by Jeanni Ritchie
I remember when Elvis came to the Rapides Parish Coliseum in 1977. It was my first time to see him. None of us knew then it would be the last.
On May 31, Elvis came back to Cenla! The Legend Lives On: The World Renowned Elvis Tribute with Moses Snow and Kraig Parker performed some of Elvis’ most beloved hits (and signature moves!) at the beautifully renovated Laborde Earles Event Center at the Rapides Parish Coliseum.
Both Parker and Snow have been touring with Stone for over five years and have made one dynamic trio.
Moses Snow, playing 50’s Elvis, delighted audiences with songs like “That’s All Right,” “Don’t Be Cruel,” and “Blue Suede Shoes.”
Oh, be still my heart! He had all the charisma of a young Elvis and managed to make women from every generation from Alpha to Boomer fall in love.
Snow had us all screaming and singing along during “All Shook Up” and drove the crowd wild when he called only the bravest, craziest women up to the stage to receive stuffed teddy bears as he sang “Teddy Bear.” Half the room jumped from their seats.
On tour with producer and manager Stone for five years, Snow has been performing Elvis professionally for seven. After being discovered singing karaoke at a cafe in Roanoke, Texas he quickly rose up The Hillbilly Cat’s ranks and has performed as Elvis all over the world.
“It’s a dream come true,” Snow shared and listed Germany, UK, Canada, Australia, and South America as countries he’s been able to visit while bringing the world another taste of the King. He’ll be heading to Denmark later this summer.
The Texas native had the humble demeanor of a soft-spoken Southern boy during our phone interview a couple of weeks before the show but I think I might’ve been catfished! The man who performed before me live managed to sing, dance, shake, and field suggestive offers from the female audience like a seasoned pro. I couldn’t help but wonder what his mama would’ve thought if she’d have been there!
His encore performance of “Jailhouse Rock” was accompanied by Carson Masters, a local mini Elvis, breaking down moves in the pit. Maybe they should add a segment…Elvis: The Elementary Years?!
Before intermission, we had a special segment with tour producer Charles Stone, who’d also served as Col. Parker’s assistant and Elvis’ tour manager. He shared tales of his friendship with Elvis. He was joined onstage by Sam Thompson, big brother of Elvis’ girlfriend, who eventually became one of his bodyguards. He told some funny stories of Elvis adventures just south of the law! Also onstage was songwriter Chris Christian who wrote “Love Song of the Year” his junior year of high school before it was cut by Elvis a few years later. Christian played the song as originally written on his keyboard followed by Elvis’ version, telling us that of all the artists he’s written songs for, Elvis was the only one who asked what he thought of his rendition.
It was an incredible segment, those little moments of life with a legend whose life had ended too soon shared with the audience who’d also loved him.
After intermission Kraig Parker took over as Vegas Elvis. (Don’t say “Old Elvis” to him! He will quickly correct you. “Elvis really didn’t get a chance to grow old. We say “Vegas” years instead,” he’d told me.)
Parker has been performing in Elvis tribute shows for the last 25 years, the last five with Stone and Snow in The Legend Lives On.
Parker, also a Texas native, says it’s the reception from the fans that makes performing more than a job. “The fans react with the same fervor they did with Elvis and that energy is palpable.”
He set the stage on fire with hits like “Burning Love,” “Polk Salad Annie,” “Suspicious Minds,” and “In the Ghetto,” which I just heard for the first time in the last couple of years!
Parker handed out red scarves during the latter, just as Snow had handed out teddy bears during his set. I think they forgot this was the home state of Throw Me Something, Mister! Women rushed the stage, clamoring for the souvenirs.
And then there was the song my dad used to sing to my sister when she started high school the year after I graduated.
“Little sister, don’t you do what your big sister done!”
The faith-filled Parker is also an ordained minister who has performed dozens of wedding ceremonies. I’d asked because I’d recently seen my friend Molly’s Elvis wedding in Vegas. They did the ceremony mixed in with songs and lots of comedy…it’s a whole vibe. It was a lot of fun to watch and according to Parker, it’s equally fun for the Elvis ministers!
But tonight there was no wedding, despite the many proposals both Parker and Snow fielded from the stage!
Parker closed out the set proclaiming patriotism with the flag waving in the background and the audience on their feet singing along to the “Battle Hymn of the Republic.”
We got the best of both Elvises in the show finale, as both sang “I Can’t Help Falling In Love With You” before the lights came on. But it wasn’t long before they were dimmed again as both performers returned for an encore: Viva Las Vegas!
What a fabulous show! Viva Alexandria!
Jeanni Ritchie is a contributing journalist from Central Louisiana who is excitedly planning a trip to Memphis later this month. She can be reached at jeanniritchie54@gmail.com.
