In The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker, a dancer named Tott with a striking resemblance to Elvis Presley appears on Windfall Island. To hear his family tell it, Danny Dixon ODay could have been a star. He talked about re-creating Buddy Holly, Jimi Hendrix, and the members of Lynyrd Skynyrd whod died in a plane crash the year before. The two still performed in what tiny clubs they could, but one day a waitress told ODay, who was singing Kenny Rogers songs with another act, that he bore some resemblance to the Gambler growler. It was her motivation that helped him become an Elvis tribute artist. there are currently no upcoming events. His mom said shed be fine with it as long as it was done in good taste, and that was good enough for her son. I got up one night and did Heartbreak Hotel and the fans liked it, Wise says. The Complete History of Elvis Impersonators in 10 minutes [from the documentary Almost Elvis] BlueSuedeFilms 1.65K subscribers Subscribe 43K views 14 years ago The complete history of Elvis. He Wise still feels he and ODay could have gone all the way with the act: He had Disney World, all these people calling us he had it in the palm of his hand and let it go, he says. ODay later admitted the idea was also suggested by Rhyne and that he had his own doubts: I said, What, are you crazy? This has seen some impact on what Elvis impersonators and contests have on the media and marketing industry. When I found out I was going to do this, I said, Well, enough of [health food], and I went out and had a cheeseburger with a shot of whiskey and beer. To dispel any doubts about the actual alcohol in her onstage bottle, shed pour some of it into the glasses of skeptical fans in the front rows, and watch as they gulped it down and realized they were drinking genuine Southern Comfort. Elvis impersonator - Wikipedia He has taken part in the Porthcawl Elvis Festival. (Rhyne, by then remarried and known as Deborah Erin Bertalan, died of complications from a brain tumor in 2011. Gary James' Interview With Elvis Impersonator Dennis Wise Dennis Wise made Page One news in papers across the country back in 1978 when he under went 6 hours of cosmetic surgery to re-construct his face to resemble Elvis Presley. There are many Elvis contests for amateurs, festivals and other events held across the world celebrating Elvis and his many impersonators. Their fellow townspeople understand this sentiment, but in the final scene they are shown burning those selfsame photographs, which display both Oscar and Emma dressed as Elvis. Impersonator impresario Ed Franklin boasts, 'We've had every type of Elvis there is in the world. It was perfect, but it was a lot of trouble, Wise says. The King is as popular today as he was when he died suddenly at the age of 42 in the Memphis mansion on Aug. 16, 1977. She wouldnt let go, he chuckles. You can see Dennis Wise on Friday, August 16 and Saturday, August 17 at Priscilla Presley's favourite Elvis impersonator - YouTube The plot of the Father Ted episode "Competition Time" revolves around the three main characters Father Ted Crilly, Father Dougal McGuire and Father Jack Hackett entering the "All Priests Stars in Their Eyes Lookalike Competition". Thomas into a local club, took the money, and then disappeared; it turned out he didnt actually rep Thomas at all. We were offered a job to go to Hawaii, Wise says. Dennis Wise, 54, has been an Elvis tribute artist since before Elvis died (or allegedly passed on if you are one of those who believe he is in hiding). Hazebrouck, who was still performing as Croce, rejoined ODay and Rhyne for a Kenny, Linda, and Jim show. Must be 21 to attend this Las Vegas event. [38], Des Perenara, a Maori Elvis comes from Auckland but is now based in Cardigan, Wales. Tourists would visit the mansion and then stop by Wises club for the tribute act. After the semi-highs of their casino days, they found themselves scrambling to survive, selling magazines to convenience stores and even hawking their own blood to pay the bills, as they told the Orlando Sentinel. But once she arrived for the job, she realized what her new boss had in mind. If I could still do two shows a night, six nights a week, Id do it, Wise says. Longtime Elvis impersonator to go beyond the standards by Rick Marino, a well-known tribute artist, released in 2000 by Sourcebooks and the more recent, The Elvis Impersonation Kit by Laura Lee, released in 2006 by Black Dog and Leventhal Publishers. BY THE NUMBERS $52 million Amount the Elvis estate made. Sounds right, says Patten, laughing. Dennis Wise thought that was the end of it all and he would return to Hawaii, but instead, ODay asked him to meet at his hotel. Erwin, D.H. and Droser, M.L., 1993. choose a career that pays tribute to the King of Rock and Roll. I really hated him then. On New Years Eve 1979, during the tours Reno run, she tossed down 50 sleeping pills and some champagne and hoped it would all end. 