Rockin at the Isle:KC Style

Usually I leave the tribute artist scene for the Suite 101 Elvis Tribute Artist Columnist, Melody Sanders, who just happens to also be my best bud, and the co-author of our book, Walk a Mile in Their Shoes. However, Melody lives in Canada, and every year at this time, my little area of the world comes alive, with tribute artists from all over the country as they make their way to the Elvis Contests held by the Isle of Capri Corporation .

Not one to sit still when tribute artists are around, I grab my cameras and my husband, in that order, and pack in as many shows as possible in a single weekend. I'll be covering three events for my 2003 adventure. I'll post my reviews one by one this month. In November I'll return to my regular monthly articles about Elvis.

I'll begin my three-show month with the annual Isle of Capri Contest held in Kansas City, Missouri. The 1st place winner from this, and each of the Isle of Capri Casinos, will compete in the finals, which will be held this year in Lake Charles, Louisiana. The purse for that contest is a whopping $50,000.00, winner take all prize.

This is the third annual contest for Kansas City, and with only seven contestants able to participate here, their actual contest begins in the home office several months earlier, as tapes are sent in from impersonators from all over the world. Only a select few make it to this exciting contest. I've been lucky enough to cover all three. The Isle of Capri Contest 2001 and The Isle of Capri Contest 2002

And now without further ado -- on with the show.

Don Edwards captured the audience the minute he walked out in his gold lame' jacket, black slacks and sharp looking spats (for those of you that are too young to remember, it's a word for some pretty classy shoes back in those days). Young Don, was a dead ringer for the young and sexy Elvis of the 50s. He came alive with "That's All Right (Mama)" then gave us "Blue Suede Shoes."

Don looks so much like Elvis that he was given the nickname, "The Ghost of Elvis," while working at a radio station in Texas.

Don only began performing in 2002, but has already gained recognition, as he won a national contest held in Branson, and has performed in "Elvis, Elvis, Elvis," produced by Greg Thompson Productions.

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