2019 Ultimate ETA: Taylor Rodriguez

Congratulations, Taylor!

I have chosen the following video of Taylor Rodriguez’s winning performance at the Tupelo Elvis Festival in June 2019 because it is similar to an outstanding performance he gave in competition at the 2019 Niagara Falls Elvis Festival. In the article that follows the video, Taylor says that he “worked and worked and worked and studied Elvis” as much as he could, and it was evident in his performances in the two consecutive years we saw him at the Niagara Falls Elvis Festival in 2018 and 2019.

The following is an excerpt from Danny McArthur’s article for the Daily Journal on Taylor’s stunning victory in Tupelo, June 8th, 2019:

'Beyond words': Youngest Tribute Artist Wins Elvis Competition

Ultimate ETA, Taylor Rodriguez, at the 2018 NFEF. Photo Credit: Lori-Anne Crewe, LA Crewe Photography.

TUPELO • Being the youngest competitor there didn’t stop 21-year-old Taylor Rodriguez of Goode, Virginia, from walking away the winner of the 21st annual Tupelo Elvis Festival Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Competition Saturday night at BancorpSouth Arena.

“It is one of the most unfelt feelings I’ve ever felt, if that makes any sense. It is beyond words, and that’s how I would describe it. It’s just beyond words right now. I’m just on this high and it just keeps going,” Rodriguez said.

The UETA finals started at 6 p.m., whittled down to five final performers from the top 10 who made it to semifinals earlier that day.

Rodriguez was the first performer of the night and won for his performance of “Polk Salad Annie,” which was originally written by Tony Joe White and covered by Elvis Presley. His performance was followed by co-finalists Lee Alexander, Alex Mitchell, Mario Kombou and Josh Davis.

Ultimate ETA, Taylor Rodriguez, at the 2018 NFEF. Photo Credit: Lori-Anne Crewe, LA Crewe Photography.

After the competitors performed, last year’s festival winner, Nick Perkins, performed his showcase.

“It’s very humbling to be able to come back to Tupelo, at the birthplace, and be able to do a showcase instead of just a song or two. That way, it gives people the opportunity to see who you are as a performer and not just in a contest setting,” Perkins said.

Perkins received the key to the city. He also had words for the winner: “Congratulations and enjoy the ride, because it definitely is a life-changing experience.”

After Perkins’ showcase, Mayor Jason Shelton helped announce Rodriguez the winner of the competition and Davis as the people’s choice winner. Davis also placed second, while Kombou placed third.

Rodriguez was visibly moved by his win and celebrated by hugging his fellow competitors, who all wore a variety of white jumpsuits reminiscent of Presley. Rodriguez received a winning check from the Downtown Tupelo Main Street Association, a trophy from the Elvis Presley birthplace and a guitar from Tupelo Hardware.

Ultimate ETA, Taylor Rodriguez, at the 2018 NFEF. Photo Credit: Lori-Anne Crewe, LA Crewe Photography.

Rodriguez wore an all-white jumpsuit with fringe details. He performed “Impossible Dream” as his victory song.

“The crowd was unbelievable. These are true Elvis fans here, and that’s what makes this contest great,” Rodriguez said.

Rodriguez developed an interest in Presley at the age of six and started performing when he was nine. To prepare for this moment, he has been practicing for Tupelo Elvis Fest more than six months. He’s also performed in previous competitions, usually placing second or in the top five.

“I practice pretty much every single day and to come here to Tupelo and take this win back home is amazing. I worked and worked and worked and studied Elvis as much as I could, and this is where it got me,” Rodriguez said.

Edits by Carolyn MacArthur.

ETAs and Radio Hosts John Mcdade and Carl Bryant

Introduction

Radio talk show hosts, John Mcdade and Carl Bryant. Photo Credit: John Mcdade.

A warm welcome to John Aaron Mcdade and Carl Bryant from SIDEBURNS Magazine. On their Tuesday, August 6th radio show, Elvis Forever, John and Carl, hosts of WAUC AM 1310 Radio, Wauchula, Florida, interviewed Oswego ,NY, ETA , Michael Paul Callahan. At the end of the interview, Michael mentioned SIDEBURNS Magazine. The August 6th interview can be found on their FB page, or by clicking on https://www.facebook.com/wauc1310am/videos/342322913387260/UzpfSTE1OTkzOTIwMzA6Vks6MjI3ODA4NTcwMjI4OTQ4NQ. Michael’s mention of SB Mag can be found around minute 59:45. During this broadcast, John and Carl also discuss Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis movie, which is scheduled to begin shooting in early 2020. They also discuss the choice of Tom Hanks to play the role of Col. Tom Parker and Austin Butler as a young Elvis.

I wish to thank John for sending along the following bios and photos. Photos in the slide show are from John and Carl’s Facebook page. Edits by Carolyn MacArthur.

