Not only is a relatively new Elvis film gaining a lot of recognition nationwide, but award-winning Elvis tribute artist and Augusta resident Liam Hewitt is as well.
Australian director Baz Luhrmann’s musical biopic “Elvis” has grossed more than $210 million globally since it was released to theaters earlier in the summer while Hewitt’s fame has been growing before and after the film’s premiere.
Hewitt, who has done promotions as Elvis during a local cinema’s showing of the film recently, recently received second place for his tribute as Elvis at a competition in Tupelo, Miss., which was a preliminary for “The Ultimate Elvis Competition” in Memphis, Tenn. This competition boasted the best Elvis tribute artists from around the world.
“Getting in the top five at Tupelo was a big honor… I beat out four world champions for second place,” said Hewitt, who also does Elvis tribute shows regularly at Cantina Locale in the Daniel Village Shopping Center on Wrightsboro Road.
The 20-year-old received second place in Tupelo after only approximately a year of being an Elvis tribute artist.
Hewitt said he was also announced as Fan Favorite at the competition in Tupelo.
“I beat the guy who had Fan Favorite for four years in a row,” Hewitt said.
He has been at other competitions around the country during the past year, placing in the top 10 and top 5 in every competition he’s done.
Part of his tribute work also involves charity fundraising. He recently raised more than $2,000 for St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital over the span of three days.
And his efforts have gained attention.
“All of this has grown my fan base. It has also put me in the eyes of bigger people… (who) are looking to see who they want to represent Elvis the best,” Hewitt said.
In addition to his public shows, he’s done events at nursing homes, weddings and birthday parties. His list is growing.
Hewitt said there are two companies that put on the Elvis Tribute Artist competitions. One is owned by Elvis Presley Enterprises and is called The Ultimate Elvis. The other is called Images of the King. Liam competes in both competitions.
“There is a brotherhood of ETAs (Elvis Tribute Artists). Everything is done with as much respect to Elvis, not just his music. They (we) are doing it for who he was as a person and what he stood for,” Hewitt said.
Hewitt insists on being called a “tribute artist” rather than an Elvis impersonator.
“ETAs and impersonators are two different things. Elvis impersonators do not take it as seriously. They throw on a cheap wig and suit. Some of them do lip-syncing. Some of them try to sing,” he said.
As a tribute artist, he styles his hair to be like Elvis and does his best to have his clothes and jewelry, while on stage, to match the King’s.
Hewitt tends to focus on one decade of Elvis’ life in his tributes.
“I do the 70s Elvis. I pretty much do all of the 70s – all of the jumpsuit stuff,” he said.
He’s seen the new Elvis movie several times and has studied articles, paper artifacts and books about the King of Rock and Roll. The new movie shows Elvis gyrating a lot when he sings.
“When Elvis was young (in the 50s), he did move around a lot. No one was moving like that really. People like Sinatra and those crooners just stood there,” he said. “In the 70s, he changed a lot. He had gone into the military (in the late 50s). He eventually was exposed to karate, and his movements became more fluid.”
He said there were far fewer gyrations in the 70s. And that is what he does his best to emulate in his performances.
Most of what Hewitt wears on stage are the jumpsuits from the late 60s to the 70s.
Elvis had the black leather jacket look in 1968, the two-piece jumpsuit look in 1969 and then one piece simple suit with a high collar in 1970. He said it was a simple suit with no studs or rhinestones and like a tapestry had sewing along the collar. He then said around 1971 to 1973 that Elvis had studded suits or those with the rhinestones.
“Those trailed to the end of his career,” said Hewitt, who has all styles of reproduction Elvis clothing except for the leather jacket.
And taking on Elvis’s persona is a little easier given Hewitt’s origins.
“My Southern dialect is already mixed into my roots. My mother was from Georgia. Moving into the Southern region when I was young helped,” said Hewit who spent his early years in West Virginia before moving to Augusta.
Something happens when Hewitt gets ready for a performance, he said.
“When I am in that jumpsuit, I do transform, just like he did,” he said. “I talk in between sets like Elvis did. I sometimes talk about historical things in Augusta from when Elvis came here around 1956.”
In addition to the jumpsuits, he has jewelry like what Elvis wore from the original casts of the King’s jewelry from Lowell Hays, a jeweler in Memphis, Tenn. Hewitt has a reproduction TCB necklace, ring, and other jewelry that he wears during his tribute performances.
Hewitt started singing when he was 14 although it was mostly in the shower, and he has had no professional singing training except for one or two lessons. He said he stopped those when he realized the coach was trying to turn him more into an opera singer. Hewitt can do accompaniment for some of his songs, but other times, he uses recorded music.
“I grew up listening to all kinds of music like Elvis did,” he said.
A strong influence on Elvis’s music came from the African American community.
“Elvis grew up in the African American community. He was extremely poor (as a child and youth), and he did not see people’s color,” Hewitt said.
Elvis sang in multiple genres including gospel.
“Elvis’ gospel music was his most acclaimed work. His gospel music album was the only one to get a Grammy,” said Hewitt who added that his favorite Elvis gospel song was “How Great Thou Art.”
“I get emotional reactions from people when I sing it. I made Elvis’s pilot tear up when he heard me sing it,” he added.
Hewitt said his parents and friends love what he does and are very supportive. His performance at Cantina Locale will be his fifth one this August and that he has completely packed houses there.
“People are calling two months before my show for seats,” Hewitt said.
He will have a show Friday, Aug. 26 at the Shriners Club of Augusta at 8 p.m. and a new show at Cantina Locale on Saturday, Aug. 27.
Hewitt will be announcing more information about a big show coming up on Thursday, Nov. 10 and maybe more. He also has more competitions coming up in the coming months.
“After winning second place at Tupelo, I have wanted to do big stages,” he said. For more information, see his website at LiamSingsElvis.com or his Facebook fanpage: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1744483605745831
Ron Baxley Jr. is a correspondent for The Augusta Press.