'Rolling Stone' has the story of 'rogue '70s promoter' Danny O'Day. In the words of Jim Croces son A.J., as quoted in Rolling Stone, Jesus Christ thats some twisted shit. We feel you on that, A.J. The pub and everything in it, including Hamilton Beach mixers, towels, and soap dispensers was sold in 1988. He heard ODay was now working with a country band something about tributes to country singers and tracked them down in a bar. Since Joplin imitators were rare back then, Caywood adds, I was the only person who could do that at the time., Caywood, a native Californian who sang in a sassy rasp reminiscent of Joplins, didnt know the full story. When I take these people in, they already have a basic resemblance to the person I want them to look like, he said. Ramona Caywood then Mona Caywood Moore was playing bar gigs in Ohio, in a band called Stage Fright, when she received a call from a friend in the business. Each show is an electric, high-energy performance backed by a full (When the ceremony was over, they had some difficulty eating the wedding cake.) $12.95 Cost of his first guitar, bought in 1946 at the Tupelo Hardware Store, $17.50 Tickets to dinner show at the Hilton, including lobster or steak, in the 1970s, 837 Consecutive sold-out shows at the International and Hilton, $43.7 million Worth of show tickets sold in Las Vegas (more than $150 million in 2008 dollars), 1956 Heartbreak Hotel, I Want You, I Need You, I Love You, Dont Be Cruel / Hound Dog, Love Me Tender, 1957 Too Much, All Shook Up, (Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear, Jailhouse Rock, 1960 Stuck on You, Its Now or Never, Are You Lonesome Tonight?. ", and Miley's brother Jackson, in Hannah Montana, impersonated Elvis twice: The first time was to fool a gossip reporter, as a coverup, after Miley accidentally blabbed the Hannah-secret to her; and the second time was when Miley and Lily impersonated Dolly Parton and Miley's "Mamaw" Ruthie, respectively, after it came out that Ruthie and Dolly (portrayed by Parton herself) had a fight over Elvis Presley. >Las Vegas Leisure Guide. Dennis Wise has been paying tribute to Elvis for more than 30 years. >Article Archives Self 3000 Miles to Graceland is a 2001 thriller film, starring Kurt Russell, Kevin Costner, Courteney Cox Arquette, David Arquette, Bokeem Woodbine, Christian Slater, and Kevin Pollak. And I said, Well, you know, I guess I could do something. Caywood was up for singing Joplin tunes: I thought, Cool, that sounds fun! Im famous for picking up and moving my entire life. But he hit a snag: According to his musicians, the Vegas casino establishment wanted ownership of the idea and were less interested in working with ODay himself. But a drinking problem that had developed on the road soon overtook him. Streamline your workflow with our best-in-class digital asset management system. Many other Elvis impersonators appeared while Elvis was still alive, evolving mainly out of small town talent competitions which took their influences from major music artists of that time. A husband hired them to perform at his wifes 40th birthday party, since she was a Rogers fan. He Used Plastic Surgery to Raise Rock Stars From the Dead, These Musicians are Supplying Ukraine With Drones, Burt Bacharach, Master Pop Composer, Dead at 94, New Bootleg Series Installment Maps The Long Road To Dylans Resurrection. Copyright 2023 Penske Business Media, LLC. But all were doing is emulating the dead people with all due respect.. "[25] In her paper, "Women Who 'Do Elvis'", Case Western Reserve University researcher Francesca Brittan deals with female Elvis Presley impersonators and finds them to be "campy, cheeky, and often disturbingly convincing. Admission is $10. But more than 40 years ago, Danny ODay took imitation to a place no one imagined before or since. You dont miss your water until the well runs dry. He had to think outside the rock box, and maybe drastic measures were in order. Editor's note: This story was updated to reflect the correct date that Elvis Presley died. [6], The second known impersonator was a 16-year-old boy named Jim Smith. Me go in and have my face carved? But I was pretty ugly anyway. And the hype factor, always important to ODay, appealed to him, too: Man, the monster maker himself onstage. The main character of Cartoon Network's Johnny Bravo is heavily influenced by Elvis along with James Dean and Michael Jackson. In Reno, Gamble saw ODay handing