faces with elvis

Here is the young man I spent
every night with before bed,
to ensure my dreams would be
the sweetest!
Yes, even though he was on
the stage and I was on the
dance floor there at Roxy's
Lounge, we both knew we were
in tune with each other.
Victor Trevino, Jr.,
33 years old...
"You Can Leave Your Hat On" -
the bed, the floor, anywhere!
(smile!)

Much as I love Victor, this here is the hunka-hunka-burnin-love that has inflamed my thoughts ever since
I first saw him in 2016.
He was the headliner in the evening show on March 11th and I swear...
I swooned in my fifth-row seat.
I had to put on my glasses to convince myself he was not Elvis.
Ryan Pelton, 44 years old now, was in the elevator because he had forgotten something he needed for the show in Vegas... and he took my heart with him that night.

I had never met this ETA before, but I've grown to really enjoy him.
Not only is he good as The King of Rock and Roll, but he also does a simply fabulous "Queen of Rock and Roll" - you know I'm talkin' 'bout Sir Elton John!
That versatility meant that he was featured in a show every day in this Las Vegas Elvis Festival.
Four headliner shows in four days.
Good thing that Dwight Icenhower was only 37, or he'd not have enough energy for all that and guest songs at Roxy's at night!

Nope, your eyes are not playing tricks on you!
I was definitely in the right place, right time for a truly unique encounter with the man famous as "The Black Elvis", having claimed that title in Memphis in 2003.
He's also incredible as The Godfather of Soul, James Brown, and sang "I Feel Good" just the way I like my "Happy Song"!
Robert Washington will celebrate his 60th on August 16th - hope it's wonderful, like mine has been!

Here I am with the youngest entertainer of the festival, a man who is a third of my age.
I'm being absolutely serious.
Taylor Rodriguez will be 21 years old in the middle of December.
No wonder that he told me he was missing his family in Virginia!
My guess is he didn't need much make-up to portray Elvis of that same age, but maybe a little bit when he portrayed Ritchie Valens (who died at 18).
He was excellent in his three shows - so much energy and freshness!

I was there, two years ago in Brunswick, when this Brazilian won the competition.
Later that same year he was crowned King.
Now, he was a headliner in two shows and was present at Roxy's every night - such a delight!
He's also quite a treat as Engelbert Humperdinck - maybe it's those "Spanish Eyes"?
Whoever he is portraying, 37-year-old Diogo "Di" Light is one of the sweetest guys ever!

This fellow has a singing wife - Stephi - who was given some solo show time.
He referred to them as "Beauty & The Dork" during his Buddy Holly songs - lol!
I'd never seen Dean Z, but he has quite a following, as I waited over an hour for this photo.
No real surprise, though.
This charismatic 40-year-old has been doing Elvis' moves since he was a toddler and first saw him on a tv special in 1981!

Yes, I realize that he does not look like Elvis... but just listen to his voice and watch his movements.
Ted Torres is on the same level of overall talent as Ryan Pelton.
He sings, acts on stage and in film, writes, and composes.
He was first lured to the Elvis world when he saw "Jailhouse Rock" at 12 years old and is in his early 40's now, near as I can tell.
With his musical and theatre background, he really does put on an excellent show!

Don't let the black hair on his head fool you - he's at least my age!
He paid tribute to Sir Tom Jones
and is credited with encouraging other ETAs to give voice to other artists at the Elvis shows.
Former ETA Irv Cass, winner of the Ultimate title in 1999, has been serving as the emcee for Sherry Management's Elvis Festivals.
He was one of those featured in the 2001 "Almost Elvis" film and can be seen promoting it here.

So, what on Earth is this about?
Well, the Elvis Tribute Artist from England showed up for the one show he was in and didn't hang around for photos afterward.
However, Ben Portsmouth did do something none of the others did: he gave out scarves!
This white one was literally thrown directly at me as he performed "I love You So" -
Thank you, my 40-year-old sir!
I'm glad you enjoyed my dancing to your music on the stage!

