'It's Now or Never'
 |
| Elvis impersonator E.J. Sharp poses in front of his mailbox at his home north of Claremore. |
| |
Singer gives up his day job, becomes full-time Elvis impersonator
By MATT GLEASON World Scene Writer
3/18/2007
In his gold lame jacket, paired with black jeans and white shoes, E.J. Sharp is Elvis Presley, circa the King's mid-'50s rockabilly days.
Then there's Sharp's tan G.I. uniform, which the local Elvis impersonator dons for Presley's late '50s material.
Sharp also shakes his hips in an all-leather getup to recreate the vibe of Presley's classic "68 Comeback Special."
For solemn gospel numbers, Sharp slips into an all-white suit complete with a red bolo tie.
And, of course, Sharp couldn't do without his fine, peacock jumpsuit.
The 37-year-old Claremore-area man, who knows not to wear his Elvis glasses on stage because they'll just fog up or slip down his nose, will sport each of those costumes during his Friday night tribute show to the King.
Although Sharp is a veteran Elvis impersonator, it's only been since the early part of February that he quit his day job as an unarmed security guard to pursue his "lifelong dream" full time.
Now, instead of greeting DirecTV employees each morning at the front desk, Sharp can finally Elvis-up by day to greet his fans with a kindly, "How's it going, little mama?"
Life change
"It's
But it was time to move on.
Life in black leather and white jumpsuits beckoned.
The first time Sharp stepped in front of an audience to sing a Presley tune came in the mid-'90s, back when he worked on an assembly line for a Claremore manufacturing company.
Sharp recalled mustering the courage to sing a karaoke version of "Can't Help Falling in Love" for about 10 people gathered under a party tent.
"Ever since then I was hooked," Sharp said.
In the years that followed, Sharp delved more and more into Presley's music.
He even, "just for a joke," bought a red, white and blue jumpsuit. It fit him perfectly, as if it was meant for him.
Later, he performed at a VFW post and got an offer to sing Elvis tunes not just for applause, but for money.
"Honey, you're going to need to start learning some songs," his wife told him.
He also needed to buy a wig, which would leave him a hunka, hunka burnin' love during outdoor performances.
"Boy, was it hot," Sharp recalled.
Paid gigs followed, which eventually expanded to include his wife.
During her husband's costume changes, she steps in front of the audience to sing golden oldies clad in cat glasses, a poodle skirt, saddle oxfords and sporting a towering beehive hairdo.
These days, when the duo plays nursing homes, Laura is known to sing "You Belong to Me" while leaning against a gentleman's shoulder as he remembers way back when.
"They'll get teary-eyed and say, 'Oh yeah, that was the day,' " Laura said. "And they'll start singing with me."
Over the years, there have been other tears shed during Sharp's performances, such as the time he sang "Blue Hawaii" for a critically ill man in an intensive care unit.
And tears were shed when he sang "Can't Help Falling in Love" for an elderly woman nearing the end of her life.
"(The family) thought they were going to lose her at anytime," Laura said. "And she lay there and smiled and started singing. They couldn't believe it."
Sharp added, "She sang kind of low and then she started to cry, and then (the family) started to cry."
It was all too much for Laura; she had to leave the room.
On a happier note, Sharp once sang "Happy Birthday To You" to a girl on her 16th birthday, told her "Happy birthday, little mama," and then on behalf of her parents, presented the girl with the keys to a brand-new truck.
Looking back over his career thus far, and thinking about what lies ahead of him now that he's devoted his life to impersonating Elvis, Sharp said this life is what God intended for him.
"I want to try to put a smile on someone's face and make them laugh," he said. ". . . That's the kind of person that God made me to be."
Matt Gleason 581-8473
matt.gleason@tulsaworld.com
Elvis Presley tribute
When:doors at 6:30 p.m. Friday
Where:
Route 66 Event Center, 3637 Memorial Drive, above the Route 66 Harley-Davidson-Buell showroom
Admission:
$7 for adults, $5 for seniors, 10 and younger enter free
By MATT GLEASON World Scene Writer
No comments:
Post a Comment