out five-dollar bills to people at the door to lure them inside. I feel weird saying this, but basically I was the hit of the show, says Caywood. Dennis can recreate the songs, moves and looks from all Era's of Elvis' career, 50's, 60's, and 70's. His heavy show schedule of an average of 200 shows a year with tours in Colorado, California, Nevada, Arizona, Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri, Florida, Wyoming, Nebraska and Iowa in the past year alone proves that Dennis is the most sought . Once the artists are gone, theyre gone, says Pezzuti. In an episode of the American sitcom The Golden Girls, the characters of Blanche and Rose are considering hiring an Elvis impersonator for their "Hunka Hunka Burnin' Love Fan Club," yet Rose mixes up the Elvis list with the guest list for the wedding of the character of Sophia. "The King" of Rock and Roll has been gone for more than 30 years, but on any given night in Las Vegas the spirit of Elvis Presley lives on. Check this out for a full explanation of our conversion to the LiveFyre commenting system and instructions on how to sign up for an account. By Clicking "OK" or any content on this site, you agree to allow cookies to be placed. Dragging along the white suits theyd been forced to wear onstage, the musicians piled them atop one another and set the clothes afire, resulting in what Caywood recalls as an unholy muck of cow patties, dirt, and melted polyester.. First of all, you dont believe it. O'Day's first foray into the world of tribute acts came in 1977, when he met Dennis Wise, who sounded close enough to Elvis that O'Day convinced him to go under the knife and have his nose, cheeks, and lips made to look more like the King's. Ironically, the makeover would be inspired in part by Erin Rhyne, the female Elvis in Rock and Roll Heaven and the member of the troupe whod been the most damaged by it. That landed him appearances on Good Morning America and The Mike Douglas Show., Cosmetic plastic surgery was just a novelty back then. Hazebroucks lips were enlarged and lowered, and his straight hair was given a Croce-style perm. [65], Malaysia has Tony Warren who is known as "the Tom Jones of Malaysia". Professional Elvis impersonators, commonly known as Elvis tribute artists (ETAs), work all over the world as entertainers, and such tribute acts remain in great demand due to the unique iconic status of Elvis. He didnt like that, the state fairs, says Effie. When the band broke up my brother returned to the mainland but I stayed on in Hawaii a couple of years. Honeymoon in Vegas is a 1992 comedic movie which was directed by Andrew Bergman. It was very fresh at that point compared to now. ODay scrambled and found a replacement after several tries. "It's almost like you're on autopilot," Garon said, of drifting into the Presley persona. He is played by Frank Wagner. There are also several university studies, for instance, Eric Lott's critical essay, "All the King's Men: Elvis Impersonators and White Working-Class Masculinity," published in Harry Stecopoulos and Michael Uebel, eds., Race and the Subject of Masculinities (Duke University Press, 1997). "We're not here to try to take his place. In fact, the clones didnt need the bandages, but ODay, ever the showman, insisted they keep the wraps on for maximum suspense. 1970's Dennis Wise Enterprize ELVIS Impersonator jacket Men's Large [16], According to Gael Sweeney, Elvis impersonation offers a spectacle of the grotesque, the display of the fetishized Elvis body by impersonators who use a combination of Christian and New Age imagery and language to describe their devotion to The King. (Actually, they didnt go on the road so fast: The first gig, at a club in St. Petersburg, Florida, perhaps aptly named J.P. Bottoms Lounge, never happened. Jim wasnt sure what to make of it, but he did see one upside. The four singers he found also got surgery (it was said to have cost O'Day $500,000, though Browne also notes the surgeries were less invasive than what Wise experienced) and press, but the audience didn't materialize and a planned Vegas run allegedly fell apart over O'Day's unwillingness to let "the Vegas casino establishment" take the reins of the show. Durston was the fifth houseguest evicted, lasting 37 days in the house. "[17], However, the Elvis industry includes "professional Elvis impersonator registries." of Elvis Presley. Arona Mane Shows Off His Production on Thandi Phoenix's new single 'Hot Sauce'. include being named by Dick Clark as one of the three best Elvis With his sandy-brown hair, six-foot-plus height, and strong voice, ODay had the goods: He had talent, and he could play almost any instrument there was, Effie recalls. He