Oh, and isn't my new purse gorgeous?
I had decided to buy a travel bag for my clothes, as my carry-on started shredding its wheels while I was in the Savannah airport. Oh, no!!!
I didn't trust that 17-year-old piece of luggage to get me to Sam's Town on public transportation. Instead, I had brought my clothes in the plastic bag from the Qdoba in the ATL airport.
(No one at Sam's Town even batted an eyelash at that. LOL!)
None of the vendors at the Las Vegas Elvis Festival had a carry-on bag with Elvis decor, sadly.
However, one had this lovely large purse, complete with the man's signature...
and crisp black-and-white photographs of the man in 1956...
just like the ones taken by Alfred Wertheimer...
the ones I had visited three times during their stay at the Jepson Center.
Woohoo! To paraphrase James Brown, mama's got a brand-new bag!

i thank You, God, for these talented people and for this glorious music and for allowing me to be here to dance, dance, dance!

elvis and vegas, baby! day 4, part 2

Here I was, sitting in my seat for the 3 PM show!
Mister Willie would be so pleased with me.
(smile)
I found it a bit bitter-sweet for this to have been
my last show with these talented men.
Did I dance?
Of course I did!
Did I cry?
Yes, but that came later.

This midafternoon program was the grand finale, the going-out-with-a-bang, thank-you-very-much show to end all shows!
To put an Elvis-sized bow on this incredible weekend of entertainment, the Farewell Concert - Faces of ELVIS - gave us the man and his music throughout his twenty-one year career.
That meant not one ETA, but four of them for that finishing touch!
Dwight Icenhower, Dean Z, Ted Torres, and
Taylor Rodriguez - all took their places on the stage one last time, giving us their heart and soul and memories to last a lifetime - magnificent!
My many thanks to all of them - and the other ETAs - and the Change of Habit tribute band for giving me a 60th birthday gift like none other.
(smile!)
i thank You, God, for this glorious gift of life!

Now, I'm back on The Strip, nestled into my 2-bedroom villa at Polo Towers.
What to do? Go to the Hawaiian Marketplace for a cocktail and free entertainment?
Walk up to Planet Hollywood and explore the shops and shows?
Catch The Deuce up to Fremont Street and find out about that Dome up there?
Oh, so many choices...
but I kept it local, eating at Popeye's at the Showcase Mall, bouncing into M&M's World as a prelude for tomorrow, grocery shopping at ABC Stores and the Walgreen's.
(smile!)

And all was well until I started looking at this photo
I'd taken of me and Victor.
It was right after today's finale.
He and all of the other ETA's had been onstage together,
singing and dancing and kidding around as they performed "Viva Las Vegas" - wow!
Then, justlikethat, the show was over and they would
all be going their separate ways, as would all of us.


Dear Victor had looked a bit forlorn as he'd valiantly
kept his chin up...
but I could see it in his eyes.
I could see it in my eyes.
Just now, as I was looking at this photo, I began to weep,
and cannot seem to stop so I am going to bed now.
I have felt so young and vibrant and desirable
these past four days and three nights -
oh, such lovely nights of dancing! -
and I feel utterly bereft.
Tomorrow will be a new day... but tonight, I miss that me.

elvis and vegas, baby! day 4, 1st part

Today's wardrobe was built for dancing, but also for withstanding a bus ride later.
The dolphin-frolicking top was courtesy of Mother Pat, as I knew she would have enjoyed this trip, too.
I think it goes quite nicely with my kicky dark green skort and turquoise bracelet from my stepmom!
Breakfast? That was the leftover chicken and brussels sprouts from last night - good even though cold!

