All Photos: Alan Mercer
Photos taken at the Texas Opry Theater in Weatherford, TX
Donny Edwards’ admiration and appreciation of Elvis Presley began at an early age. His mama recalls how he tried to dance to Elvis’ records even before he could walk. By the age of five, Donny was so passionate about Elvis that he pushed his grandmother’s hand away from the radio dial as she attempted to change the station while “Hound Dog” was playing. Little did he know that his devotion would lead him to a beloved career, paying tribute to one of the greatest musical artists in history.
Donny Edwards is an international, multi-award winning professional Elvis tribute artist. Today, he is one of the most sought after performers in the business, bringing his show to stages in casinos, theaters/venues, fairs/festivals, corporate/special events, cruises and production shows, world-wide. He is a versatile performer with the ability to re-enact each era of Elvis’ life and career. His dynamic performance will take you back to the 1950’s and the early years of rock n’ roll, getting you “all shook up”, all over again. Then you’ll go on a ride through the 1960’s, from Elvis’ biggest hit movies to the famous black leather “68 Comeback Special”. Finally you’ll revisit the legendary Las Vegas years of the 1970’s as Donny recreates the performances that made Elvis the one and only “King of Rock n’ Roll”.
Throughout his career, Donny has had the opportunity to work beside many of the original musicians that performed with Elvis Presley himself. He’s worked with the Jordanaires, The Sweet Inspirations, DJ Fontana, Charlie Hodge and Bob Moore, to name several. Donny has also had the pleasure of working with Elvis’ inner circle such as Sonny West, Al Dvorin, Charles Stone and Ed Bonja. Elvis Presley Enterprises and CKX have hired Donny for tribute shows, TV spots and corporate events, many times over the years. Donny has also performed private parties for and worked with celebrities such as Dale Earnhardt Jr. and the NASCAR family, Marie Osmond, Bill Medley of the Righteous Bros. and Elvis’ friends and co-stars, Jimmy Velvet (Elvis’ friend and recording artist), Darlene Thompkins (Elvis’ co-star in “Blue Hawaii”) and Cynthia Pepper (Elvis’ co-star in “Kissin’ Cousins).
Not only is Donny known for his riveting live performances, but he has also appeared in numerous TV shows and ads, including ABC’s “Monday Night Football”, MTV’s “Viva La Bam”, CBS’s “The Young and The Restless”, ABC’s, “The Next Best Thing” and many Elvis character TV ads in the UK, Europe and Australia including “Kingsmill Bread” and “Toshiba”. He regularly sells out shows, performing with an 8-9 piece band, all across the US and in countries such as Canada, Japan and Australia and to audiences as large as 25,000.
Not only is Donny known for his riveting live performances, but he has also appeared in numerous TV shows and ads, including ABC’s “Monday Night Football”, MTV’s “Viva La Bam”, CBS’s “The Young and The Restless”, ABC’s, “The Next Best Thing” and many Elvis character TV ads in the UK, Europe and Australia including “Kingsmill Bread” and “Toshiba”. He regularly sells out shows, performing with an 8-9 piece band, all across the US and in countries such as Canada, Japan and Australia and to audiences as large as 25,000.
Among his professional accomplishments, Donny was the star performer at Las Vegas’ famous “Elvis-Arama” museum and showroom for 3 years before it closed its doors in 2006. He has appeared on the cover of two published books about Elvis tribute artists and is also a 2 time world champion of two of the biggest Elvis contests ever, at Isle of Capri and Potawatomi in 2006 and 2007.
Recently, Donny was asked to appear on the David Letterman show, but due to other commitments during the time, he was unable to accept. During Elvis Week 2013, in Memphis, Tennessee, Donny was given the honor of being the one and only Elvis tribute artist to have been granted permission by Elvis Presley Enterprises, since 1977, to perform his show on the estate grounds of Graceland while at the same time, being commissioned an Honorary Tennessean by the Governor of Tennessee. He is also proudly on Elvis Presley Enterprises, “preferred” tribute artist list and is held in their highest esteem. Donny just recently became an official Las Vegas casino headliner act as well, selling out all 3 of his debut shows ~ a major accomplishment!