needed those people if we were going to play in Las Vegas, says Caywood. Original faux-Elvis Dennis Wise practices post-surgery with promoter Danny O'Day, 1978. "That was a very strange day," Wise says. Tap into Getty Images' global scale, data-driven insights, and network of more than 340,000 creators to create content exclusively for your brand. "First of all, you don't. Following the transformation, he made his TV debut on Good Morning America in early 1978. ODay rounded up another Jim Croce and another Elvis and found a local Florida musician to go under the knife to more closely resemble Buddy Holly. There are many different types of Elvis impersonators and Elvis tribute artists. His brother had arranged an Swipe your Rampart Rewards card at the door and receive 1,000 points! Longtime Elvis impersonator to go beyond the standards Elvis impersonators set to appear besides Fitter were Brendon Chase, Melissa Perkins and Kerryn Winn. Getty Images provides access rights only and does not license the copyright in the image. Bags were removed from under OConnells eyes, and wrinkles from his cheeks. So O'Day moved on: to "Rock and Roll Heaven," a tour he dreamed up that would feature not just an Elvis, but Jim Morrison, Janis Joplin, and Jim Croce, too. He had previously wanted to manage a Barbra Streisand impersonator but soon realized the audience wouldnt buy his first choice: At five feet two and 160 pounds, she didnt conjure Streisand physically. We've recently seen amateurs at the Elvis Tribute Contest in Vegas that blew Dennis away. In Fallout: New Vegas, the Kings are an Elvis-themed gang based out of the "King's School of Impersonation". Siegfried & Roy, and Wayne Newton. CKX, INC, which now owns Elvis Presley's estate, has full control including the grave of Elvis Presley and his family members along with his home Graceland in early 2008. "[15] There are even some performers who satirize other Elvis impersonators. Later that year, Don Cruise, Moman's partner, told James that Elvis had booked their studio to record what would become the From Elvis in Memphis album. Wise was doing an Elvis show in Hawaii. It took a long time to get over that.. Original faux-Elvis Dennis Wise practices post-surgery with promoter Danny ODay, 1978. When he woke up, his swollen face wrapped in bandages, Wise had implants in his cheeks and a curled-up lip, and he was on his way to resembling the King more than his 23-year-old self. Joplin had overdosed eight years before, and Caywood knew the repertoire well. CONTINUE ON TO: Hire Elvis John - Elvis Impersonator in Appleton, Wisconsin - GigSalad The comedy centers on the family life of Dad, an Elvis impersonator who was paralyzed in a car crash and is forced to spend the rest of his life in a wheel chair. By 1978, Elvis wasnt the only rock star in the grave; the body count was rising. ODay already knew the limitations of tribute bands. Dennis Wise Tickets, 2022-2023 Concert Tour Dates | Ticketmaster The Martin twins dressed-up as twin-Elvises in an episode of The Suite Life where they were appearing on a gameshow called "Risk It All! It just took off, Wise says. Croce hadnt heard of the tribute until contacted by Rolling Stone, and neither the Joplin estate nor the surviving members of the Doors remember these clones from more than 40 years ago. But for ODay, it probably didnt matter: He already had a bigger, grander, and wilder scheme in mind. Wise channeled Elvis for years, performing with Brenda Lee in a concert in Chile and appearing on shows with Mike Douglas, Merv Griffin and Dick Clark. Dennis Wise knows exactly where he was when Elvis Presley died Aug. 16, 1977. Eric Lott, "All the King's Men: Elvis Impersonators and White Working-Class Masculinity," in Harry Stecopoulos and Michael Uebel, eds.. See Gael Sweeney, "The King of White Trash Culture: Elvis Presley and the Aesthetics of Excess." DENNIS WISE FANTASIES LP (ELVIS IMPERSONATOR) AUTOGRAPHED SLEEVE - eBay Way before celebrity holograms were a thing, concert promoter Danny ODay decided to pay tribute to dead musicians in the craziest way possible getting plastic surgeons to transform a group of tribute artists into clones of Elvis Presley, Jim Croce, Janis Joplin, and Jim Morrison for his conceived tour, Rock and Roll Heaven.. By the mid-Eighties, ODay was running out of schemes. He was hired and began working at it full-time in November 1977. (Blame it on the club owner, ODay said in response.) Elvis Impersonator from Winston Salem, NC (95 miles from Wake Forest, NC) Danny Crouse is a consummate performer who performs as a solo artist and can perform a variety of music! Soon after he received a call from his brother in Little Rock, Ark. Wise isnt