_____________________________________________________________________________ \\\\\___CHEROKEE ELVIS RESOURCES___\"-._ /////~~~ south asian resources ~~~/.-' _____________________________________________________________________________ American tribute artist to spin Elvis magic in India _____________________________________________________________________________ May 5th, 2008 New Delhi, May 5 (IANS) The music of rock?'roll legend Elvis Presley still spells magic even 31 years after his death. Award-winning American artist Stephen Kabakos will pay a tribute to Elvis for the first time in India in a live concert here Wednesday. The tribute by Kabakos, one of the most popular Elvis look-alikes, will be held at the Radisson Hotel. Liquor giant United Spirits Limited is sponsoring the show. The nine-city concert, planned to celebrate 125 years of the company? premium brand Black Dog whiskey, will travel to Kolkata, Guwahati, Hyderabad, Mysore, Bangalore, Goa, Pune and Mumbai, said a press comminuque issued here in the capital. Elvis Presley, born Jan 8, 1935, was known for hits like 'Heartbreak Hotel', 'Jail House rock' and 'All Shook Up'. The musician, who became a cult figure because of his charismatic ways, glitzy stage shows and good looks, died of drug abuse in 1977. Bearing an uncanny resemblance to Elvis, Kabakos has mastered the art of gyrations, sound, mannerisms and the brand of rock?'roll music that the legend belted on stage. The performer even dresses like Elvis in the trademark jackets, ruffles, pin-stripe blazers and drainpipe (narrow and fitting) trousers. Kabakos covers the entire career of the rock musician right from his early recordings at the Sun Studio, his career in the army, the 1968 comeback and the explosive concert years in his repertoire, 'The Way It Was' . The musician, who is visiting India for the first time, is excited. 'This is my maiden visit to India and I am looking forward to reliving the magic of the king of the modern rock?'roll, Elvis Presley, with thousands of Indian fans. India is a great country,' Kabakos said. The musician loves Elvis and gets 'goosebumps each time he recreates the legend on stage'. The executive vice-president (marketing) of USL Amrit Thomas said the concert was an effort to reposition the brand among the younger audience. 'We are trying to cash in on the timelessness of Elvis Presley? music by reaching out to those with mature taste in music,' he said. This is the first American tribute concert in India. Tribute music, a new genre of live shows dedicated to big names in western music, is popular in the west. FROM: http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/uncategorized/american-tribute-artist-to-spin-elvis-magic-in-india_10045448.html ____________________________________________________________________________ Elvis tribute artiste has Delhi rocking Indo-Asian News Service New Delhi, May 08, 2008 Elvis Presley, the king of rock and roll, set the capital on fire. The hip-shaking, gyrating rock sensation of the 60s and the 70s was in full regalia - his trademark long sideburns, high-collared sequinned jacket - as he belted out favourites like "Jailhouse Rock" and "All Shook Up" in his deep resonant baritone. Only it was not the King in person. Award-winning Canada-based Elvis tribute artiste Stephen Kabakos took the audience back in time to the swinging 60s and the 70s in the country's first ever Elvis Presley tribute concert at the Hotel Radisson Wednesday night. The hour-long gig, a part of Kabakos' nine-city India tour, was sponsored by United Spirits Limited. The performer, who was crowned the Grand Champion at the 2001 "Images of the King World Competition" in Memphis, Tennessee, is one of the top three Elvis tribute artistes in the world. For the capital bred on a staple of contemporary western and Indian sounds, the experience, as some members of the audience put it, was "uncanny". "It is like the King is here on-stage," said a 50-year-old executive from Gurgaon. Stephen was true to Elvis Presley. "I do everything that Elvis did on stage and nothing that he did not do," he told the media. And on cue, the concert began with a high-voltage rendition of the legend's early number "Blue Moon". He followed it with hits like "Jailhouse Rock", "Good Rocking Tonight", "Love Me Tender", "All Shook Up", "Blue Suede Shoes", "In the Ghetto", "Viva Las Vegas" and "Suspicious Minds". Kabakos was accompanied by a 15-piece string and horn orchestra and background vocals. The audience cheered, sighed, danced and screamed for repeats. The concert titled The Way It Was spanned the rock'n'roll legend's Sun Studio years, his pre-army movie era and the explosive concert years of mid 60s and 70s. The performer took time off between the numbers to change into different Elvis costumes. From pinstripes to the high-collared rakish black leather open-chest ensemble to white silk jackets and flared pants done up in sequins and flashes of red silk and beads and the broad belt with silver waist chains, Delhi saw the "king" in all his shades and moods. "Tribute music is a growing genre in the West. It is very popular. You have tribute artists playing Shania Twain, Celine Dion, The Beatles and Rod Stewart," Kabakos told IANS. "But it is not Elvis all the way, it is my personal interpretation of Elvis Presley," said the tribute rocker from Ontario in Canada, who has cut a solo Elvis tribute album. He has his share of critics. "Elvis cuts across continents, race and colour. People often compare my music to that of the legend and say it is not as good. I tell them to come to my show. So, I have had sceptics, mostly die-hard Presley fans, who have walked up to me after my shows saying they were impressed. I have managed to convert several such critics," Kabakos said. His favourite number is "Suspicious Minds", an Elvis classic. "I grew up listening to Elvis Presley's music and at 12, I decided to be a tribute artiste. My mother, an Elvis fan, encouraged me and I groomed myself. It is Elvis that has brought me to India, his spirit. I have been here 72 hours and I have met some amazing people. Indians are wonderful and the cuisine is great," Kabakos said. He is married to his long-time girlfriend and says he is "a doting husband unlike the king". Elvis Presley, who was born in a humble family in Mississippi on Jan 8, 1935, was one of the greatest rock'n'roll musicians of all time. He achieved cult status for his music, charisma, stage presence, hip-shaking and stunning good looks. He died of a drug overdose in 1977. From: http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/StoryPage.aspx?id=0bd9f33c-85de-4ec0-98c7-507d7058d933&&Headline=Elvis+tribute+artiste+has+Delhi+rocking ____________________________________________________________________________ Reprinted under the Fair Use http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.html Doctrine of International Copyright Law _____________________________________________________________________________