Strap on your blue suede shoes, pop up your jacket collar and get ready to shake those hips because the King is coming to Weatherford!

That's right, Donny Edwards is coming to the Texas Opry, New Years Eve at 2:30 for a single performance of "One Night With Elvis" that promises to be one heck of a rock-n-roll good time.

Donny Edwards is a two-time world champion Elvis Tribute Artist, who has performed on hit television shows such as NBC's "Next Best Thing" and "The Young and the Restless." He has also played with some of Elvis's original band members such as D.J. Fontana, Elvis's drummer; and his back up group the Jordanaires.

"We are going to come through there and bring back the spirit of Elvis, with his persona, and the atmosphere. That's the difference between me and other tribute artists, we are very authentic and even sing in Elvis's original key. And we have a good time doing it," said Edwards.

Edwards said being Elvis has always come naturally for him and that from an early age people would mistake him for the King.

"My mom said, when I was a kid and an Elvis record would come on, I knew how to shake my leg. Ever since I was a kid, I remember watching him. I was an avid Elvis fan, it always stuck with me. When kids were jamming out to Bon Jovi, I viewed Elvis as the best. As I got older, people started to comment on my look. When I hit my teenage years I started to look more like him and people said, ‘Hey Elvis.' Its funny because I was always drawn to it."

He said that he would occasionally work on his Elvis impressions by performing Karaoke and working on different breathing techniques. Still, he never pictured himself making a career out of it. He said he was working as a manager at a Target in Houston when he was contacted by a talent scout from Las Vegas.

"I got hired to do a show in Oregon by a guy in Vegas who had seen that I won a few Elvis impersonation contests. He called me up and said ‘Hey, you are doing really good, I think you are perfect for this show.'"

Edwards immediately moved out to Oregon, where he began work as a 50s-style Elvis Tribute Artist.

Since, his career has sky rocketed.

After working in Oregon, Edwards entered a contest in Branson, Mo., and got hired to do Elvis-A-Rama from 2003 to 2006, where he took over as the main Elvis in 2005. He was then hired to be part of the "Legends in Concert" show after which he made his first television career in an English commercial in London. He was on the "Young and the Restless" in 2005, where he got to show off his singing skills. In 2006, he was hired by Elvis Enterprises to do a 50th anniversary of Elvis's show and performed with Elvis's backup group - the Jordanaires. Since that time, he worked private parties for celebrities such as Marie Osmond and Dale Earnhardt Jr.

"In my short career I have gotten to work with D.J. Fontana, Elvis's original drummer, and Jimmy Velvet, a popular sixties singer and close friend of Elvis. It's interesting to be with people that Elvis used to surround himself with," said Edwards.

Edwards said he has also traveled around the world performing sold-out shows from Australia to Japan. He has pretty wild fans everywhere he goes.

"When I went to Japan, I had a lady come to me and she was crying. I gave her a scarf and a kiss on the cheek and she dropped like a sack of potatoes. I had never had that happen. People get goose bumps and say that they feel like they are watching Elvis. That is pretty cool. I didn't see that coming."

He explained that he never lets the fame get to him and does not incorporate his Elvis character into his personal life.

"With me, when I put on makeup or put my hair up, it is only at work. Some people don't know how to turn it off. There is a time to start getting into character and there is a time for being me. I get back into the Elvis mind set by watching videos, and when I walk offstage I am back to being myself. Some people think they have to talk like him, flirt like him and it gets cheesy," he explained.

Edwards said that, like Elvis, he has one main lady in his life, his wife Donna. He said that they met in Las Vegas in an elevator after one of his performances and they were married in Graceland.

"I enjoy the compliments, but much like Elvis, I am very into my wife. Fans are respectful toward me and my wife," he said "She gets a lot of compliments and is involved in my career."

He said also like Elvis, he lives a pretty "rock and roll" lifestyle.

"I am pretty much booked until 2014. I get sleep when I can, but it is basically go-go-go. Your body does fully adapt to it. You find that you can sleep better on planes than beds sometimes. However, I always eat right and to keep from gaining weight, I exercise.”

He also explained that he still works on his character and as he grows older, he is able to perform the different eras of Elvis's life. The actual show, called "A TrueTribute To Elvis," begins with a 50s-style tribute, followed by his whole career through the 60s and then into an hour-long version of the 70s.

"I am excited to come to come back to Weatherford and perform," he said. "The crowds are enthusiastic, and are an all-around fun crowd."

He will be performing with special guests Wayne King as Roy Orbison, and the eight member band Fever. For tickets call 817-341-1000.

 

www.donnyedwardslive.com