Tehachapi News

‘The King’ is frequently spotted around the high school

August 16, 2007, marks the 30th anniversary of the death of Elvis Presley, who was found dead of a drug overdose in his beloved Graceland mansion bathroom.
Every day we hear of pop stars on a binge, out of rehab, in jail or on the lam. But nothing touched us like the death of the King of Rock n' Roll on that hot August day in 1977.

While some are convinced they just saw him at the Burger King in Kalamazoo, most of us are resigned to the fact that he died and is buried on the front lawn of his Memphis home, only to live on in music and the magic of video.
Predictably, with the 30th anniversary of his death upon us, pundits, friends and wannabes are making the circuit, talking about Elvis: life, legend and legacy.

There are probably several local residents who saw Elvis in concert-in southern California or in nearby Las Vegas during his concert heyday. If you want a touch of Elvis, stop by the Buck Owens Crystal Palace in Bakersfield and view one of the famous “Nudiemobiles” Owens reportedly won from The King in a poker game.
As the undisputable legend he was, Elvis never forgot his humble beginnings of poverty, death of a twin brother, hard life in the Mississippi Delta and great gospel music.

Once considered a cultural threat, admirers have made him a cultural icon. And right here in Tehachapi is a modest man who brings Elvis Presley alive every time he steps up to the microphone.

Mike Heckathorn, father of three and long-time Tehachapi resident by day is a custodian, coach and popular figure at the Tehachapi High School. His dynamic personality is a magnet for students, staff and the community. If it is a charity, count in Mike Heckathorn. 

Nearly a decade ago (and 20 years after the death of The King), Heckathorn formed a popular family-friendly band, Denim. The five-piece group plays oldies, standards, Beach Boys and of course, through Mike Heckathorn, a drop-dead impersonation of Elvis Aaron Presley. 

Denim is gearing up for the Mountain Festival Car Show stage on Aug. 19. There you will hear a reincarnation of Elvis showmanship in the form of Mike Heckathorn. 
Unlike many who try to impersonate Elvis with the wig, the glasses, the skin-tight and oh-so-unattractive diamond-studded white suit with a cape, Heckathorn puts the man and the music front and center with his rendition of the most requested Elvis song, “Hound Dog.” While his personal favorite is “I Want You, I Need You, I Love You” because of the little hiccup sounds Elvis makes in the recording, Heckathorn will take any and all requests.

This seemingly-unassuming man is a powerhouse onstage with his rocking and rolling and fire in the belly singing-we are talking here about Mike Heckathorn. 
Heckathorn wisely says it is an insult to The King to try to perfectly emulate Presley's style.

“No one can do that. There was only one Elvis. But you have to make that vocal style come through. No amount of costumes, hair and glasses can make up for the ability to sing it dead-on,” said Heckathorn.

Growing up in a musical household, Heckathorn actually labeled his family by their musical likes. Mom, she was definitely Elvis. Dad, Ray Orbison. Uncle, definitely hung up on Johnny Cash and his Aunt, only had eyes for Ricky Nelson.

When he was 15, his mother did what all good mothers should do. She took Mike and his brother to San Bernardino to see a living legend. There, Mike was mesmerized by the stage show Elvis put on for the adoring fans. The show was the same night that Elvis and his only wife Priscilla Presley finalized their divorce.

Heckathorn remembers his mother saying, “It was a slower paced and downer show from what he usually gives, given the news.” 

But Heckathorn was overwhelmed at the excitement, the energy, the legendary style which would stay with him for 30 more years.

Today, Heckathorn packs audiences to hear him croon the hits. He rarely dresses in “Elvis drag,” and allows the music to stand for itself. 

He agrees with author Pamela Keogh, a regular on CNN's Larry King Live, who is America's definitive source of all things Elvis.

She says, “What strikes me about Elvis is his musical intelligence….He could not sing a false note-and he could sing anything from blues, gospel, rock n' roll, opera, ‘Happy Birthday’ and even the theme from the Flintstones. When I wrote the book, Elvis Presley, I listened to him sing for about three years straight and he absolutely never hit a false note. In terms of singing, you could say that Elvis was to singing what Picasso was to painting.”

Heckathorn concurs, “Elvis sang from his very soul. He felt what he sang and sang what he felt. He once said God put him here on earth to do his music. He had a magnetism. Elvis had the ‘it’ factor. I would never insult the public by thinking I had the Elvis ‘it’ factor.”

But according to the Techachapi community, they beg to differ. If anyone has the “it” factor-in music and in life-it's Mike Heckathorn.
So on the anniversary, put on your blue suede shoes and hum an Elvis song. Skip the costume, the glasses and the pompadour hair. And to all you see, simply smile and say, “Thank you, very much.”

Elvis impersonator etiquette

If you want to be a good impersonator, you must avoid becoming a carbon copy of Elvis. The goal is to recreate Elvis closely enough for people to lose themselves in the illusion, but not so much that it advertises a lack of imagination and skill.
Do not dress like Elvis in your personal life. (Pompadours don't count. Pompadours show you are serious about your job and unconfused about identity.)

Practice historical accuracy. Do not wear the two-piece black leather suit Elvis wore in his “Comeback Special” in 1968, then sing power ballads like “Hurt” and “American Trilogy” that he performed in the concert era he launched a year later.
Refrain from wearing poor quality clothes. Impersonators who have found a tailor or seamstress who does good work at a fair price won't divulge the name for the world, for fear of losing a competitive edge.

You should not wear sunglasses the entire time you perform. For one thing, Elvis never did. And impersonators who do this are seen as having something to hide. Like, for instance, the fact that they look nothing like Elvis.
You may tell jokes, but never, under any circumstances, should you say anything to belittle the memory of the King of Rock and Roll. Drug jokes are frowned upon, though an occasional remark about jelly doughnuts will work, depending on the crowd.

Never strut offstage in character. In other words, you are Elvis onstage and yourself the minute you step off.

The less serious you are about your own appeal, the better.

Unless you are making a joke, never introduce a song by saying, “I did this number in 1973.” Because you did not. Because you are not Elvis. If you cannot remember this, you are part of the problem.

Most important, maintain a sense of humor about what you do, even as you try to take it seriously.

— from Impersonating Elvis, by Leslie Rubinkowski

Ten things everyone ought to know about Elvis Presley

1. Elvis' biggest grossing hit single was “Heartbreak Hotel” (which ironically is a blues ballad not a rock ‘n’ roll number).

2. According to Jewish law, Elvis Presley is Jewish (because Elvis' Jewish heritage
run down from his mother's family).

3. Elvis was conscripted into the U.S. Army despite the fact he was an only son (unusual because the U.S.A. has a policy not to conscript only sons).

4. Elvis is the most famous Memphian of all time (Elvis put Memphis and Graceland on the map around the world).

5. Elvis wore the America flag on his back (despite the fact that it was not fashionable to wear the flag as a fashion statement).

6. Elvis has spurned 10, 000 Elvis impersonators (Ten Things Everyone Ought to Know about Elvis Presley on the map around the world)

7. Elvis' "Blue Suede"  shoe size was 11 1/2 (Elvis wore lifts in his shoes to make him look taller than his 5 foot 11 inches).

8. Elvis only won three Grammy® Awards — all for his Gospel Music (despite the fact he was the world's first Rock ‘n’ Roll icon).

9. Elvis has a lipstick name after one of his song titles (Tutti Frutti).

10. Elvis only produced one heir, a daughter named Lisa Marie Presley (Had she been a boy — he would been named John Baron Presley).