It is my pleasure to introduce SIDEBURNS Magazine followers and ETA fans to Sam Ellis Wagaman. Edits by Carolyn MacArthur. Photos provided by Same Ellis Wagaman.
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ETA Sam Ellis Wagaman was born in Chambersburg, PA, in 1972. Sam got hooked on Elvis at the age of 8 when his grandmother gave him his first Elvis record, which was “Elvis Golden Records”. Sam has been a big fan ever since. Growing up, and through school, Sam did a lot of work as a disc jockey. Kids called him “Elvis” in school. “Everyone was jamming to Vanilla Ice and MC Hammer, and I was jamming to the King…LOL”
Sam loves all kinds of music, but got his inspiration from a close friend, David King, who is an award-winning tribute artist, and Eddie Miles, whom Sam met, along with Charlie Hodge, in Pigeon Forge, TN, in 1993 at Memories Theater.
(Photos, left to right: ETA David King, Eddie Miles, and Eddie Miles on stage with Elvis Presley)
“In 1993 I took the leap and gave it a go. I took the Ellis name for two reasons: It was my grandfather’s middle name; and because of Jimmy Ellis, who, as we know, sounded much like Elvis; so, as Sam “Ellis” Wagaman, or Sam Ellis, I've been honing my skills ever since.”
ETA Sam Ellis Wagaman and his daughter, Zoe. Photo Credit: Sam Ellis Wagaman.
Sam feels blessed to be have given a voice and talent that allows him to pay tribute to Elvis. Working a full time job, paying tribute to Elvis on the side, and most importantly having a loving family,rounds out ETA Sam Ellis Wagaman’s interesting life. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Editor’s Note: Thank you, Sam. Wishing you much success with your ETA career. We look forward to seeing you compete one day at one of our Elvis festivals.
