Elvis Tribute Concert Very Close To The Real Thing

By Robert W. Plyler, family@post-journal.com

POSTED: July 4, 2009

 

MAYVILLE - A giant crowd filled the Meeting and Expo Center At Chautauqua Suites, Friday Evening, to hear a tribute concert to the late Elvis Presley.

Singing was Sterling Pollaro, who has been honored by the Presley family and by Elvis Tribute organizations for the precision with which he reproduces the late singer's concerts. The focus of the evening was on the singing and performing style of Elvis during the early 1970s.

That was when Presley was headlining in showrooms in Las Vegas and other resort areas, dressing in elaborately sequinned white jump suits, and wrapping his neck with bright-colored satin scarves, which he occasionally removed and gave to someone in the audience, accompanied with a handshake or a kiss.

Pollaro varied his program, scattering through the evenings works from early in the long Presley career, such as ''Hound Dog,'' ''Don't Be Cruel,'' and ''Love Me Tender,'' through hits from later in his life, such as ''My Way,'' ''You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling,'' and ''Suspicious Minds.'' He spoke a few words of tribute and a moment of silence in tribute to Michael Jackson, who was married briefly to Elvis's daughter.

Someone who is familiar with the real Presley voice could easily have closed his eyes and imagined that the drawling baritone they heard was the real thing. The musical arrangements were said to be exactly those performed by the late singer's back-up group, and even the scooped attacks and the slight tear drop in the voice were precisely in the right places.

Every attempt was made to assure that the audience was having a good time. Children from the audience were interviewed and listened to, carefully. Requests were invited, hands were shaken, scarves were handed out, and all the familiar elements from the late Presley concerts were carefully included. Pollaro promised that he wouldn't leave the building until every fan who wished to do so had met him individually, and exchanged a few words.

A screen behind the performers flashed constantly with images: Elvis himself, Pollaro performing with Elvis, flames, American flags, and similar images.

Pollaro was supported by the band Lightning Strikes Twice. They are Jimmy Emo, Dave McDonald, Bob Gilbert, Carol Svensen, Keri Belovarac, Bill Nothem, and back-up singers Cindy Haight and Marla Harris.

Although he told his audience that he will soon be undergoing surgery on one knee, Pollaro managed to reproduce the hip shaking, guitar waving energy for which Elvis was famed.

It was a high energy evening of well-performed music. I can't imagine anyone went away disappointed

CYNTHIA YOUNG (716) 484-2903 memoriesofelvis@hotmail.com www.elviss2000.com