Before heading downstairs to check out of Room 613,
I took one last look at the desert I'd be traversing.
That sixth floor view does have its charm, especially
knowing The Strip lies just beyond...
but give me the ocean any day!
Still, it has been a good change of pace to make me appreciate rolling waves that much more.
(smile)

I'm glad I didn't dally around this morning!
It was only 11 AM and the first show was starting
right on time!
Rex Fowler told us he'd first heard of Elvis'
generosity with automobiles about the same time
that "200 Motels" came out.
It made him wonder: just how many cars had been
given away by The King during his short life?

The answer was in the film "200 Cadillacs".
Just an hour in length, the 2004 documentary chronicled the generosity of the legendary
King of Rock 'n' Roll.
Over the course of his two-decade career,
the man gave away two hundred of the luxury vehicles to friends... and to strangers.
Rex Fowler, the producer, is the man who was so inspired by stories of Elvis' largess that he researched the truth to document it.
He also wrote a lot of songs about Elvis for the film... and, he was there for a Q&A session!!!
(I had already watched the film, so that was icing on my birthday cake!)
What a way to start the morning of the last day of the Las Vegas Elvis Festival!
(smile)

Here's another good thing for this last day:
I finally got the hotdog I'd been wanting!
For the last three days, I had found myself truly
craving a hotdog with sauerkraut.
Odd, I know, but a girl wants what a girl wants.
(smile)
My thanks to the Sports Bar for this treat!

And where did I go to enjoy this meal?
Out to the Mystic Falls Garden, naturally!
(Yes, pun intended, my dear!)
I was even going to be in time for a last water show at the Mystic Falls!
Then I noticed that my owl had followed me to Las Vegas... nah, that one is a fake, folks!

The water show was no illusion, though!
Patriotic music playing the background, the Falls mystically (get it?) parted and reformed, sometimes in four sprays, sometimes just one, sometimes an entire curtain of sinus-hydrating fluids misting into the air -
how delightful!
I'm going to miss this, tomorrow.
Today, though, I am reveling in it!
i thank You, God!

elvis and vegas, baby! day 3

Holy moly, Miss Molly! This has certainly been a different Elvis Festival for me!
This day began at 1 PM in the big room with Jukebox LIVE! What made it special?
The lucky seven ETAs entertaining lucky us!
This was a "celebration of music legends" show where I was treated to see Elvis Tribute Artists paying tribute to other jukebox heroes.
Jukebox LIVE featured Dean Z‘s tribute to Buddy Holly, Dwight Icenhower‘s tribute to Sir Elton John, Robert Washington‘s tribute to James Brown, Irv Cass‘ tribute to Tom Jones, Diogo "Di" Light‘s tribute to Engelbert Humperdinck, and Taylor Rodriguez‘ tribute to Ritchie Valens!
What about Elvis? Oh, no worries, Ted Torres took care of representing the King in this musical feast!


Even the Everly Brothers, Phil and Don, had their moment in the limelight again to riff on each other and share the music, thanks to Dean Z and Ted Torres!
Kudos to the Change of Habit tribute band for keeping up with the tune changes!

After giving my tootsies a rest - and hobnobbing with the guys at the mid-afternoon Meet'n'Greet - it was time for a little dinner and then...
the 8 PM headliner at Sam's Town Live!

This show, THAT"S THE WAY, took a look at the different eras of Elvis’ musical career.
It started with Victor Trevino Jr.’s dynamic portrayal of Elvis in the 1950’s - sah-weet!
Images of the King World Champion "Di" Light performed music from the ’68 Comeback Special - ooh la la! Love the black leather! I'd only ever seen him in the white jumpsuit at the Georgia Elvis Fest!
The show finished up with Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist and Images of the King World Champion Ben Portsmouth, a British ETA. His performance focused on Elvis’ concert years, when he was "taking care of business in a flash", from 1969 until his death in 1977.
The Change of Habit tribute band were taking care of business, too, as they rocked steady,
all night long!
(smile!)

