Joey: You've talked to a lot of my friends. Me: -grinning- I sure have! Here at Beyond the Jumpsuit, a lot of the Elvis Tribute Artists I sit down with are the up-and-comers, the fresh faces hitting the stage with that "new suit" smell still lingering. Don't get me wrong, that’s always a blast, but there is something truly special about sharing the stories of the seasoned pros. You know them, you love them, and you’ve seen them perform a thousand times, but you might not know

Ted Torres’s introduction to the world of Elvis Presley sounds like the opening scene of a gothic novel: awakening from a deep sleep to the haunting sound of a distant, melodic voice. In reality, it was just his father in the garage, but it sounds spooky out of context. The song was “Silver Bells,” and the voice, his father explained to a young, curious Ted, belonged to the King of Rock and Roll. By his next birthday, Ted wasn’t asking for toys; he wanted an Elvis CD. Growing

I’ve heard a lot of Elvis fan origin stories over the years, but I definitely wasn’t expecting this one. We all have that one childhood obsession that our parents eventually have to "gently" pivot us away from for the sake of their own sanity. For Aidan Keene, that pivot changed his life. Aidan:   I was a huge fan of the Australian kids groups The Wiggles. I played their music to death when I was 3 or 4. My parents got sick of hearing it so my dad gave me my first Elvis CD. I

It starts with a road trip. Most great American stories do. For Reagen Daugherty, the journey began at six years old, strapped into the seat of his grandfather’s car for a two-day trek across the country. There was no shuffling of radio stations or modern pop hits to fill the silence. Instead, his grandfather played the music of Elvis Presley for the duration of the trip. By the time they pulled into the driveway, Reagen wasn’t just a fan; he was a disciple. Most children at

I just returned from my very first Elvis festival and… I am tired. Granted, I do have a disability and it doesn’t take much to wear me out, but there was a lot going on. If you’ve never attended an Elvis festival, I’m going to share the things I learned along the way, and if you’ve been to plenty of them, you’ll know exactly what I’m talking about. Just to clarify, this is all from the perspective of a 29-year-old on a fixed income. My experience is vastly different from othe

There is a specific kind of magnetism required to stand on a stage and invoke the memory of the most famous man who ever lived. It isn’t just about the hair or the swivel of a hip; it’s about a spiritual alignment. When I sat down with Nevan Castañeda, it became clear very quickly that he isn’t just a performer- he’s a seeker. Nevan describes himself as a deeply spiritual person, someone who moves through the world with the firm belief that some things are simply meant to be.

Most Elvis Tribute Artists (ETAs) follow a fairly predictable trajectory: they grow up in a house filled with the crackle of Sun Records vinyl, develop a lifelong obsession with the King, and eventually, after years of mirroring the moves in their bedroom, gather the courage to step onto a stage. Rick Anthony, however, decided to do things a bit backward. He didn't start with a burning passion for the discography; he started with a competitive streak and a strategic eye for w

The first time Sebastian Garland stepped into the shoes of the King, he was in the first grade. Most of us were struggling with basic addition or trying not to lose our lunchboxes in the cafeteria, but Sebastian was busy perfecting a rendition of "Hound Dog" that would set the stage for a lifetime of performance. With a tiny jumpsuit and a liberal application of black hairspray that probably took a week to wash out, a mini-Elvis was born. When I asked him about that debut, hi

Me: Sooooo, obvious question. Are your parents big sports fans? Espn:   Yep! Me too. Big Razorbacks fan. I’m gonna pretend I know what he's talking about. Personally, I just hope both teams have fun. Espn (pronounced Ess-pen ) is a college student from Arkansas who is, appropriately, majoring in sports management. Once again, interviewing a 20 year old made me feel like an ancient being.  Me: I’m literally from the 1900s. Espn: Wow, how were the dinosaurs? Me: -shocked gasp-

Aaron Smith has been breaking in his blue suede shoes since he was seven years old. While most kids that age were just waiting for recess, Aaron was donning a powder blue jumpsuit and taking the stage at Charlie’s Drive-In. The catalyst? A viewing of That’s the Way It Is . One look at the King in his prime and Aaron was hooked, heart and soul. Fast forward to four years ago: Aaron was discovered in Wisconsin by Johnny Z, the man who would become his manager and mentor. Togeth

