Shows & Theaters
Elvis in Myrtle Beach: Area still pays tribute to King’s legacy

You might spot him crooning and shaking his hips on one of the piers, or catch him at one of the award-winning Myrtle Beach theaters – whether or not Elvis is still alive is something for other people to debate.

Because the fact is a strong contingent of Elvis Tribute Artists are keeping the The King’s legacy alive in Myrtle Beach in 2015 and beyond.

The man who left an undeniable mark on music lived a short 42 years on this earth, but his legacy continues around the world with countless competitions, expos, and numerous Elvis Tribute Artists.

One of the largest events on the East Coast, the Myrtle Beach Elvis Festival takes place this week, with four days of throwback fun, designed to bring together a community of Elvis fans that’s as strong as ever. (See full details and a schedule of events here.)

We recently caught up with a pair of local tribute artists to check out their best moves and ask them a few questions about what they do. 

How long have you been an Elvis Tribute Artist?

I’ve been working as an Elvis Tribute Artist for about five years now. I started off just doing little birthday parties, anniversaries, contests, kind of like a little hobby just to make extra cash, and it got to a point where I was dead broke.

I was in college, working at CVS, and I needed another means of income, and I knew I did this Elvis thing, so I started looking up online about other types of Elvis impersonators because I didn’t know about the Elvis Tribute world back at the time.

This was back in the days Myspace, and I started looking these guys up and saw that there’s this whole world about it.

And then I found out about this company called Legends in Concert and they had regular work for these guys, and there was this contest called the Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest, and I went to the Branson location of Legends, competed in the competition, and won first place. And they’ve been working with me ever since.

Why do you think Elvis’ music still so popular?

It’s timeless, like Shakespeare. Shakespeare’s writing is universal and timeless so you can put it in any era, any persona.

Elvis’ music, and what he did, was timeless and universal because even though it’s older music, the subject matter is still relevant, and it was new because it was so taboo.

Elvis wasn’t the first rock-and-roller, and he admits to that, but he was the most important.

Rock-and-roll was coming around in the late 1940’s, and it was usually considered as black music, and so when Elvis began to perform it, it shook the world, and it completely changed the world.

If he hadn’t been a pioneer in that way, music would be completely different now, the world would be different now. He paved the way for millions of artists today to do whatever they want.

Which songs get the biggest reactions during your set?

It depends on the crowd, but in Myrtle Beach the two are “One Night With You,” because it’s a lot of fun, it’s sexy, it’s playful.

But then we also get a lot of reaction during “If I can Dream,” because it’s a song about the American dream and right now there’s a lot going on politically with our country, so I think it really hits home with a lot of people.

How long have you been an Elvis Tribute Artist?

King Shazaam: Kind of a little bit like Elvis, at 13 my dad shoved me into the adult choir at church and said ‘Here’s a big guy, learn to sing bass.’

Anne Collins (wife): He said he learned to sing by ear – his dad grabbed him by the ear and sat him down in the choir.

When did you decide you wanted to be an Elvis Tribute Artist?

KS: I had a friend in Charlotte who, just coincidentally, was best friends with Eddie Miles, and he told me one night when we visited the Elvis Club in Charlotte, he said ‘Man you need to start dressing out, you sound a lot like Elvis.’ So, he convinced me.

We noticed during your first set that you were doing a variety of tunes, not just Elvis.

KS: Yep, I do 83 voices, professionally. I do not just do the notes – if it’s not a person I can sound 85-90% like them, I don’t do their voice at all. This is what I do, is their actual voices.

Why do you think Elvis’ music still so popular?

KS: When he came off-stage, I think it was Donny Osmond that said this, he was just a regular person, and he was so personable that he would reach out to people instead of letting superstardom make him feel like he was above people.

Some Elvis Tribute Artist’s these days are much more arrogant than The King himself was.

In these modern days and times, there are a few out there that get a little bit…maybe they hold their nose up a little too high.

I like to think of [performing] as giving back to the community.

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Eddie Miles

• About: Miles is from Hodgenville, Kentucky. His “A Salute to Elvis and Country Legends” starts with Eddie’s salute to country legends like Merle Haggard, George Jones and others. Eddie then pays tribute to the King with the most accurate and enchanting delivery of Elvis’ hit songs you can hear anywhere.
• See him live: Miles performs at least a few times a year at the Alabama Theatre. Upcoming performances include, June 14, 2015 at 7 p.m., and Dec. 6 for “Eddie Miles: An Elvis Christmas”

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David Chaney

• About: Chaney lives here on the Grand Strand, and has earned the handle of “The Boardwalk Elvis of Myrtle Beach,” after strolling the beachfront promenade for years. He got his start performing on a cruise ship and has evolved into one of the region’s most requested Elvis Tribute Artists. Oh, and he’s also legally-licensed to perform weddings. 
• See him live: You can catch Chaney strolling Ocean Boulevard during many of their “Hot Summer Nights.” He might be crooning, he might be schmoozing, but he’ll definitely be Elvis.

Rick Alviti

• About: Originally from North Tonawanda, New York, Alviti picked up the nickname “Elvis” during the time he spent in Hollywood because of his uncanny resemblance to The King. Over the years, he has performed his show “That’s the Way it Was,” in venues from Myrtle Beach to Las Vegas to Malaysia.   
• See him live: Alviti pops up occasionally at Barefoot Landing’s Alabama Theatre, so stay tuned to our events calendar for info on his next show.