ELVIS LIVES…IN THE OZARKS
By: Lois Ann Marler
Elvis sightings are taken as seriously as sightings of Bigfoot. Even the CIA, when trying to debunk conspiracy
theorists, will deride, “Yeah, and you just saw Elvis, too, right?” However, some folks in South Central Missouri can
prove their claim to a bona fide Elvis sighting with evidence in the form of concert ticket stubs that read “Elvis
Lives.” What’s more, Elvis history is being made right here in the Ozarks through Elvis tribute artist Rich Vickers
of Salem, Missouri.
Vickers prefers the title of “Elvis tribute artist” to that of an impersonator, and for good reason. In March 2007 he
made history by becoming the first regional winner of the Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest™, the first
competition of this kind to be Graceland-sanctioned. The city of Arnold, Missouri, also went down in the history
books as the first sponsor of this worldwide competition. Vickers will travel to Memphis in August 2007 during “Elvis
Week,” which also marks the 30th anniversary of the passing of Elvis Presley, to compete in the preliminary finals.
While this win for Vickers is the most significant for him to date, it’s nothing new for this small-town celebrity. In
2005, he entered his first competition at the Missouri State Fair’s “Ultimate Elvis Extravaganza Impersonator
Contest” where he took 4th place. That same year he captured “Grand Champion Prize” in a similar Oklahoma
State Fair Elvis competition. Both wins qualified him for advancement to Las Vegas for the finals. “I was very
nervous at the Missouri competition, and my jumpsuit was the quality of a Halloween costume compared to the
other contestants’ suits. I quickly learned that if I wanted to be taken “seriously”, I had to upgrade the attire and
accessories,” Vickers said. And that began a seemingly endless financial investment for this now “serious” Elvis
performer.
There is a charm about Vickers and his moment in the spotlight this year. “I’m the same age that Elvis was when
he died. Going to Memphis on the 30th anniversary of his death to compete with others from around the world is
monumental for me,” stated Vickers. When asked what he thinks Elvis would say about tribute artists today,
Vickers stated, “I think he would be honored, flattered, maybe embarrassed.” It has been estimated that there are
approximately 80,000 Elvis impersonators worldwide. He believes that quality tribute artists will play a key role in
keeping the image of Elvis alive for the next 30 years—and beyond.
The stage has been a friend to Vickers, long before he embarked upon an Elvis career. Through his primary
career as a worship and music leader he has ventured from Branson to Alaska and everywhere in between,
singing the praises of another “King” in his life. He has also delighted audiences in theatrical appearances, roles
in Chicago and other stage productions, with his most recent stage role as Pharaoh (Elvis) in the Ozark Actors
Theatre (OAT) production of “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. Yesterday I was asked to revive
that role in St. Louis this summer-but because of time and other commitments, I just can’t.”
Vickers began his music career not as a singer, but as a percussionist. At a time when most 13-year-olds were
listening to rock music of the early ‘70s, Vickers purchased 8-track tapes of Elvis. The youngest of eight sons, he
also listened to his brothers’ music, which included the sounds of REO Speedwagon, The Beatles, The Guess
Who and others. “Believe it or not, The Osmond’s and The Jackson Five were a big influence on me too, primarily
because they were brothers making music together. I could relate to them,” he claims.
Vickers was born in St. Louis but moved with his family to the rural hills of Salem when he was younger. That’s
when he fell in love with the sounds of Elvis Presley. He says, “Elvis’ music is probably the reason I’m a
professional musician today: It’s all I wanted to do. After I became a Christian in 9th grade through Fellowship of
Christian Athletes (FCA), Elvis and his music continued to be a part of my life.”
Pictures of Elvis adorn the wall of Vickers’ office, though are just a small part of the décor. They seem to be a
constant reminder of the superstar’s influence on his life. He fondly remembers propping his stereo speakers in
the windows of the house and transforming the back porch into a stage. He was particularly trying to mimic Ronnie
Tutt, Elvis Presley’s drummer. “I’d fall asleep at night listening to Elvis music. I just loved music—loved it—all of it,”
he said.
How a man becomes an Elvis impersonator is not completely understood, but Vickers claims he was coaxed.
Twenty years after his, back porch “concerts,” fellow choir members in Oklahoma City took his Elvis emulations
seriously. “The church planned to hire an Elvis impersonator for an event, and someone suggested that they just
hire me,” he recalls with a smile.
Elvis impersonators are generally categorized in one of three ways: Either they look like Elvis, sound like Elvis, or—
if the audience is lucky—both. In the case of Vickers, the audience is lucky.
If Vickers were coaxed in the beginning, it doesn’t show now. His stage presence in his “Elvis Lives” concerts is
something that one has to see to believe. Every detail in his gig—from the jet-black wig with the lilting tuft to the
tight jewel-studded jumpsuit—screams Elvis. And audiences scream along with the authentic magic of his
performances, sometimes jerking a cologne-soaked scarf off his neck. Often, he draws on original—and often
“underground”—Elvis recordings for one-liners and jokes.
“I’m a bigger fan of Elvis now than ever, obviously, because I’ve spent thousands on suits, wigs, music, boots,
belts and scarves,” he professes. Each of Vickers’ suits costs over $1000.
To further set himself apart as a professional Elvis performer, Vickers endured the arduous application process
for membership into the Elvis Entertainer’s Network, a private booking and promotion agency for Elvis performers
that has a short and distinguished list of members.
