Elvis impersonator appearing at Civic Center Saturday

By CHERIL VERNON
The Palestine Herald

March 13, 2008 01:43 am

— Those who love Elvis Presley’s music will not want to miss the “New Voice of Elvis” Texas Tour concert planned Saturday at the Palestine Civic Center.
Award-winning second generation tribute artist Jesse Aron, 32, of Wisconsin will perform from 7 to 10 p.m. taking on two roles — Elvis and Roy Orbison.
“I do three decades of Elvis — the ‘50s, the ‘60s and the ‘70s and three costume changes,” Aron said during a phone interview Wednesday. “I do Roy Orbison at the end of the first set.”
His wife, Tarie Aron, will serve as Marilyn Monroe and the show’s mistress of ceremonies.
“I like performing as Elvis because it’s an opportunity to make people happy and bring back memories,” Aron said, “ as well as introducing Elvis to new, younger fans.”
Aron said he enjoys educating the audience about Elvis during his show with things they may not have known.
“I try to be pretty respectful. I portray Elvis the right way,” Aron said.
Aron has been touring Texas this month with venues also planned later in the month in New Braunfels and Kingwood. He will end the month by performing at the East Texas Jamboree in Broaddus on March 28.
Born in Chicago, Aron moved to Wisconsin at age 13. Growing up with both his mother and father in a band, Aron began to imitate his father who did his own Elvis tribute.
“I started singing at age 4 but I didn’t sing publicly until 1998 because I was extremely shy back then,” Aron said. “In 1998 I began to sing and it took off pretty well. I won several (Elvis) competitions starting in 2003, taking third place last year at a big competition in Ontario, Canada.”
He is a two-time “Grand Prize Winner” at Milwaukee, Wis.’s Potawanomi Casino Event and a two-time “Lady Luck Music Peoples Choice Winner”
in Montreal.
In June of 2003 he traveled to Birmingham, Ala. where he competed in the “Elvis in Dixieland” competition where he once again took home first place allowing him to compete as a finalist in the world renown competition “Images of Elvis” in Memphis Tenn. Ronnie Craig’s “Elvis Explosion” in LaCrosse, Wis. awarded him with the “Peoples Choice Award” and in addition to this, he has competed in a number of the Isle Of Capri Casino “Tribute to The King” competitions where he placed in the finals each time and placed in the top two.
“I’ve been called the ‘Voice of Elvis’ by my peers and people in the same business,” Aron said. “Some people have said after concerts that if they close their eyes, it would be like Elvis was there.”
Aron also has performed with many of Elvis’ musicians and backup singers including “The Jordanaires” and Elvis’ original drummer D.J. Fontana.
Tickets for the show are $15 in advance by calling 281-764-1920 or $20 at the door. For more information about Aron, visit www.jessearon.com.

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