Bios

Carl Bryant and I are both Elvis tribute artists and we play together a lot.  We are unique because we co-host the only all Elvis talk show in terrestrial radio. This isn't a podcast: We broadcast on live on WAUC 1310 and we answer to the FCC.

We paint Elvis in the most positive light possible and constantly keep up with the ETA community. We regularly interview ETAs, both big names and the "small fish" as this program is dedicated to love affair with Elvis.

John Mcdade with JD Fontana. Photo Credit: John Mcdade.

 My name is John Aaron Mcdade, and I started in the Elvis business in 1996.  I have always been fanatical about Elvis music because it is resonates with me--like a fever!!!  I mainly play nursing homes and private veteran clubs because I feel a connection with the people more so than contests. I started working at an independently owned radio station in Wauchula FL, around 2017, and through hard work, consistent nagging, begging, pleading, and an act of Congress. I was given my own show.   Of course I chose Elvis and the Elvis community to center my show around. My co-host, Carl Bryant, and I  have 40 years of Elvis experience between us, and we're constantly painting Elvis in the most positive light possible. We are different than other Elvis radio shows because we are strictly an Elvis talk show.  WAUC 1310 is my home away from home; and from my love of Elvis, it is another venue to keep the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll complementary. 

Slide Show

Videos

Canal Days Superstar: ETA Tim 'E' Hendry

Tim’s Show

It was my second time seeing ETA Tim ‘E’ Hendry at Canal Days shows, but this time the show was held on a different stage in a different park in Port Colborne, ON. Knoll Park is a lovely grassy park located near the canal that has a large stage, several shade trees and a children’s splash pad. The food trucks and beer garden stationed around the park offered refreshments for sale. Selling tickets for beer was our friend Joe Crawford from the “Joe Show” and his mom, Carla. Joe has been a volunteer at Canal Days for 15 years. And speaking of friendly people we know, Gord and Lynn McNeil, Doreen (taking a photo of Tim) and Ron Milolasek, Danusa Gismondi from Hamilton and her friends, and former Silver Aces regulars, Dale and Bev, were all at Canal Days enjoying Tim ‘E’ Hendry’s show.

ETA Tim E Hendry in one of my favourite Elvis outfits. Photo Credit: Carolyn MacArthur.

For this year’s show, Tim opted to wear black again for his first set, but wisely chose a black shirt, black pants, and wide silver Elvis belt instead of the ‘68 Comeback black leather. Two years ago in unbearable August heat, Tim nearly roasted in his non-breathable black leather suit! Looking handsome on stage as always, Tim told the audience how busy his schedule has been lately—including a show the night before; but if fatigue was an issue you could not tell. The multi-award winning ETA held nothing back at Monday’s show and gave a stellar performance.

Bob Basa, guitarist with the Casino Brothers band, joined Tim’s band the Yes Men for yesterday’s show. Tim and the band performed popular Elvis songs that included “Trying to Get to You” and “Stop, Look, and Listen”. Tim had great rapport with the audience asking questions, such as “Who starred with Elvis in “Change of Habit?” In a solemn moment, Tim prefaced the last song of his first set by commenting on the recent tragic shootings, ongoing wars, and the universal threat of war. After his final pensive statement, “Everyone here today is from a different background, but none of us are fighting”, Tim closed his set with Elvis’s favourite song, “If I Can Dream”.

In the second set, the Concert Years, Tim wore the eagle jumpsuit. There were more people gathered next to stage, mostly women, who were well aware that during this set, Tim would be giving out scarves. I, too, was in the line up, not so much for a scarf, but for a chance to say hi to Tim. I did receive a lovely white scarf from Tim; but the best gift of all was Tim saying over his mic, “SIDEBURNS Magazine…right here!” Thank you, Tim!

Slide Show

I wish to thank photographer, Anthony Gallaccio, for allowing his photos to used in this post and above slide show.

Port Colborne

I try to see a little of the town or city when I go to see ETA shows, so that SB Mag followers who travel to see a show will have an idea what the environ has to offer. After Tim’s show, I went with my daughter and grandchildren for a walk on King and Main Streets in Port Colborne, which is a hot spot during Canal Days. There are several established shops and restaurants within a few blocks; and during Canal Days, there are several vendor booths set up along the traffic free zone. I have been to candy stores in other cities, but the Candy Safari is one of the best I have visited. They have a great selection of candy, and finding bubble gum cigars and candy dots on paper that I loved in childhood was the best surprise of all. Also interesting were the Elvis items for sale that included candy tins, a plaque showing an advertisement for Elvis’s Tupelo show, and a full size cardboard cutout of Elvis in black leather. We also stopped for cold drinks at a discount store. Working at “The Bargain! Shop” seems to be a pleasant experience, because we were served by one the nicest, and most enthusiastic, cashiers I have met in ages. Near the end of King Street, and the end of our walk, we passed two very nice nautically themed B&Bs .