totally focused on Elvis. He recalls seeing cocaine backstage, and during a Tahoe drive, Gamble stocked his black Lincoln with a cooler of beer and some Jack Daniels and was, of course, pulled over by cops for some infraction. Mom was the fan in the house. ODay had what felt like a foolproof method of making the operation seem as routine as possible. Look how well records by dead rock stars sell. Elvis taxa. 91 on their list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. Meet some of the European Elvis impersonators competing to be crowned My first gig was in March 1978 in Florida. The large growth in Elvis impersonators seems tightly linked with his ever-growing iconic status. EXCELLENT CONDITION, SIGNED SLEEVE SAYS, "SHIRLEY BEST WISHES, DENNIS WISE". Another Filipino Elvis impersonator is singer businessman Chito Bertol who also impersonates Elvis Presley mostly at Bistro RJ Bar in Makati City, and sometimes occasionally performs every year with Filipino singer businessman Ramon Jacinto who was the founder of Bistro RJ and his radio station DZRJ 100.3 FM & his TV station DZRJ TV 29 in the Philippines. Returning to Ocala, he found his marriage falling apart and began working construction jobs. While some impersonators perform a wide variety of Presley's discography, his songs from the 1950s and 1970s remain fan favourites. Following the transformation, he made his TV debut on Good Morning Americain early 1978. Dennis Wise shows off his reconstructed face to talk-show host Mike Douglas. According to social historian Eric Lott, "the widespread embarrassment and innuendo surrounding Elvis impersonation points more directly to the homoerotic implications built into such acts. Dennis Colt, the first famous Elvis impersonator, circa 1978. Gary James' Interview With Elvis Impersonator Dennis Wise [36], Steve Fitter is an Elvis impersonator from Waikato. In the aftermath of the collapse of Rock and Roll Heaven, Danny ODay went in search of an encore. The Philippines has its own Elvis Presley impersonator, Filipino singer, and actor Eddie Mesa, dubbed as the Elvis Presley of The Philippines. Airlines have offered discount fares for look-alikes on Elvis holidays His omnipresence hauntingly hovers"[19], In August 1996, Elvis Herselvis, a female Elvis impersonator and drag king, who had been invited to take part in the Second International Elvis Presley Conference held at the University of Mississippi in order "to test the limits of race, class, sexuality and property," was banned from this event by the conservative sponsors of Elvis Presley Enterprises.[20]. ensemble. He wanted all the glory. I was like, What? But his mind worked that way. The best known was the Upsetters, an R&B and soul outfit that ODay joined in 1965. In the "Boo Haw Haw" Halloween special of Cartoon Network's Ed, Edd, n Eddy, one of the titular characters named Eddy is dressed-up as a zombie Elvis for trick-or-treating. We did a couple of state fairs where there were, like, four people in the audience.. This is a publicly distributed handout. It is cured by visiting a psychologist, who tells the patient how ridiculous he/she look[31]. An Elvis impersonator is an entertainer who impersonates or copies the look and sound of American musician and singer Elvis Presley. The group (not to be confused with the Upsetters who gigged with Little Richard) released a full LP as well as a tribute album to the late Otis Redding, whom they backed up on tour for a short period. True impersonators don't 'do Elvis' for monetary gain, but as missionaries to spread the message of The King. Croce had perished in a plane crash in 1973, but Marc Hazebrouck, a former truck driver and psychology major from Rhode Island, was already playing songs by Croce and had a droopy mustache to match. He is a published author and has appeared on New Zealand television in ads, Like Minds, Like Mine. Grow your brand authentically by sharing brand content with the internets creators. Guess where the money went? Wise wound up suing ODay for negligence (claiming his professional reputation has been damaged) and breach of fiduciary duty, demanding a minimum settlement of $2,500. From left: Caywood as Joplin, Rhyne as female Elvis, Hazebrouck as Croce, Gamble as Elvis, and OConnell as Morrison. Somebody hit him in the face and knocked him out. As a result, Sophia's wedding reception is filled with Elvis impersonators (one played by a young Quentin Tarantino)[30] instead of members of her own family, and Rose exclaims, "Either I got the Elvis list mixed with the guest list for the wedding or everyone in Sophia's family appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show!". They were bombs, man, says Caywood