Mark Anthony
‘Tribute Porch Thoughts’
As a young boy in his Adelaide family home, Mark Anthony may not have had lamb-chop sideburns, yet his ears and eyes were introduced to the music and styling of Elvis Presley through his father’s vinyl record collection and by watching VHS tapes for hours on end.
Although Mark immersed himself in everything Elvis and soon found he had a natural talent for imitating the ‘King’, he was never convinced he should publically portray Elvis out of respect and admiration for his childhood hero.
In 2004, when one of Mark’s family members was diagnosed with Leukemia, he headed to his local costume shop, hired an Elvis jump-suit and took to the stage to help raise much-needed funds. Word quickly spread about his compelling performance and he received more requests to perform at more charitable events - and he has not stopped performing Elvis ever since.
After winning the first competition he entered – The South Pacific Ultimate Elvis Grand Champion in 2007, Mark went on to win a further 8 major championships around the world. In 2011, Mark was placed in the Top 5 professional Elvis Tribute Artists and voted the winner of the first ever ‘Spirit of Elvis’ award presented by Elvis Presley Enterprises in Memphis TN.
Having just returned from a sold out tour of the US and the UK, Mark is set to perform his Elvis If I Can Dream at The Palms at the Crown Casino on 16 and 17 August. Mark’s show will feature a huge 16 piece live band, five costume changes, four dancers and a video screen displaying historical images capturing the timeline of Elvis’ hits.
Melbourne’s Friday night show will coincide with the 36th anniversary of Elvis’ passing on 16 August 1977 in Memphis, Tennessee, United States. This year also marks the 40th anniversary since satellites beamed Elvis’ ‘Aloha from Hawaii’ concert live around the world in January 1973; Mark will pay special tribute with highlight footage during the show.
On his rehearsal Porch in Adelaide, Mark offered some insight on his successful career that followed after he realised he should be turn professional to keep Elvis’ memory alive.
As a fan of Elvis, you never wanted to professionally portray him. What changed?
As I got older it dawned on me there is a place to perform Elvis respectfully, with dignity and be able to take his music to new audiences around the world. There's a certain energy you get from seeing a live performance. As long as there’s energy and I don’t perform half-heartedly, it will have the same amount of energy and warmth that Elvis gave his fans.
After deciding to turn professional, what was your first step in your plan?
Before entering professional competitions, I watched very closely at what other Elvis’ were doing out there. The ones taking it seriously were performing full time for a living and they were in it for the right reasons and not for personal gain.
What is the difference between the two?
Keeping Elvis' memory alive with respect and engaging the audience is paramount. Other less professional performers are simply in it to make money. There is a huge difference.
With this in mind, what did you do next?
In 2007, a competition was brought to my attention that Elvis Presley Enterprise and Graceland were holding in Memphis. One of the preliminary rounds was held in Queensland. I thought I would give it a shot and I actually won. Then I was flown t to Memphis to represent Australia. I ended up winning the competition two years in a row and I've been over there every year since representing Australia. This led to performing in major shows around the world.
What is it like being backstage surrounded by hundreds of Elvis impersonators?
It's really weird. It's just a room full of sideburns and black hair. Sometimes I just stand in the back corner and giggle thinking, look at what Elvis has done. I once competed in Canada where there were over 100 entrants and the room was full of jumpsuits and black hair. It was quite funny.
Is it a macho and competitive environment backstage at competitions?
No, it can be quite feminine at times. It's not catty but generally we talk about the best kind of make-up to use on stage and compare hair straighteners, mascara and eye-shadows. When I stop and think it, it's quite hilarious.
One would imagine you are all on the same competition circuit each year. Do you all stay in touch?
The past seven years has happened fast and I’ve made so many wonderful friends. It’s almost like a brotherhood. Some of my closest friends are Elvis tribute artists from the USA, UK, Canada and here in Australia too. My band members are my only ‘normal’ friends these days, but apart from them, I only have Elvis related friends. I'm crying out for ‘normal’ friends.
Elvis Presley Enterprises presented you with the first ever ‘Spirit of Elvis Award’ in 2011. What is the basis of the award and what did they present to you?
It’s presented each year to someone who represents or embodies the true spirit of Elvis. Elvis was a humble guy who enjoyed a good time and was always helping people. It’s up to the other professional Elvis tribute performers to vote on performances, the person off stage, how they connect with and treat their fans, and who most embodies the qualities of Elvis. I was presented with a guitar in Memphis which I still use today.
What is Elvis Presley Enterprises and what governance or control do they have over your shows?
It was established by Elvis and it's a corporate company like any other. Its mission is to keep Elvis' memory or legacy alive - in conjunction with Graceland. They control which CDs and videos are released and they control what we do to an extent. We must always remember that we are not Elvis. We are just guys who put on shows. I always become me again as soon as I walk off stage.
Your shows are full of non-stop energy. Is it hard to maintain the high level of fitness required?
It’s difficult for me to get out of bed the next morning after a show. I'm not 18 anymore! It’s also a challenge to stay fit and maintain a healthy diet on the road. There is little time to hit the gym but if I run during the day, I find I have the fitness levels to keep going night after night.
You wrote this show foremost for Elvis’ fans and have managed to take the spotlight off yourself and put the spotlight back on Elvis. What is the concept of the show in terms of achieving this?
The show relives Elvis journey from the 50s rock ‘n’ roller, his movie years to his 1968 comeback tour and the Aloha Special in the 70s.
How does the story in the show begin?
We paint the picture of a young Elvis and his rise to fame. The audience gets a feel for a young, excitable Elvis through an explosive rockabilly set with live dancers jiving. We then make the transition and perform his hit songs from his Hollywood movies.
How do you tell the story about his comeback in 1968?
We see Elvis return to his rock ’n’ roll roots in clad in black leather, showing the sexy masculine side. Then it’s a journey to Hawaii to relive his Aloha concert and we have created the sounds of the big band. This is where his famous American eagle jumpsuit comes into the show.
What else will we see on the big screens?
The show is also about what was happening in Memphis at the time along with other photos of California, Vegas and other places where Elvis visited. We wanted to show how important it was for Elvis as he travelled and the people he met and the places that helped shape his career; and the history of music.
What is your favourite song to perform in the show?
If I Can Dream. It was very poignant for the times when it was released in 1968. The world was in turmoil with the Vietnam War and if you listen to the words, on many levels, the words written for that time, still ring true today. There's a lot of emotion in that song; and being the last song I perform in the show, I give it everything I’ve got.
What is your porch Thought For The Day?
“When opportunities arrive, always say yes first. If you say no to start with, you can't say yes later as people move on and they get somebody else.”