Hello friends and family!!

As many of you know, I'm working on a novel in which three of the four main characters are Elvis impersonators. What many of you may not know is that my efforts to research Elvis for the book have taken me from Memphis to Vegas and behind the scenes at a number of tribute shows.

And what even fewer of you may know is that I've signed on to do Boston-based publicity for Matt Lewis, the Elvis tribute artist who performs as the Elvis in the Legends in Concert show in Las Vegas (he performed at Canobie Lake Park, I asked if I could shadow him, he said yes, I did a press release for him as a thank-you, and he tapped me to write a few more releases for his September 23 show at the Chevalier Theatre in Medford).

THE SKINNY
The Chevalier Theater
30 Forest Street
Medford, MA
September 23, 8 p.m. (doors open at 7:00 p.m.)
$25 in advance; $30 at the door
Information about Matt: www.thekingonline.com
Tickets: www.ticketforce.com and 877-840-0457
Vocal clip (it's really Matt!):
http://www.thekingonline.com/html/mp3/love_tender.html


THE PITCH
Matt's show is the best Elvis show I've seen (and if you were paying attention in paragraph one, you may have guessed I've seen many times my share of Elvis shows). Even if Elvis isn't on your iPod play list (or on your iPod at all for that matter), this show is an event you shouldn't miss.  Really.

So for the Elvis lovers, what are you waiting for? Tickets are available from www.thekingonline. As for the rest of you, forget what you think "Honeymoon in Vegas" has taught you about Elvis impersonators and believe me when I tell you the show is the highest quality and when you compare notes with your colleagues at the water cooler on Monday morning, nothing trumps an Elvis tribute show. I guarantee you'll have fun!! Invite a crowd and whoop it up!

THE PLEA
First, please come!! Second, please help me spread the word. Forward this e-mail to everyone in your address book. Don't limit yourself to known Elvis fans--you'd be surprised how many undeclared fans the king has out there.
Don't rob them of their hip-shaking right to be all shook up--spread the news like a giant white cape on a satellite feed from Hawaii... :)


THE PRESS RELEASE
What follows is just the word document. For the release in its full-color glory, see the attachment...

The Canobie King Returns!
Matt Lewis to Shake, Rattle, and Roll at the Chevalier Theatre September 23, 8p.m.

Medford, MA—Fans who were all shook up that Matt Lewis didn’t return to Canobie Lake Park for the 2006 summer season have reason to celebrate. Matt Lewis will rock the Chevalier Theatre in Medford with his tribute, “Long Live the King,” on September 23.

“Long Live the King” is an epic, multimedia tribute spanning Elvis’ entire career from the energetic fifties through the emotionally raw 1960s to the bombastic seventies. Lewis’ show also includes sections devoted to Elvis’ movie hits and gospel tunes. Costumes will match the era, and dance numbers
choreographed by Lewis’ wife, Janell Lewis, will bring the spirit of  Elvis’ hip-shaking energy to life on the Medford stage.

Lewis has spent more than twenty years perfecting his Elvis tribute. 
Lewis’ singing—all live—sounds strikingly like Elvis’s voice, and his dancing and stage presence allow his audiences a taste of a live Elvis concert—visit www.thekingonline.com/html/mp3/love_tender.html for a sample of Lewis crooning as Elvis.

As Elvis, Lewis  has toured the world and performed with the Jordanaires (Elvis’ back up band). Currently, Lewis headlines as the Elvis in the Legends in Concert show at the Imperial Palace in Las Vegas. Last year, USA Today featured Lewis, crowning him the “Best Elvis in Las Vegas.”

Lewis’ talent has inspired a devoted fan following. Audiences at Canobie Lake Park routinely paid full-price park admission—sometimes several times a week—just to see Lewis’ show. Diane Pereira and her daughter, Bonnie Jean, made the trip from Malden, MA to Salem, NH at least thirty times in three
years.

“From the second Matt Lewis hits the stage you’re hooked,” Pereira says. “He has a fantastic voice and he interacts with the audience in a way that makes you feel special.”

Lewis is thrilled to return to his New England fans. “Our fans have been so good to us we owe it to them to appear in the area,” Lewis says. “I’m excited about expanding the show to include so many of the songs people always asked to hear, like ‘In the Ghetto’ and ’If I Can Dream.’ I hope this is the start of an annual tradition. This is really my way of saying the king has left the park but not New England.”

Visit www.thekingonline.com  for more information. Press questions should be directed to publicist Cathy Elcik at 857-928-5665 or via e-mail at celcik@comcast.net.

Show Information:
The Chevalier Theater
30 Forest Street
Medford, MA
September 23, 8 p.m. (doors open at 7:00 p.m.)
$25 in advance; $30 at the door
www.thekingonline.com
www.ticketforce.com
877-840-0457