World Champion Elvis Tribute Artist Comes To Akron For Symphony Benefit
Shawn Klush and Imperials headline Elvis tribute concert May 17 at Civic Theatre

Akron, OH—The Akron Symphony will present Fanfare 2008: The Ultimate Elvis Experience on Saturday, May 17, 2008. The event will begin with a dinner and live auction at the Radisson Hotel Akron City Centre and culminate in a one night only concert celebrating the music of Elvis Presley at the Akron Civic Theatre.

Dinner will be served at 5:30 p.m. and feature an Elvis-themed menu of fine southern cuisine. During dinner, attendees will have the opportunity to bid on a variety of exciting live auction items including several trips to see other symphony orchestras in cities around the United States. Those attending dinner will enjoy complimentary transportation to the Akron Civic Theatre for the concert.

The concert begins at 8 p.m. and will star award-winning Elvis tribute artist, Shawn Klush— winner of the BBC’s “World’s Greatest Elvis” competition and recently crowned by Elvis Presley Enterprises as the “Closest to the King.” Performing with Klush will be Elvis’ longtime backup singers, the legendary Imperials Quartet. A special post-concert dessert reception, compliments of West Side Bakery, will follow the performance.

A trip for two to Las Vegas will be raffled and the winner announced after the concert’s intermission. The trip will include round-trip airfare, four days/three nights at the MGM Grand Signature Suites, two tickets to Cirque Du Soleil’s KA, two tickets to the Las Vegas Philharmonic, and a Grand Canyon Classic West Rim Tour. Raffle tickets may be purchased for $25 each or 5 for $100 by calling the Akron Symphony office at (330) 535-8131. Raffle tickets are also being sold at most Akron Symphony events between now and May 17th, and will continue being sold the evening of Fanfare. Winners do not need to be present at the drawing.

A variety of Fanfare ticket packages are available from $25 for single concert tickets to a $500 “Diamond Record Patron” package which includes the dinner and auction, prime concert seating, roundtrip V.I.P. transportation from the Radisson hotel to the Civic Theatre, and a private meet and greet with Shawn Klush and The Imperials.

Tickets are on sale now and available by calling the Akron Symphony ticket office at (330) 535-8131. Single concert tickets are also available from the Akron Symphony and the Akron Civic Theatre box office.

Fanfare is the Akron Symphony’s largest fundraiser held annually to benefit the Akron Symphony Orchestra, Youth Symphony, and Chorus. The Elvis Headliner Sponsor is The Brennan Family Foundation, the V.I.P. Reception Sponsor is Physicians Urology, the Raffle Trip Sponsor is Brouse McDowell, the Airline Sponsor is AirTran Airways, the Transportation Sponsor is Veyance Technologies. Media Partners for Fanfare 2008 are WAKR 1590, Akron Life and Leisure Magazine and the Akron Beacon Journal. Special thanks to Malone Advertising and Consolidated Graphics Group, Inc. for their support.

Shawn Klush – “Closest to the King”
In just a short time Shawn Klush has emerged as the nation’s top Elvis tribute artist. Born and raised in the small coal-mining town of Pittston, Pennsylvania, Shawn’s love for music led him to begin imitating his musical idol, Elvis Presley. He performed in the famous Poconos region followed by a tour of Canada where he entered and won the $5,000.00 prize in the “Worldwide Elvis Competition” in Montreal. This caught the attention of the award-winning Las Vegas show, “Legends in Concert” where in 2004 he starred as ‘Elvis’ in their Branson, MO. production. He also alternated in their Las Vegas and Atlantic City show rooms. Each January he stars in the “Elvis Birthday Tribute Tour”, an Elvis extravaganza with Elvis’ own musicians, singers, and closest friends, in major venues in multiple cities.

Shawn has recorded two CDs and performed with Elvis’ closest friends, musicians, and singers such as JD Sumner and the Stamps Quartet, The Jordanaires, DJ Fontana, Charlie Hodge, Myrna Smith, The Sweet Inspirations and Joe Esposito. He recently portrayed Elvis in the hit TV miniseries “Shake, Rattle and Roll” which aired on CBS and VH1. On Jan 6th 2005, just 2 days before Elvis’ 70th Birthday, Shawn became grand champion at the $25,000.00 “World Elvis Tribute Artist Competition”. This year he received “The Peoples Choice Award” from Gibson Guitar in Nashville as “Best Concert Elvis”. Shawn was recently named the international champion of BBC1’s World’s Greatest Elvis competition in the United Kingdom. In August, Shawn was chosen by Graceland as the winner of Elvis Presley Enterprises’ first ever Ultimate Tribute Artist Contest in Memphis, TN.

The legendary Imperials Quartet
On July 31, 1969, Elvis Presley walked out on the stage of the Las Vegas Hilton International Hotel for the first time in nine years and sang before an audience of celebrities and fans from all over the world. Accompanying him on that momentous evening was a 40 piece orchestra, conducted by Joe Guercio, the TCB Band, the Sweet Inspirations, and the Imperials.

For the next three years, the Imperials backed Elvis in Las Vegas and on road tours. They also recorded such hits as “Suspicious Minds” and “In the Ghetto” with the king of rock and roll. They can be seen in his hit movie “That’s The Way It Is”. Their history with Elvis is well documented and available to all interested Elvis fans. Many fans of years gone by and a new generation of Elvis fans who never saw him are fascinated by this extraordinary man who made history.

These former members of the Imperials who were there in 1969 and throughout succeeding years, now have re-formed and are busy doing concerts and appearances all over the world for Elvis fans who want to “meet someone who knew Elvis”.

Terry Blackwood, lead singer and son of one of the original Blackwood Brothers Qt., and Joe Moscheo, bass singer and manager of that original group, have gotten back together. They have many stories to tell and welcome the chance to sing to Elvis fans. They are joined by Sherman Andrus, who came to the Imperials in 1972, just when the group had decided to go back to their gospel roots. Elvis thought so much of Sherman that he gave him a TCB necklace and also gave the group his blessings. The tenor, Gus Gaches has a rich history in gospel music and will thrill you with his soaring high notes. They have been featured at the 20th and 25th anniversary concerts in Memphis commemorating the death of Elvis, and have toured around the world with “Elvis, the Concert” show, also featuring the Sweet Inspirations, the TCB Band, and Joe Guercio, orchestra leader.

Mark Your Calendars
Fanfare 2008: The Ultimate Elvis Experience
A benefit for the Akron Symphony
Saturday, May 17, 2008
Radisson Hotel Akron City Centre
4:30 p.m. – Hors d’oeuvres & Cash Bar
5:30 p.m. – Dinner & Live Auction
Akron Civic Theatre
8:00 p.m. – Shawn Klush & The Imperials– ELVIS 1 Night Only in Concert
Tickets: $200-$500 (dinner, auction & concert); $25-$100 (concert only)
Call 330-535-8131

Artist biographies and photos are available in digital format by visiting the Akron Symphony Press Room at www.AkronSymphony.org. This online resource offers journalists and the public access to the latest information about the Akron Symphony, including archived news releases, downloadable high-resolution photos and media kit materials.

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