Get ready to sing Viva Las Vegas when Donny Edwards arrives in Vernon Feb. 1 to present The King: A Musical Tribute to Elvis Presley.
Based in Vegas, Edwards is an internationally known, multi-award winning veteran entertainer performing his tribute to The King of Rock ‘n Roll to sold out audiences worldwide.
“He is the only tribute artist asked by Elvis Enterprises to perform on the grounds of Graceland,” said the show’s promoter Mike Schell of Schell Shock Entertainment.
A Vegas casino performer, Edwards just returned from performing in Australia and is on a western Canada tour that sees him performing eight shows in 10 days.
“He’s performed in Vernon before around seven-to-eight years ago,” said Schell, who is not only promoting the show but playing trumpet in the horn section for the nine-piece backup band The Cadillac Kings.
“My horn section (the Uptown Hornz) and the Cadillac Kings have been with the Penticton Elvis Festival for the past 14 years and have played with hundreds of Elvis tributes, including in Memphis.”
Schell emphasizes that Edwards’ tribute to Elvis is one of the most authentic out there.
“He is so true to the King and not in a cheesy way. His show is about paying tribute to the memory of Elvis,” he said.
Edwards will take audiences back to the beginning of Elvis’ career in the 1950s and the spark of the rock ’n roll revolution.
Audiences will relive moments of the Memphis Flash with hits such as Hound Dog, Don’t Be Cruel, Love Me Tender and All Shook Up.
The show also travels to the ’60s, with hits It’s Now or Never and Viva Las Vegas, then to Elvis’ jumpsuit days, his climatic concerts of the 1970s, with hit songs and performances of Burning Love, My Way, American Trilogy and Suspicious Minds.
“With Donny, he’s always been hired to play a specific part of Elvis’ career. He’s never done his full show in Canada until now,” said Schell.
Edwards has performed for celebrities such as Marie Osmond, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Tony Stewart to name a few. He has also portrayed The King in commercials worldwide and TV shows such as The Young and the Restless and several documentaries about Presley.
Edwards has performed with many of Elvis’ legendary band members such as The Jordanaires, The Sweet Inspirations, Millie Kirkham, DJ Fontana and bassist Bob Moore.
Opening for Edwards will be Cassandra Friskie (daughter of well-known B.C. Elvis tribute artist Randy Friskie) as Marilyn Monroe.
Presented by Schell Shock Ent Inc. and TCB Rock and Roll Legends, The King: A Musical Tribute to Elvis Presley takes place at the Vernon Performing Arts Centre Monday, Feb. 1 at 7:30 p.m.
Tickets are $45, available at the Ticket Seller box office (250-549-7469, www.ticketseller.ca).