Me: I have to ask the question I’m sure you’re sick of getting…is Dwight Icenhower a stage name or your real name? Dwight: It’s my real name. But it’s pronounced Ice-en-hower. I’ll admit, I was nervous to talk to Dwight. I’d mentally filed him under the "never gonna happen" category. The man is a global legend, constantly touring, and I figured there was no way he’d have time for my little blog. But I had heard repeatedly that Dwight is one of the nicest guys in the business,

Me: So how long have you been doing this now? Luke: Two and a half, three years, something like that.  Me: And you’re how old? Luke: 20. Me: -puts my head in my hands-  Oh my God. Luke: But like, I feel a lot older in my head.  Me: Call me in ten years, then you can say that.  I’m going to have to take a break from talking to young tribute artists, because I’ve never felt older than I do now. This year I’ll be 30, going on 85. Talking to these guys makes me feel like the huma

“Just a minute, I’m taking my sideburns off!” It’s not a sentence I ever expected to hear, but then again, Don Rose isn’t your average conversationalist. While most of us rarely give a second thought to facial hair, Don is a scholar of "sideburn lore." Don:   The sideburns in the 50’s are short, then if you’re doing the movies, the sideburns are a little longer. Then if you’re doing ‘68, that’s the first time you really had the chop sideburns. Now in the 70s, you’ve got two d

“What have you done?" That’s what Austin Pugh said to his wife Kristen when he arrived at his first competition. It’s one of those moments we’ve all had- that split second of "how did I get here?" when reality finally sets in. You see, Austin had only just started performing as a tribute artist. He and Kristen had heard through the grapevine about the various festivals and contests, but they were still very much in the discovery phase of this world. Austin and his Wife Kriste

Do you have a friend or coworker that you KNOW if you sit by them or talk to them, nothing’s gonna get done? That’s how I was chatting with Taylor Salamon. An hour and a half later, we’d gotten so wildly off-topic chatting about random things that I suddenly remembered I was actually supposed to be asking him Elvis-related questions. Whoops! I did eventually manage to get to the point, and I’m so excited to introduce you to him. As a five-year-old, Taylor preferred playing wi

I’ve sat down with a lot of interesting people lately, but it’s not every day you meet a middle school teacher who doubles as a professional Elvis- and used to be a pro-wrestler (more of a referee, he clarified, but it’s still wild). I recently caught up with Chris to talk about his journey, and let’s just say, the man is a goldmine of great stories and even better analogies. From Comic-Con run-ins with Time Lords to finding faith in gospel music, our conversation was a wild

What happens when you mix a seven-year-old’s obsession with Grease , a fateful trip to Graceland, and a heart big enough to fill a rhinestone jumpsuit? You get Tim Mack. Aside from his questionable love for banana-flavored Laffy Taffy, Tim is one of the most soulful Elvis Tribute Artists I’ve ever had the pleasure of chatting with. From 'spotlights' at Graceland to heart-wrenching moments that absolutely ruined my mascara, interviewing Tim was a rollercoaster.  Kids tend to g

Walking into Dorian’s workspace, you’re immediately greeted by a bit of a tonal curveball: two full-sized, gleaming Iron Man suits standing guard like high-tech sentries. It’s the kind of thing that makes you pause, but after five minutes of chatting with him, the super suits start to make sense. Dorian isn’t a billionaire playboy, but he is a professional engineer with the soul of a tailor and the heart of the King. From learning the ropes at a local tailor shop to a life-al

I frequently joke about approaching 30 and being an aging millennial, but apparently, all it takes is a thirty-minute chat with a talented teenager to make me feel like I should be applying for a senior citizen discount. I recently caught up with Maxlee, a nineteen-year-old Elvis Tribute Artist who is currently taking the tribute world by storm. He’s charming, wildly driven, and accomplishing more before breakfast than I do in a typical year- but he also has a way of making m

There aren’t many silver linings to be found when you look back at the global chaos of the COVID-19 pandemic, but Charlie Harper managed to find one hidden under a rhinestone-studded cape. While most of us spent lockdown staring at the walls or attempting sourdough, Charlie was in his living room, trading his quiet introversion for a jumpsuit and a Memphis drawl. What started as a shy hobby to pass the time has since spiraled into a headlining career, proving that sometimes t