Recently, Donny was asked to appear on the David Letterman show, but due to other commitments during the time, he was unable to accept. During Elvis Week 2013, in Memphis, Tennessee, Donny was given the honor of being the one and only Elvis tribute artist to have been granted permission by Elvis Presley Enterprises, since 1977, to perform his show on the estate grounds of Graceland while at the same time, being commissioned an Honorary Tennessean by the Governor of Tennessee. He is also proudly on Elvis Presley Enterprises, “preferred” tribute artist list and is held in their highest esteem. Donny just recently became an official Las Vegas casino headliner act as well, selling out all 3 of his debut shows ~ a major accomplishment!
Donny Edwards maintains a performance of remarkable authenticity. His humility, charm and southern manner, coupled with his uncanny sound and appearance, will make you feel as if you are watching “The King”, himself.
Alan Mercer: Donny, I researched you and discovered you didn’t have a burning desire to be an Elvis Tribute Artist so how did you end up being such a good one?
Donny Edwards: I think the reason I have been so successful is because I have always been such a huge Elvis fan but, honestly, growing up I never liked Elvis guys. They always seemed kind of cheesy. Of course, that was just my view of it.
AM: So, what happened to change your opinion and become an Elvis guy?
DE: In 1996 I went to Elvis week and I met some guys who did a nice honorable, respectable job of doing it for Elvis.
AM: Aren’t some of them just needing attention?
DE: Yes, they love the attention they get from dressing up so at the same time I saw that aspect of it. That’s when I thought about doing it because I look the way I look and I know so much about him. I also happen to have a sound that is similar to him. I thought what can I do to stay true to him.
AM: You took it seriously.
DE: That was always my ambition, to stay true and authentic to him and not use it to launch into another career.
AM: What do you want to say as an Elvis Tribute Artist?
DE: I feel like there’s a stereotype of him and I want to set things straight based on what I’ve learned through books, documentaries and over the past fifteen years getting to know some of his closest people whether it be friends or musicians. I want to relate those stories.
AM: What sets you apart from another Elvis Tribute Artist?
DE: Since I was a kid I have loved Elvis like a family member. It feels like he is a lost uncle in some ways. I lost and uncle at about the same time that Elvis died and I always heard about my uncle from my family. I never got to meet him and that’s how it felt like with Elvis too. My brother has been a big Elvis fan all his life. My aunts loved Elvis so it’s always been something that was in my family.
AM: You must have a wide-ranging audience.
DE: That’s what’s so great about my shows is you can see great grandmothers with grandchildren and they all love Elvis. I also happen to have a few attributes like this look and the same blood type. Once one of Elvis’s friends asked me if I knew who my father was and I said yes, I am too much like my father! (Laughter)
AM: Do you feel like you are an ambassador to his legacy?
DE: Yes, I do. Years ago, someone said that ETA’s were like walking billboards so to me it’s down to what kind of billboard do you want to be. Do you want to be an Elvis guy, which is what people first see or do you want to be someone of substance?
AM: Obviously you chose substance.
DE: I want to be someone who is telling the story of Elvis and relating the facts. I like to talk about what he accomplished in my show and add some of the inside stories. Elvis was phenomenal for any generation. Some people think he ruined his career toward the end with his drug addictions but he was in lots of pain.
AM: We were more innocent back then and didn’t know as much about painkillers.
DE: Sadly, we learned a lot more about these things after Elvis had already died.
AM: Are you going to stay an Elvis Tribute Artist for a long time yet?
DE: As long as I possibly can. I’m now the age that he was when he died but I keep myself fit and in good health. No one in my family looks as old as they are. I’ve also learned to be healthier from watching Elvis. I know he indulged too much as far as his diet goes.
AM: You don’t allow yourself to overeat?
DE: I try to eat as healthy as I can. My wife is a vegetarian so we do try to do the best we can. I can feel the difference when I cut out a lot of red meat. As you get older you must be extra disciplined.
AM: Do you stay in Elvis mode all the time?
DE: I have met some of the older guys that have been doing this a lot longer than me and they are always in the Elvis mode with the hair just right and the sunglasses. If I’m not performing I am just me in my superman knit cap and sunglasses and other than a bit of my sideburns sticking out, people don’t really know what I do.
AM: Do you have younger guys who want to be ETA’s ask you questions?
DE: Oh yes, I’ve had many young guys talk to me. I tell them first off, you must love Elvis. If you are just doing it for attention, it’s not going to last. The fans will see right through it. Some guys make it because they have good voices or they look good but eventually, if they don’t really love what they are doing and love Elvis it will fade out.