But was the party over after the concert?
Absolutely not!
It just changed venues, over to Roxy's Lounge!
(smile!)
Victor Trevino Jr & The Gamblers and some of the other ETAs were over there for “Elvis Tribute Unhinged”! That show not only featured music from Elvis but also some of the best party songs of all time!
I am so glad I decided to stay over here at Sam's Town instead of bouncing back and forth to The Strip! That would have been exhausting, plus I know I would have felt that I'd missed out on all of this late night fun.
It's my birthday party, y'all, and I'm living it up, living it up, oh, yeah!
(smile)

i thank You, God!

elvis and vegas, baby! day 2

One clarification, please, before I get started!
I misspoke when I was talking about the location of the shows.
The afterhours revelries will, indeed, be at Roxy's Lounge.
However, the headliners are all at Sam's Town Live, shown here.
Yes, my seat is still at Table 30!
(smile!)

It certainly got my motor revved for the evening performance!!!
Yes, indeed, 8 PM found me back at Table 30 for the SHAKE, RATTLE AND ROLL smorgasbord, served up fresh by Sam's Town Live!
No, not of food, but of music from throughout Elvis' career!
This was headlined by three of the most dynamic, energetic and full Elvis entertainers! This time, they came as they were, not in Elvis costume, but simply as themselves - that was different! The show starred Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artists Dean Z; Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Dwight Icenhower (seen last night, too!); and Images of the King World Champion Robert Washington. They are all different ages - and ethnicities - which I greatly liked. Why? It proved that Elvis is the King and still lives... in all of us!
(smile)

Then, I polished off the night at Roxy's!
This free show, Back to Sun Records,
ran on into the wee small hours!!!
Victor Trevino Jr & The Gamblers were back for
another round, as were some of the other ETAs.
They all joined together for a fantastic night
of rockabilly hits!
Sweet dreams for me!
(smile!)

elvis and vegas, baby! morning of day 2

I was up and out of my room by 10 AM!
Looking out toward The Strip, over miles of hot desert, under a blue sky, I was so glad to already be where
I needed to be!
No planes, no buses... hooray!
No need to go off the premises in search of food, either, as Sam's Town has plenty of options!
(smile)

T.G.I.Friday's advertised a weekday breakfast
special for only $3.99.
I'd see the ad when I was at Roxy's last night,
as the two establishments are side by side.
This was Friday, so how much more appropriate
could it be to have breakfast at T.G.I.Friday's?
(smile)
And so I did, dining on eggs, bacon, and toast,
along with a steaming mug of coffee...

and a Breakfast Margarita for just four dollars!
And who should be keeping me company on this
fine morning away from home?
Why, my dear Elvis was there, of course,
although he looked a bit different than he does
in my dining room!
Still, he kept me good company this first morn.
Life is so good!

Sated and content - and, yes, maybe slightly buzzed -
I walked around looking for a little something to do
before the first show.
And guess what?
I found it!
A little something to do!
This machine, called "Pompeii", provided me with
twenty minutes of diversion for a mere
seven dollars! (smile)

Today's shows began with a bang at 1 PM!
'56 THE BEGINNING featured headliner
Taylor Rodriguez, a young and up and coming entertainer who captures the essence and innocence of Elvis in the 1950’s.
Taylor has starred in numerous productions, including as Elvis in the award-winning "Million Dollar Quartet".
Through music and storytelling, ’56 THE BEGINNING painted the picture of Elvis in his breakout year when this Hillbilly Cat became the King of Rock and Roll.
The show very much reminded me of the photos I visited three times at the Jepson - very nice to have them come to life!
Today’s matinee had an opening performance by special guest Stephi Z (an ETA wife), as well as the Change of Habit tribute band.

For me, Stephi Z's four songs were just a bit of filler before the main course commenced.
That was set on July 18, 1953, when an 18-year-old Elvis Presley went to Sun Records to record two songs onto a birthday album for his beloved mother: "My Happiness" and "That's When Your Heartaches Begin".
The owner of the company, Sam Phillips, recognized his talent and soon had Elvis back in the studio, recording songs like "Blue Moon of Kentucky" and "That's All Right" for a broader audience.

