West Seattle Elvis impersonator, & Callison architect, Bret Wiggins, top left, will perform in the "pro review" but will not compete this Saturday in the 16th Annual Elvis Invitationals at the EMP. He won the title last year, Top right is Mrs. Bradi Jones, West Seattle's Feedback Lounge General Manager, to perform as "Velvelvis". Bottom, L-R (from 2009) are organizer Marlow Harris as "Priscilla", West Seattle's Jim Dever, who will again host, & belt creator K.D. Schill.
UPDATE: Friday, Jan. 11
Elvis impersonator Bret Wiggins of West Seattle won last year's 15th Annual Elvis Invitational. He tells the West Seattle Herald that he will not compete this time, but will instead perform prior to the competition in the event's "pro review." There event is tomorrow night at the EMP's Sky Church auditorium. He said he will be appear last in the review, which runs from 9:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., before the competition begins. He will perform songs from Elvis' '68 Comeback Special, which refers to the NBC-TV special on Dec. 3 of that year.
Show Schedule:
7:30pm Doors open. No public seating (limited ADA)
8:25pm Graceland 5
9:05pm El Vez with King of Hawaii
9:15pm Kentucky Rain Band and Pro Elvis Review with three special guests
9:35pm Seattle Elvis Invitationals featuring 23 amateur performers
11:00pm Break to compile results
11:20pm Winners announced with amateur performers coming together for a final song
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Last year, Jan. 14, West Seattle resident and architect Bret Wiggins won the 15th Annual Elvis Invitationals to become "The King"- Seattle's Best Amateur Elvis. Wiggins took 2nd place the prior two years and in 2012 beat 18 other Elvi with his hip thrusting, spot-on rendition of "Suspicious Minds".
Wiggins will be at it again on the Experience Music Project (EMP) stage, Saturday, Jan. 12.The question is, will they love him tender this year, or will he instead be spending the evening at the Heartbreak Hotel? Based on prior performances, the audience can expect him to sparkle again.
Wiggins has been warming up since his victory as he has continued with his busy performance schedule, including more than one appearance at the Senior Center of West Seattle, as we reported here. He even spiced it up with the seniors with a little Neil Diamond.
This year he will have to compete against newcomer, Mrs. Bradi Jones, West Seattle's Feedback Lounge General Manager, to perform as "Velvelvis".
West Seattle wild man (at least on stage) Jim Dever of KING5's Evening Magazine fame will again be Master of Ceremonies, and White Center's Marlow Harris, who helps organize these invitationals each year, will be seen on stage as "Priscilla".
For more information, visit the Elvis event website here:
The West Seattle Herald plans to attend the Saturday night event and will update.
