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Dear Friends and Fans:
Hope everyone had a great 4th - we had rain here - but - we needed it
very badly - so it was welcome!
I can't tell all of you how wonderful the Lake George ElvisŪ Fest was!
I've said before that Lake George is a beautiful place, however, I
didn't realize just how beautiful until we took a 2 hour cruise with the
Lake George Steamboat Company. We went up 15 miles of the 32 mile lake
and the scenery was breathtaking. It helped that Mike and Lyn McCarthy
were our hosts and pointed out interesting facts about Lake George that
made the cruise interesting as well as fun.
Friday night was the Street Festival right on the banks of the lake.
Anthony and the Guitar Street Orchestra played behind most of the 60
contestants and kept the excitement level up in the stratosphere. A
wonderful fireworks display came next followed by Steve Christopher's
(ElvisŪ on the Air) Sock Hop. The people danced to ElvisŪ music and got
to talk to the Sweets and DJ Fontana up close and personal.
Saturday afternoon, we had the contest eliminations. The level of talent
was amazing and the judges had their work cut out for them.
Saturday night was the main show called "Back to the Beginning" starring
Ryan Pelton, Johnny Loos and
Irv Cass. Backed by the Guitar
Street Orchestra, DJ Fontana, and the gorgeous voices of the Sweet
Inspirations, the show began by depicting the Las Vegas years and worked
its way back to ElvisŪ' beginnings in the 50's. Everyone did a fantastic
job and the ETA's were thrilled with the positive and glowing comments
after the show.
Sunday morning was the ElvisŪ Gospel Service. Father Bernard Turner and
Reverend Charles Morgan made beautiful prayers and music along with Irv
Cass, Jerome Marion and
Johnny Loos singing with the Sweets. God was surely smiling in Heaven.
Sunday afternoon, the finalists performed with the band. Again, the
judges had a time of it. The results were:
Professional
1st - Pete Paquette - Toronto, Ontario, Canada
2nd - Dwight Icenhower
- Dexter, OH
3rd - Don Romines - Schenectady, NY
4th - Dean Vegas - Brisbane,
Australia
5th - Robert Washington
- So Portland, ME
Non-Professional
1st - Lance Dobinson - Toronto, Ontario, Canada
2nd - Joe Ramsey - Glens Falls, NY
3rd - Bruce Herron - Guelph, Ontario, Canada
4th - Kevin Hupka - Cleveland, OH
5th - Rick Duin - London, Ontario, Canada
Junior
1st - Matthew Lawrence - Collingswood, Ontario, Canada
2nd - Milan Beker - Toronto, Ontario, Canada
3rd - Spencer Bristow - Durham, Ontario, Canada
Consolation Contest
Roy LeBlanc
A few words of appreciation for Terry Collins, Tribute Artist
Coordinator. Terry did a stupendous job of scheduling the ETA's in the
Friday Street Festival, Saturday's contest and at venues all over Lake
George. Great job, Terry!
The closing ceremonies were capped by all of the ETA's receiving
beautiful memorial clocks for their participation.
I can't leave Lake George without commenting on all the wonderful people
there. Mayor Robert Blais charmed all and set the standard for the rest
of the Lake George staff. We loved John Carr's Adirondack Pub and
Brewery and the many other host businesses.
Next year's dates are June 2-4, 2006. If you ever wanted to enjoy a
great ElvisŪ Festival, some of the most beautiful scenery in the US, and
the nicest people, plan to join us next year!
July brings us to the Bluff's Run Casino ETA Competition. This is an
invitational competition and always full of top ETA's. Johnny Ray Gomez
treats all of us like Kings and Queens, providing rooms, meals, and
generous money to ALL contestants. Johnny's accordion and wonderful
sense of humor form the basis for the best jam sessions! The ETA's all
join in the fun and it's NOT to be missed.
Hope all are enjoying the summer (can you believe it's over 1/2 over?).
Our garden looks wonderful and we're looking forward to fresh tomatoes
soon.
Stay cool......
Nance |
