All Shook Up

BARTLETT’S BIG BREAK CAME IN 2001, WHEN AN agent spotted him sitting in a Las Vegas bar. Sporting black sideburns and a slick pompadour, Bartlett had an uncanny resemblance to the “King of Rock ’n’ Roll.” The agent in- vited him to a party with other agents, and in a matter of weeks Bartlett was crisscrossing the country as one of the world’s most sought-after Elvis impersonators. He’s so authentic he even had former Elvis manager Ed Bonja working as his tour manager.

For those nostalgic for the flashy Elvis of the 1970s, Bartlett may come closest to the real thing. “Elvis lives!” Country Weekly Magazine pro- claimed in a review of his performance at the 2004 Academy of Country Mu- sic Awards. Bartlett’s en- gagements have taken him overseas, where he says he receives the most enthu- siastic reactions. “Elvis is just as big in other coun- tries today as he was here in the 1970s,” Bartlett says. “I’ve had security take people off the stage. It’s crazy, just crazy.” Bartlett first enter- tained the idea of perform- ing as the King while stationed in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, during a four-year stint in the Air Force. At a Leg- ends in Concert show he befriended an Elvis impersonator who suggested he had “the look” for it. Bartlett spent months analyzing origi- nal Elvis concert footage and practicing mannerisms at karaoke sessions. Nail- ing the voice was the most difficult part. “Elvis had such a high octave range,” Bartlett says. “It’s something a lot of people don’t have naturally, and it takes a lot of practice to make it perfect.”

Until he had to perform as Elvis, Bartlett was never an avid listener of the King’s music. “I was mainly a Beatles fan,” he admits. “But once I started pay- ing attention to Elvis, it was like I dis- covered something great.” For Bartlett, sharing Elvis with a new generation has been one of the most rewarding parts of his tribute shows. “If I spark enough interest to make them want to hear the man himself, I consider my job done,” he says.

TOM’S TOP ELVIS-ISMS

The lip curl: “When he smiled, one side of his lip went up.”

Karate moves: “Elvis was a black belt in karate and often did his karate moves on stage during his performances.”

“Thank you, thank you, thank you very much!”

The shaky leg: “When Elvis performed he would have a lot of energy and be nervous, which caused his leg to shake during performances.”

The scarf toss: “Elvis often threw out scarves into the audience during his performances.”