For Vickers, some audience members’ opinions strike him in a very personal way. “Sometimes audience members
who saw Elvis Presley in concert tell me that my performance is “eerie,” in that it is so much like the real thing. I
take that as a huge compliment.”
Until 2006, Vickers had performed solo for audiences that included class and family reunions, parties, and other
social gatherings. But when Intercounty Electric asked him to entertain a crowd of 3,000 last year, he realized he
had to take it up a notch. “That’s when I added the TLC Show Band to my package,” Vickers says, shaking his
head in amazement. Vickers credits his popularity as a tribute artist to the “magic” of the band and singers.
“Every show gets bigger and more energetic like a giant snowball rolling downhill. I hope it doesn’t stop.”
Steve Connors, also a Salem resident and accomplished musician, is Vickers’ band leader. He confesses to
getting a knot in his stomach every time he remembers asking Steve to join his band: “You don’t just ask Steve
Connors to play second fiddle to anybody. Steve does a better Elvis vocal than I do. I drove around his house
three times before working up the nerve to stop and actually ask him to play backup for me.”
Vickers arranges and produces the shows, but 80% of the core of the songs center on Connors and his talents on
acoustic guitar. “I have the utmost respect for Steve’s talent and I’m honored to have his leadership as we go on
this ride together,” he said. “We’re just enjoying the ride, not knowing where it will take us.”
Elvis history is a significant part of Vickers’ concerts, and he is well schooled in little-know facts about the king of
rock-and-roll. With any superstar, separating facts from legend can be tricky, but Vickers admits that he’s been
able to go where few impersonators have gone: directly to a family source, namely Presley’s step-brother, Rick
Stanley. “Rick has shared so many amazing stories about his life and growing up with Elvis,” he stated.” I’m always
gripped by the ‘black box,’ and the torment that it represented for Elvis, Rick and everyone working around him.”
The infamous black box was the locked store of prescription drugs that kept the superstar functional. It was a
cocktail of these drugs that led to his untimely death at the age of 42.
Vickers can recount the day of Elvis’ death like an eyewitness. With sadness he tells of his final hours: Rick
Stanley carrying Lisa Marie away from his body, the arrival of the paramedics, and the tragic prescription drug
overdose that led to his demise. “Hours before his collapse, one of the security guards heard him sing at the
piano.
“If I could sit down with Elvis,” muses Vickers, “I’d ask him what made him the happiest.” Vickers speculates that, as
is the case for him, Elvis was happiest while performing. “I think he struggled with just trying to be Elvis, trying to
keep all the plates spinning and trying to keep everybody happy. I think he got to the place where it was very
difficult for him to separate the image from the man.”
While the private life of Elvis Presley undoubtedly had a dark side, Vickers is capitalizing on the positive aspects of
his music—the charisma, the energy and the appeal to all ages—to promote, ironically, an anti-drug/alcohol
message to youngsters. In May of 2007 he is adding yet another dimension to his use of the Elvis persona by
venturing into the public schools to deliver his message to 4th and 5th graders. He admits he’s a little nervous
about it. “Most of the time my audiences are filled with people between the ages of 35 and 65. Fourth and fifth
graders aren’t easily impressed,” he believes.
Lebanon’s Boswell Elementary School is the first stop in Vickers’ anti-drug/alcohol tour. “My primary message to
kids is to be grateful for the grownups in their life who are telling them ‘no.’ If Elvis would have had just one person
in his life to tell him ‘no,’ his life story would have been completely different.”
While Vickers is taking one day at a time in his hobby/second career as an Elvis tribute artist, one thing is certain:
He definitely is not ready to give up his day job at New Harmony Church in Salem. “I love to lead worship. Actually,
I like listening to people worship God better than leading them, but somebody has to lead them so I guess that’s
me. I love what I do…it’s who I am and what I’ve done for 20 years,” he says.
He is quick to say that official titles like “pastor” or “reverend” are not ones that he embraces, though he is a
licensed, ordained minister. “I am just a musician/singer ...who happens to love Jesus.”
Quips about his living a supposed “double life” as pastor and Elvis impersonator don’t seem to bother Vickers
much as he takes it in stride. When asked if he feels like he lives in a fishbowl, he replied, “I’ve felt that way in the
ministry, but now that I’m an Elvis entertainer, it’s even more challenging.” He calls it a “tough wrestling match”
and is careful to avoid bringing up the subject of his Elvis life at work. “I struggled over doing this because I didn’t
want people at church to deal with any negativity or criticism.”
When asked if he would be willing to officiate a wedding ceremony—Las Vegas style—in his Elvis costume, he
admitted that he has received that very request. “My ministry is precious. Though I have nothing against other
people performing that kind of ceremony, for me it would be lowering both things that I’m trying to do. I don’t want
to unite those two parts of my life.”
So, whether he’s portraying the king of rock and roll or promoting the King of Kings, Vickers is comfortable in
trying to live a transparent life. “I want to keep perspective on who I am, who I want to be. When I do Elvis, I’m
acting in a role. Sometimes it’s easier to do than at other times,” says Vickers.
A comment from one of his friends sums it up: “You present Elvis as he could have been had he not succumbed to
the different temptations.” How true.
See Vickers’ website, http://www.rvickerseta.com/index.html, for his calendar, pictures, booking information and “all
things Elvis.”
©2007 Lois Ann Marler