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Night of 100 Elvises
December 1, 2001
Lithuanian Hall - Baltimore, Maryland
Musictoday always assumed Baltimore, Maryland, was a pretty hip town, being home to the beautiful and aromatic Inner Harbor, Camden Yards, and Lake Trout, but the port town’s 8th annual Night of 100 Elvises caught even us by pleasant surprise. Any event that features a Jungle Room, an Elvis ice sculpture carved by an Olympic bronze medallist, and “reasonably priced refreshments” should, obviously, not be missed. Starting in 1994, this yearly gala has taken place on the first Saturday in December, and has benefited local and national charities. Originally conceived by Ken Delaney of the Society for the Preservation of American Roots Music, the evening-long bash has been organized and presented by C2, Inc. since 1995. Now, on to the fun stuff.
In the Main Ballroom, more than 16 bands and 10 Elvis tribute artists will perform, while the Jungle Room and the nightclub-styled Elvis Lounge will feature additional quality entertainment. Among the impersonators, bands, and tribute artists scheduled to appear are David Lee—Birmingham’s Favorite Elvis Entertainer; Schmelvis & the Jungle Katz; Big El, Frank El, and the unforgettable Norm El; not to mention the inimitable Tony Dee, Baltimore’s Black Elvis. What more could any music lover ask for? Maybe some banana and ice cream sandwiches, but that’s our own personal preference, mind you.
Tickets for the multi-tiered shindig are on sale now, and can be purchased through the event’s official Web site (www.nightof100elvises.com), where surfers can also find information on the limousine shuttle service and the Elvis Prize Roulette Wheel and Searchlight. Once at the site, you can also find out about several CDs for charity. Discs range from a three-part series of baseball songs to Christmas tunes to an actual Night Of 100 Elvises compilation, which includes contributions from several featured performers from this year’s all-night affair. Proceeds from the albums go to Hungry for Music, a non-profit organization based in Washington, D.C., that works with inner city children. Finally, in response to the controversy surrounding the King’s personal views and habits, the Web site states apologetically, “No matter whatever else he may have or may not have done, most will agree that Elvis Presley helped to change American music and was well known for his generosity. It is in this spirit of generosity and lively music that we celebrate his achievements.” Take a bow, Elvis, you’re still a hot topic of conversation. “Why, thank you, thank you very much,” we can hear him saying now, wherever he may be.
By Paul Rosner at musictoday.com
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