eastern - ETA  John Cobb

9 PM Eastern - ETA Kevin Booth

August 16th

8 PM Eastern - ETA Hugo Colin

9 PM Eastern - ETA  Rory Moore

August 17th

3 PM Eastern - Lee Grindey

7 PM Eastern - Aaron Smith

8 PM Eastern - Derick Defreest

9 PM Eastern - ETA Michael Cullipher

If you are an ETA and would like to take one of the TBA spots, or if you live outside the USA and need an earlier date, please contact me on the thread or send me a message. 

Thank you ETA community.  Blastzone Mike

Edits by Carolyn MacArthur, Editor, SIDEBURNS Magazine.

Photos Credits: Louis Young (Norm Ackland), Jenny Paige (Logan Ramey), Patricia McCoy Hartney (Mike Hartney), Gigmaster (Mike Slater), Kathy Goodwin (Rory Moore), Lori-Anne Crewe ( Michael Paul Callahan and Michael Cullupher), Candace Kane (Walt Sanders), and Facebook (all others).

Confessions from My Desk: Part III

Confession from My Desk: Part III

by Mark Erwin

Sharing is probably one of my finer attributes and I simply couldn’t wait to share this new found “vice” that I quickly discovered I had an addiction to.  I never met this guy; I didn’t stay afterwards to speak with him or anything like that; but I found myself going on line to discover, ”Where is he playing next?”

With a credit card in one hand and the telephone in the other, I ordered ten tickets for his very next show, which was, by the way, “Wonderful World of Christmas”.  I needed people in my close circle to experience what I did.  Most, but not all, weren’t even Elvis fans; but I got them to come (I can be persuasive when I need to be).   While the show was moving along, and with half the row as my guests, I kept looking over to see their reaction.  Ironically, although not surprising, they were looking at me with eyes of disbelief and a thumbs up!  Upon conclusion of the show, the conversation was ON…and it continued.  Those who weren’t already were now converted and found themselves at the local HMV buying Elvis Christmas CDs.  You’re welcome.  Lol!

Over the next few years, I would hinge a bet that I had purchased approximately 3-400 tickets, often times buying up an entire row.  On one occasion, I took my staff of over thirty people.  Of course it was getting expensive, but I needed to share this vice of mine…Lol!  One particular year, in and around Valentines, I found myself, along with some invited guests, sitting in a church in either Mississauga or Oakville (can’t remember) for a Valentines show with Steve and the TVB ensemble (an acronym for The Very Best).  On stage to begin the show with a little humour and set things up was one of the members of the quartet, Ron McKerron.  As he was speaking, there were some snickers, whispering and very faint laughter.  Unbeknownst to Ron, there he was, centre stage with his FLY wide open in the breeze and on display.  I had an aisle seat and just couldn’t let this guy go through this anymore; so, with a deep breath, I walked between the pews amongst a few hundred people to find myself confronting this man centre stage and in the middle of his speech.  He stopped talking, leaned down, covered the mic, and I whispered, ”Sir, you’re flying low.” With that he turned around, zipped up his fly and the entire audience burst into laughter!  Definitely a moment!  And believe it or not, it was my first meeting or encounter with any of the crew.  Strange, but true!

Having said all of this, was I sheltered?  Are acts such as Steve’s common?  I was now on the hunt of discovery.  Pen and paper in hand, downstairs I went to my computer and punched in the words YOUTUBE and Elvis Impersonators.  Lo and behold, a plethora of videos came up and I noticed many used the terminology Elvis Tribute Artist.  Today, I really understand why.

I would find myself getting lost in time combing over many of these acts just to find someone with the same calibre as Steve!  Straight up--my wife used to get a little “miffed” with me and I don’t blame her, but she was cool; it was certainly better than the other alternatives available on the internet…Lol!  For the life of me, I couldn’t find anyone with all of the characteristics, mannerisms, and most of all the voice; and when I thought I was close, somewhere in the song, they would miss.  I did write down some names and would go back to them and then have my wife listen but not watch, as I wanted an honest opinion; and we kept coming back to Steve.  For me, this small town Canadian Boy just had ‘IT’.

In and around 2010 or 2011, unsure where my thought process was, but I found myself at his shows looking around and saying, “Hmm; I don’t see anyone sponsoring these shows.   Since many theatres have sponsorships, I wonder if I should approach him/them about sponsoring their “Wonderful World of Christmas Tour”; so, I went on line and found an e-mail address and fired off an inquiry.  Unsure how long I waited for a reply, but it wasn’t instantaneous.  In fact, when I received an e-mail back, I had actually forgotten.  The note was very well written with an apology and the reason it took the time to get back to me, all of which made sense.  At the end of the note, the invite was there to sit and have a chat and it was signed off STEVE.  I found that interesting.  I mean, surely this guy was far too busy to handle all of the business side as well; but, this polite and well written response was directly from Steve.  If my memory serves me correctly, I picked up the phone and called him the very next morning and we set up a meeting which included a member of his ensemble.

Within in a week or so, I met Steve and Ron “flyin’ low” McKerron at Manhattans in Guelph.  After we sat down and exchanged pleasantries, I had to have that quick conversation about the church and Ron’s predicament and we had a good laugh as he most certainly recalled the moment, but was also intrigued to learn that it was me.