That broader audience included Colonel Tom Parker.
By early 1955, Col. Parker was the manager and Elvis was no longer playing county fairs and small-town halls, but was on television shows.
That was quite a big step for the shy young man, but the exposure lured RCA Victor Records to sign Elvis.
The rest, as they say, is history, captured in photographs by Alfred Wertheimer in 1956.
Elvis Aaron Presley was just 21 years old that year.

Afterward, there was a meet-and-greet - and photo session with Taylor Rodriguez, accompanied by Stefi Z and "Col. Parker"!
Woohoo! I don't know if that was really a decompression for me or not!
I had danced throughout most of the show and still had so much energy!!!
The Cinemark beside Sam's Town Live promises fresh popcorn, so I think I'll buy some and take a walk in the garden for a while.
That should serve to settle me down a bit... maybe!
(smile)

I thank you, Ryan Pelton, for writing the script for '56 THE BEGINNING, giving it so much heart and such a natural flow.
I thank you, Taylor, for giving the performance so much energy and sweetness.
i thank You, God, for this amazing birthday vacation.

elvis and vegas, baby! day 1

Let the games begin!
As I said, I opted to stay at Sam's Town for the four days - and three long nights! - of the Elvis Festival, as I don't want to chance missing a single moment!
All of the late-night events will be held right here, at Roxy's Lounge, a fairly intimate setting for sure!
I plan to get up and dance every night, just as I did tonight!

Tonight's show was the "68 COMEBACK", presenting the chapter in Elvis’ life from the King’s enlistment to his return to musical dominance in 1968.
This concert starred two Images of the King World Champion Elvis entertainers: Dwight Icenhower and Ryan Pelton, who may well be my very favorite of all, ever.
In 2016, Graceland named Dwight the “Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist” while Ryan is the star of the Elvis inspired movie “The Identical.”
The show was backed, of course, by the Change of Habit tribute band, just like the competitions at the Georgia Elvis Fest.
The show was held in the huge concert hall, Sam's Town Live, as will be all six of the headliners, as well as the special film.

See this view?
That's from my vantage point in Seat 4 at Table 30!
I had deliberately chosen this seat because it was the farthest right, last one in the last row, up-against-the-curtains chair.
That allowed me to get up and dance during the shows!
I know the ETA's really appreciated that because I would see them watching me. (smile)
This first show was patterned exactly after the 1958 tv

special, "Singer Presents...Elvis", even including the Christmas gift idea commercials that Singer aired!
That was almost fifty years ago - wow!
In accordance with that show's format, this began with Dwight singing some of the songs from 1956.
Then, Ryan came out, in uniform, to perform those tunes from Elvis' military days!
Don't give me the "G.I. Blues", "Teddybear"! (smile)

Then, during Dwight's return to the stage,
we had a big surprise in store...
but, wait a minute!
Watch this video of Elvis singing "Little Egypt" in
the 1964 film, "Roustabout".
That 34-year-old woman is Wilda Taylor...
And that's her, 50 years later, dancing on this stage!
Wow! She knew Elvis when he was just 29 years old!

Then it was time for my man of the elevator, the one
and only Ryan Pelton, clad in black leather as I'd
seen him in Brunswick - ooh la la!
And what was that tune he was crooning?
What was his sweet message in those sexy duds?
He says he "Can't Help Falling In Love"... with me...
as I slow dance solo, at the back of the room, accompanied by an older couple.
Right place, right time.

I kept right on dancing, too, this time with Dwight
in the black leather for the jam session.
What I liked most about this portion of the show
was the camaraderie between these men, as they joked
and strummed and broke into song - "Are You Lonesome
Tonight", "Blue Christmas", "One Night With You" -
that felt so realistic and natural!

