“For the last several years I did this for fun at banquets, class reunions, car shows, Christmas dinners, and such (now it is basically a second career!)” A couple of years ago Vickers’ daughter Brittany, entered him into the regional Missouri State Fair competition. “I had never even liked the idea of competing, because at that point, I just considered this a hobby” Vickers continues, “Once I got to the competitions, I really enjoyed the atmosphere, the camaraderie, and of course singing for all of the Elvis fans.” Jamie Coyne, the director and Master of Ceremonies of the contest stated that, “It is very unusual for a first time competitor to place that high, but Rich has a great voice and is a superb talent.” The actual impersonating started at Vickers’ former church in Oklahoma City. “They were having a Thanksgiving banquet and were going to “hire” an Elvis® impersonator for the event just for fun. A couple of people from his church band and choir suggested that they should just have him do it. Rich states that, “I distinctly remember renting the whole costume; side-burns and everything and it cost much more money than I even made for actually singing.” Rich has since performed as Elvis® at many different events including working with Elvis’ step brother, Rick Stanley at several functions. Later that same year of 1996, Rich did a concert in Anchorage, Alaska. While there a gentleman approached him about doing a CD of Elvis® gospel songs. “A pastor had asked me to sing an old song, “Where Could I Go But to The Lord”, and honestly the only arrangement I could remember of that song was Elvis’. So I sang, and afterwards an elderly man approached me with a check for an unusually large amount.” The man told Richard that he would like for him to record a CD of the old Elvis® gospel songs, and to use that check for that purpose. “I came back and immediately got started.” Of the three recording projects that Vickers has to date, that CD entitled, Songs for the King, remains the biggest seller. Some of the recent events that Richard has performed include the annual Inter County Electric Business meeting with over 3,000 in attendance; The State of Missouri Republican Representative Fundraiser; U.S. Food Service Annual Sales Meeting, Viva Las Vegas at Ozark Actors Theatre in Rolla, Missouri (3 sold out performances) and numerous others. Rich has produced the entire 2 hour variety show called, “ELVIS LIVES”, featuring the sounds of Patsy Cline, Linda Rondstadt, Johnny Cash and others along with an hour of Elvis’ greatest hits from the concert years with the TLC Show Band and Singers. “This whole thing has really snow-balled the last couple of years,” states Vickers. He has also now a part of the exclusive EEN-Elvis Entertainers Network, and has been competing and singing at some of their IMAGES of the KING competitions. This summer Rich is slated to perform at several Elvis® Tribute events and in the fall he will be performing again at the Missouri and Oklahoma State Fairs, and at various theatres and resorts in Branson, Missouri. In addition to performing as Elvis®, Rich has had the privilege of being guest solo artist (as himself) for many venues including Silver Dollar City, Branson, Missouri; Winston Cup 500, Talladega, Alabama, Christian Artist Seminar, Estes Park, Colorado and many others. As an actor, Rich Vickers has been in several commercials, training videos, voice-overs, and has had the lead role in several Broadway musicals including, “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat”, “Chicago”, “Oklahoma”, and others. For more information please contact, Rich Vickers, (573) 729-0800 Rich Vickers HC 81 Box 305 Salem, Missouri 65560 |
| Behind The Music... Bringing back all the magic that is, Elvis®. |
| Local Singer Takes First Place Honors Rich Vickers has been leading worship and music in churches for over 20 years. But for the last ten years he has also had an unusual hobby, a hobby that includes singing, but it involves a different king. Rich is an Elvis® Tribute Artist otherwise known as an Elvis Impersonator. At the age of 42, Vickers says that it all started many years ago growing up in Salem, Missouri on highway 68. “I learned to play drums and to sing in the seventh and eighth grade by listening to the “live” Elvis® concert performances over and over, and I guess I got Elvis® stuck in my head.” Vickers competed in the National Elvis Idol Extravaganza Contest at the Missouri State Fair in Sedalia and at the Oklahoma State Fair in Oklahoma City. In Missouri, Vickers placed fourth and in Oklahoma he received the Grand Champion Prize, placing first and qualified in both competitions to compete in the national competition in Las Vegas in June of 2006. |
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