The meeting was set up with no real design; moreover, a little exploration was needed to discover if I (my company) could sponsor their tour.  The dialogue started slowly, as they had never ventured down this road; nor had I for that matter.  I just felt that there was a need for it.  I could attach my brand to this fascinating talented young man and gain exposure for both of us.  Somehow, we ended up chatting about a number of other things which brought up my involvement in the world of Professional Sports.  What?  Professional Sports??? Where is this going?  Ya…another one of my vices is the sports world, and while not by design, I ended up back in the 90s involved in the world of Professional Boxing.  By the time the 2000s rolled around, I ended up becoming a manager of fighters, one of whom was a World Champion; and by the way, his name just happened to be Steve.  Lol!

Photo of Steve Michaels in “This is Elvis” in Ireland. Photo Credit: Pamela Raith Photography.

Anyways, what seemed like minutes, turned into hours and time got away from us.  Where do we go from here?  When do we meet again?  What do we talk about? So many stones to turn over and it was quite eye opening. Good, bad or indifferent, Steve was on his way to Ireland and wouldn’t be back for several weeks.  For sure, it was going to be a spell before we reconnected.

I believe it was six weeks later when I received a call from Steve who literally had just arrived back from Ireland. Where do we go from here?   I guess you can say that was a loaded question because neither of us had any idea what that question, or its answer would lead to.  What was once an exploratory meeting turned into an excavation of sorts.

To Be Continued.

---

Edits for “Confessions from My Desk: Part III” by Carolyn MacArthur

Photos: Credited to Steve Michaels, Mark Erwin, and Elaine Wren, unless otherwise indicated.

"Extravaganza" Flashback

The following article is an edited copy of a media release that was posted prior to ETA Thane Dunn’s show in Mississauga.  Worthy of the title “Extravaganza”, the evening’s production included two special guests, a chance to win framed Elvis memorabilia, and a touching moment with a young fan. 

ETA Thane Dunn. Photo provided by Thane Dunn.

Deemed as one of the best in the business for recreating Elvis Presley onstage, ETA Thane Dunn has won the world's largest International Elvis Tribute Artist Contest and the World's Largest Elvis Gospel Competition. With his amazing Elvis voice, natural physical resemblance and Presley-like sense of humour, Thane has been referred to as "the full Elvis package" and has fans raving whenever he performs.

Elvis Presley in a photo by John Rowlands.

“He’s the closest thing to Elvis being in the building, a split second away from the real thing,” said world famous rock and roll photographer John Rowlands, who was hired by RCA to photograph 48 Elvis’s concerts from 1972 until 1976.  

John Rowlands joined Thane to open the Toronto show.  Presenting amazing photos from his career on the road and with ELVIS ON TOUR, Rowlands offered concert goers a chance to see ‘never before seen photos’ of Elvis.

Also joining Thane in his “Extravaganza” was the legendary Bill Baize, the high tenor singer of the JD Sumner and the Stamps Gospel Quartet who performed with Elvis from 1971 until 1976 and sang at Elvis's funeral.  The Nashville Tennessee native spoke of Thane’s authenticity in his comment, "Thane Dunn is the closest thing I've ever seen to Elvis."      

Photos of David Bowie, Mick Jagger, and the Beatles (above Barry Roden‘s photo of John) are credited to John Rowlands.

The night featured a mix of Presley's rock, country and gospel hits from "Blue Suede Shoes" to "How Great Thou Art" adapted from Presley's early to live concert years and offered something for everyone.

Following in Elvis Presley’s steps as a very compassionate man who never forgot about his humble beginnings, Thane, who has helped raise thousands of dollars for various charities over the years, marked his Toronto performance debut, by donating a portion of the show’s proceeds to the Haven on the Queensway, an organization that feeds and clothes the homeless and those less fortunate in the Greater Toronto area.

As a huge Elvis fan himself, Thane Dunn has worked hard to make his portrayal of his hero as realistic as possible.  North Beach Leather of California, clothier to the Stars founder, Bill Morgan, who dressed Elvis and iconic rock stars, including Jimi Hendrix, Jim Morrison, and Janice Joplin, was so impressed with Thane Dunn's tribute that he recently named a coat – one that was originally made for Elvis, after Thane.

Dunn, who has toured throughout North America, is also endorsed by The Hank Snow Museum (Snow introduced Elvis to the Colonel and co-managed Elvis for six months); and most recently Mark Critch of CBC-TV's award-winning "This Hour has 22 Minutes” and a huge Elvis fan said, “Thane Dunn offers not only the best tribute show I’ve seen, but one of the best concert experiences going.”

The lucky winner of “Elvis’ Actual Autograph” that night at Thane Dunn’s Extravaganza was our friend, Patricia Tish Hennig-Nese. The young fan in the second photo, who was lost in the crowd of fans vying for a scarf, was delighted to be called to the stage to receive a special ring from Thane.

Photo Album

Videos

World famous Elvis re-creator Thane Dunn and his Cadillac Kings. This is at close as it gets!

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