Welcome To His
World: Penobscot Nation firefighter keeps Elvis’ flame alive
August 10, 2006
Elvis may have “left the building” permanently
twenty-nine years on a hot August in Graceland, but his spirit is still
alive and kicking. Despite the enormous changes that have taken place in
the music industry since August 16, 1977, ask any serious Elvis Presley
fan what “The King” means to them and you’re likely to get an earful
about the man’s stratospheric talent, his remarkable showmanship, and
his indelible influence on rock and roll. It’s no different with
Penobscot Nation Fire Lieutenant Joey Loring of Indian Island, save for
the fact that, in Loring’s case, a passion for Elvis’ music has become
part of his own legacy to the local world.
Loring is an Elvis tribute artist, a seasoned performer
whose act celebrates Presley’s music and songs. But unlike the
stereotypical Elvis impersonator, who works hard at recreating the
smallest details of Presley’s outward form, Loring’s act is focused
almost entirely on the music itself. Except for the one-piece
Elvis-style jumpsuits he wears on stage, Loring doesn’t embellish his
appearance in any way. No sideburns or surgically enhanced lip curl for
this performer. For Loring, it’s all about singing the songs that he
loves.
“My mother told me that I used to dance around to Elvis
songs when I was three or four years old,” Loring recalls. “The music
would come on and I’d just start bouncing around. My family was really
into country music and rock and roll. My brother was a Beatles fan and
influenced me with that music, too. But my mother loved Elvis.”
Loring’s early infatuation with The King didn’t dissipate
as he got older. Even as an adolescent, he felt drawn to Presley’s
music, despite the fact that many of his contemporaries were more
interested in the heavy metal “hair” bands of the late seventies and
early eighties.
“I was never into the hair bands and all of that,” Loring
says. “Even now, friends will ask me why I do this. I don’t know. I just
love Elvis’ music. And I love the way that people respond when I perform
the music for them.”
Loring has a long history of performing at area
retirement homes and other family-friendly venues. In fact, he insists,
the best thing about being an Elvis tribute artist is seeing the way
that the older members of his audience react to the memories that his
performances always sparks.
“Before I go on stage, I get butterflies, just like
anybody else would,” Loring says. “I’m always nervous when I first go
out there. But after one or two songs, something just takes over and
it’s the greatest feeling in the world. The audience starts getting into
it and they start calling out songs. I can see on their faces that I’m
bringing back a special time for them. Older people deserve to be
entertained in a way that means something to them.”
Loring’s singing voice, a smooth baritone, sounds very
similar to Presley’s rich croon, especially when he’s singing ballads.
But even though he’s spent years honing his sound, he says that, to his
own ears, he merely sounds like “himself” when he sings. His wardrobe is
an entirely different matter. Loring’s extensive jumpsuit collection is
a study in Presley-esque glamour, ranging from dark blue beaded suits to
the proverbial white sequined number. He has an impressive collection of
belts, too, all of which sport an appropriate amount of shiny beads and
metal trim. And when it comes to colorful scarves, like the ones that
Presley used to wipe his face on stage before throwing them to swooning
female fans, Loring has the situation covered. Thanks to the sewing
talents of his mother-in-law, Carmela Leriche, he has plenty of scarves
to pass out to his own fans. He also keeps a supply of leis and teddy
bears on hand for the same purpose.
“I don’t do this for the money,” Loring laughs. “I spend
money, buying the scarves and the teddy bears that I hand out to the
audience. But it’s a small price to pay for the joy I get in doing this
for people. It’s worth it.”
Still, aside from all of the glitter and glitz that is a
part of any Elvis tribute performance, Loring remains emphatic about his
hero’s real place in the music world.
“Elvis will never die,” he says. “He’s a part of American
history. He means too much to people.”
Loring adds that he’s not worried about up and coming
generations forgetting about Presley’s musical legacy. His toddler-age
granddaughter, Ciara, who lives with him and his wife, Tammy, attends
nearly all of his performances and shows every sign of growing into a
full-fledged Elvis fan herself. She even has her own one-piece jumpsuit
and microphone.
Loring cites as another example of Presley’s enduring
appeal for today’s young music fans a teen-ager he met while giving a
performance in Bangor. After talking with the boy post-performance,
Loring was so touched by his interest and his own personal story that he
went to visit him, bringing along some rare Elvis records and other
memorabilia that he had collected over the years.
“The thing about those of us who do this kind of thing,”
Loring says, “is that we’re not a competitive group. We do it for the
love of the music and for the happiness it brings to people. There are
Elvis clubs out there, but I haven’t gone that far. I’m happy just
performing as much as I can. In fact, I’d like to perform even more. I
prefer playing family-oriented venues, but I’m open to discussing
performing anywhere.”
And with all of that unbridled love for The King and his
music, does Loring have a favorite Elvis song? He says he does.
“I guess it would be ‘Welcome To My World’,” he says. “I
sing it in every show. I think it captures what Elvis was all about.”
Loring will be welcoming Old Town’s Elvis fans to his
world yet again on August 12 at the Class of ’56 Reunion at the Knights
of Columbus Hall and on August 15 at a special 6:30 performance in
Riverfront Park. On the following day, August 16, Loring will be help
mark the anniversary date of Presley’s passing by appearing as a guest
on Channel 5’s six o’clock news.
|