There followed some commercials from Singer for turntables and radios, then several gospel numbers, including "Peace In The Valley" -
I very much like that one.
For the grand finale, featuring
"If I Can Dream", both Ryan and Dwight were on stage, together!
Double vision of delightfulness, foretelling of doubly sweet dreams for me later!
Hallelujah!
i thank You, God!

Afterwards, we were all kicking
it at Roxy's Lounge for the
"Rock Viva Las Vegas" show!
That featured an extraordinary
33-year-old entertainer, Victor Trevino Jr., backed by The Gamblers, as well as some of the other ETAs.
I danced a couple of songs with this thin, tall, black dude in a fedora - that was such fun!
I did a lot of solo dancing, too!

Dwight Icenhower did a few numbers, too!
First, though, he had a special message from Ryan Pelton, for me.
(Hey, I know the elevator man meant it for me, you hear?)
Ryan regretted that he would not be able to join us, but he was overbooked and had another gig and had to leave.
Sounds like my schedule sometimes!
Then Dwight sang "Crocodile Rock" and other Elton songs for my dancing pleasure!

Rock on, into the wee hours, my fine folks, but this East Coast chica is starting to flag.
When the band took a set break, I took that opportunity to grab this photo with Di Light, then to exit, stage right.
He had been on Roxy's stage, too, singing "Rhinestone Cowboy" in those painted-on jeans!
I look forward to seeing him perform in the two shows on Saturday...
and maybe here at Roxy's again before that!
Long live the spirit and the music of The King of Rock 'n' Roll!

g-o-o-o-o-o-d morning, las vegas!

What was I doing up at 10:55 this morning?
Polishing off those chicken nachos from last night!
This view is looking northwest, toward The Strip.
Streets and sidewalks looking a bit deserted?
That's because it's hot as blazes out there!

Not that the heat stopped me, of course.
I was out the door just after 1 PM,
in the heat of the day,
making my way to the bus stop.
These fine ladies had a problem with me
taking their photo - guess I should have
given them a dollar or two.
(smile)

As I said, I was trying to make it
to the bus stop, to catch the 202.
I would not be bouncing back and forth
to The Strip during the Elvis Festival -
oh, no, not I.
I didn't want to miss one single minute!

I had done my homework before coming
to Nevada, to get the lay of the land,
so to speak.
The venue for Elvis Week was too far
from Polo Towers to allow me to dance
the night away, post-show...
and that would not do.

No, not missing even half a dance step!
This was my big birthday60 celebration
and vacation and I was going to do it
up righteously!
Since the Elvis Tribute Artists were staying
for those four days at Sam's Town Hotel &
Gambling Hall, then I would be there, too!

The bus ride was about thirty minutes, then another
hour was needed to get me checked in.
I'm so glad I was so early!
That gave me time to explore, to find my way around
and see the sights!
Isn't this inner garden area quite lovely?
I especially like the Mystic Falls (right bottom),
and look forward to its light show!

But first, how about a little light show
in Roxy's Lounge, to whet the appetite
for the evening's big show?
Oh, yes, please!
Especially if my dear Di Light was going to
be up there in his tight jeans, talkin' 'bout
"Way Down"...
oh, yes, please!

Appetite stirred up and ready for action,
the Firelight Buffet beckoned...
and rewarded me with bread pudding!!!
How did they know I loved it so???
I also had sushi and collards, pork tamale
and cornbread, chicken pozole and
pork gyoza, and so much more!

After looking at the Mystic Falls and checking its show times, i boarded the elevator...
and there he was, one of my favorites, Ryan Pelton...
Wow...
going back to his room because he forgot something needed for the show tonight...
Wow...
and when the two old ladies got off, I asked if I could take a photo with him...
Wow...
and he said yes!!!
Wow!
I'm pretty sure that's one of my favorite birthday gifts this year.
(smile)
Right place, right time.
i thank You, God.