of the earliest, sparsely attended Rock and Roll Heaven shows. ODay also landed them an appearance on Tom Snyders late-night network talk show. He knew what was coming, but the reality of it didnt really hit him until the doctor, who seemed like a nice enough guy, started carving into his face. We started playing in clubs in Joplin and in Oklahoma and Id do a little Elvis skit in the act, Wise says. (Read the full story, which has plenty of photos.). He said this guy is putting together a show and they need a Janis Joplin, Caywood recalls. I bless you, Daniel ODay, she says, for opening up such a large part of my life that came out of that.. He was the winner of the competition. Newsroom | Elvis is in the building - Northwest CTA, that is Often, the shows would start with OConnell as Morrison, vamping through the Doors Light My Fire, Love Me Two Times, and Touch Me, before Hazebrouck came out with Croce hits like Time in a Bottle and Bad, Bad Leroy Brown. After a brief intermission, the band launched into a stomping groove, and Caywood stuck her hand through a curtain holding a bottle of Southern Comfort before emerging feathers flying, she says and starting her Joplin set, which included Ball and Chain and Piece of My Heart. Then, Gamble would re-enter, karate-chopping his way through a medley of Elvis hits, before everyone reconvened onstage for a grand finale. Wise says he never saw a dime, nor ever saw ODay again. O'Day's first foray into the world of tribute acts came in 1977, when he met Dennis Wise, who sounded close enough to Elvis that O . Some of his contemporaries included Rick Saucedo of Chicago and Johnny Harra, a Kansas City native who moved his show to Texas in 1977. It's only fitting that he would choose a career that pays tribute to the King of Rock and Roll. Leilani, who had referred to himself as a "rock 'n' roll-singing Polynesian guy", had formed a rockabilly band in the early 90s and had performed in Hawaii. What if, instead of one altered rocker, he had an all-star ensemble of them? He was having to be with the band, and the kids were in school. [46] Among the LP albums he recorded were his 1976 album, Mr. Fatu Sings Elvis, which was recorded live at The Hawaiian Inn,[47] and Manatua Mai A'u (Remember Me), released on the Tam-Bay label. For example, an ETA may open his show with a 50s set dressed in appropriate attire (such as a gold lame jacket), reenactments of musical scenes from Presley's movies, and/or reenactments of segments from the '68 Comeback Special; and after an intermission closes his show with a full-blown 70s concert dressed in an appropriate jumpsuit. Elvis cant die. The novelty of the show, at a club in Melbourne, Florida, combined with all the press the surgery had received, commanded a rock-star-worthy fee $15,000 for the first week (about $60,000 today). James at the time was married to his first wife, but still had feelings for his childhood sweetheart, who was married back in Houston. [21], Blackpool in the UK, features a busy Elvis wedding chapel[22] based at the Norbreck Castle Hotel, Queens promenade, where couples can have their wedding vows renewed by Martin Fox. Hes lead singer for the dance band Deja Vu, which performs from 6 to 9 p.m. Wednesdays at South Point. He performed regularly at the Elvis in the Park concerts at Cranwell Park in Henderson, Auckland, New Zealand, New Zealand. Keeping his spirit alive are tens of thousands of professional Elvis impersonators around the world, and millions more who do it for kicks. Organize, control, distribute and measure all of your digital content. We were traveling the country, doing two shows a night six and seven nights a week.. It was amazing. Saturdays show will be a family affair. A lot of guys stick to your basic Elvis songs, like Jailhouse Rock, but what I try to do is to expand it to let people know this is what Elvis did gospel, rock n roll, R&B. Palaios, v.8, pp.623624. Dennis began his professional tribute to Elvis in 1978, a year after the Elvis Presley: The King's best impersonators - CNN Style Other honors bestowed upon Wise But dad drove a truck and was gone all the time and so Mom always listened to Elvis records. One of the first books to document the phenomenon was, I Am Elvis: A Guide to Elvis Impersonators released by American Graphic Systems in 1991. And lastly, Dennis is a bit aged these days and many of his promo photos are of younger years. 19 verified bookings. A.J. Danny as Kenny Rogers? Wise says. Bandstand.". Elvis has spanned over forty years. [52], During the early 1990s, Sam Leilani from Reseda, L.A. made the news briefly. A lot of us in the entertainment business dont get a chance to do some of the normal things.