So how does a guy with a business restoring art and painting church ceilings become one of the most electrifying entertainers in Las Vegas and the most sought after and accomplished Elvis stylist perhaps in the country? Equally fascinating is the question of how a guy steeped in the musical style of Led Zeppelin, who actually fronted one of the most successful East Coast heavy metal bands, has gone on to write music which captures all of the melodic integrity of the Americana movement while injecting a traditionalist country sound with rockabilly pizazz? Anyone who has ever seen Steve scribble a sketch or bought a print of one of his interpretive celebrity portraits can easily see him painting the basilicas of east coast churches. But if you were one of the lucky ones to catch Steve's signature Elvis Entertainment show in Bally's Jubilee theater in 1999 ("Love Him Tender: The Spirit of the King") or if you just recently saw him transform the Blue Note Cabaret into a celebration of Elvis Presley's style and music (in the naughty musical comedy "Tease") you could still be asking how a guy from back East decides to impersonate the greatest performer of our time.
Steve might say something like this. Elvis Presley was a performer whose music can still top the charts today in country, pop, and in Europe. A man with more #1 hits than the Beatles in England.If my mission is to entertain audiences as completely as possible, why not recreate a complete experience of Elvis Presley's performance so that audiences experience not just the music of Elvis Presley but grasp the real "Spirit of the King" as if he were performing today RIGHT HERE RIGHT NOW! To accomplish this goal Steve decided to distinguish himself from all of the Elvis impersonators and stylist. Yes, Steve did master all of the physical nuances, moves, and conversational tones of the man from Memphis. Next, he studied the entire body of Elvis's music, the novelty of some of his arrangements, and even his sense of humor and abilities as a band leader in live performances. Finally, Steve took his considerable skills as a composer, bass, and guitar player, and vocal stylist and set about to fully perform rather than slavishly mimic or depict Elvis's signature performances. Without ignoring music from any of Elvis's periods, Steve decided to PERFORM with all of the athleticism and sexual confrontation of Elvis at his most vital (think ' 68 comeback special - black leather). The response to this style of Elvis Entertainment in Las Vegas has been exceptional.
Over 3000 performances at the MGM, Riviera, Caesar's and Belagio. Finally, Steve remains the only entertainer depicting Elvis to occupy a major room (the Jubilee Theater) at a major Strip Casino (Bally's 1999 show "Love Him Tender"). The Bally's show met with rave reviews from local papers and the L.A. Times. These reviewers praised Steve ingenuity for including sections where Steve imagines Elvis performing today's music. Steve just completed a long run with the musical comedy "Tease" performing at the Aladdin. Long time Las Vegas entertainment writer Joe Delaney noted not only how Steve was capable of fully entertaining the audience as a humorist but also again recognized him as "perhaps the best of the Elvis depictors". Fans of Steve's version of Elvis Entertainment include well known musicians: Steven Tyler of Aerosmith, Kenny Logins, Mic Fleetwood, and Paul Revere. All have publicly recognized Steve as the best in Elvis Entertainment. Finally, in 1999 Steve won a prestigious contest in Las Vegas recognizing him as the Best Elvis in Vegas.
Today Steve performs for corporate events nationally and internationally re-creating his signature show : "Spirit of the King" He still finds time to write original music and spend time with his wife and two children. Unfortunately, Elvis Presley is no longer available, but thankfully Steve Connolly is still " alive and kicking". Catch him live or at www.spiritoftheking.com. |
