The King reigns at music festival

Aug. 16 is a day burned in the mind of Elvis Presley fans across the world. It is the day the King of Rock and Roll died.

But for many fans like Trudy Taphorn, it’s not a day of mourning. In fact, Taphorn, whose own birthday is Aug. 12, has chosen to commemorate his life in the company of others.

She lives on an acreage a few kilometres from Alcomdale, and has programmed the third annual Blue Suede Music Festival for Aug. 13 and 14.

This two-day family event brings together 14 Elvis tribute artists from across Alberta and British Columbia, and interspersed throughout the day are trivia contests and door prizes.

In homage to Elvis’s dirt-poor early years, Taphorn is also collecting non-perishables and monetary donations for five food banks in Barrhead, Westlock, Morinville, St. Albert and Onoway.

“It’s my tribute to him. Since my birthday coincides with Elvis Week down in Memphis, it seems like a good time to have a festival here,” she says.

Taphorn played the King’s records as a teen, but she didn’t have a passionate interest in his life until six years ago. It was then she started reading about the magic and the myths of this double-barrelled singer.

With a three-octave range, it was said he could express more in a single song than others could in an entire concert. Former St. Albert resident Vic de Sousa is one of the artists paying tribute to Elvis through his ’50s-style act.

“It was his charisma, his generosity. He had this larger-than-life appeal. I don’t think he was a very good actor, but there was this fascination that infected people,” he said.

In the last few years, Taphorn has collected Elvis memorabilia that will also be displayed at the festival — books, copies of framed gold records, a copy of his last will and testament, original photos, action figures, Christmas ornaments and a one-foot Elvis Pez dispenser.

A centrepiece of the collection is a portrait commissioned by Colonel Parker that was purchased in Vegas for $50. “Colonel Parker had commissioned about 50 of them to be passed out to bigwigs. But they weren’t finished by the time Elvis died,” says Taphorn.

But it’s the tribute artists that ultimately will recreate the era and its ambiance.

Bob Rushton, a B.C. artist that has performed with the festival since its beginning, tends to concentrate on the ’70s jumpsuit era. “He knows there is only one King. He has a strong voice, but he doesn’t try to copy Elvis,” Taphorn says.

Adam Fitzpatrick has a way of melting the ladies’ hearts while replicating Elvis’s voice and Fred Steen has been dubbed the King of the North. “He has a young daughter Presley and he sings a duet with her Don’t Cry Daddy,” Taphorn says.

And St. Albert resident Danny Tamburrino, a former Elvis tribute artist, will also perform impromptu. “He’s a trained tenor and his voice sounds like it’s coming from his toes,” Taphorn says.

Complete directions to the site are available at www.bluesuedemusicfestival.com.