Difference between revisions of "Kerry Summers"

Revision as of 02:13, 3 March 2010

Kerry Summers is an Elvis tribute artist who hails from Utah, U.S.A. He is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Even small children recognize Summers as Elvis, which surprises him because the real Elvis died before most of them were born.

"He's being kept alive through the media," Summers said. "Elvis is making more money now than when he was alive."

Summers has been performing for over 27 years. He works full-time paying tribute to the King on cruise ships, in shows in 40 countries around the world and on USO tours. He has CDs of Elvis songs and he's included as the joker in the deck of playing cards featuring Elvis impersonators. Summers is also an accomplished trumpet player, pianist, singer and graduate of dramatic arts - but a noted magician and ventriloquist too. He graduated from Brigham Young University in 1976 with a degree in Art and Design.

He has been seen on more than one hundred television stations in the United States, Europe, Canada and Australia. He has been a consultant to actors and movie stars and his work has been seen on many television shows as well as motion pictures.

Kerry is a member of the Society of American Magicians, a member of the National Association of Ventriloquists and a member of the Elvis Presley International Impersonators Association. [1]

Summers became an Elvis illusionist because of his LDS mission. He participated in a pilot family home evening program initiated by Elder Mark E. Peterson where the missionaries put on a kind of variety show for potential converts. Summers did a very successful magic act, followed by a ventriloquist act with a puppet he taught to sing like Elvis.

He dyed his brown hair and sideburns black and his wife made him a white jumpsuit decked out with rhinestones in the pattern worn by Elvis.

"Instantly my family thought I'd gone weird," Summers said. "Dogs barked, kids cried, but I haven't looked back."

Elvis' rhythm guitarist, John Wilkinson, wrote on Summer's CD: "In my opinion, Kerry Summers is the finest Elvis illusionist around, and his voice is as close to Elvis' voice as you can get."

Summers works hard at imitating the voice. He vocalizes every day without fail. He lives the part. He pays attention to the details. He includes a patriotic song and at least one religious song in every concert because that's what Elvis did. And he uses his opportunities to spread the LDS gospel.

"People come up to me and ask 'Where are you from?' Once I say 'Utah,' the next question is 'Are you Mormon?' That usually leads to a discussion about the church," Summers said. "I've been able to give away a lot of copies of the Book of Mormon."

Summers -- who teaches the high priests in the Orem Park 5th Ward -- believes Elvis read the Book of Mormon and was very interested in the church, especially for his daughter.