By Staff
Tracy B. Cieniewicz, Hartselle Enquirer
Doug Moss of Hartselle doesn't like to use the word "impersonator" when describing the sixth annual Elvis Remembered performance this weekend in Decatur.
"I'm not a fan of Elvis impersonators, but I'm a fan of the style of music Elvis played in the 70s with background vocals, a full orchestra arrangement, and gospel singing to open the show," Moss explained. "It was a great big music production with timeless songs, and we try to present the same type of show.
Elvis Remembered featuring Michael Dean &Memphis with J.D. Moss and The Stamps Quartet will be presented Saturday, Aug. 26, at 8 p.m. at the Princess Theatre. The Exspence Account band of Chicago will provide a full gospel musical arrangement for the performance.
Moss said Dean pays special attention to detail when honoring Elvis' music, even having his costumes reproduced from Elvis' original patterns.
"Some of his costumes cost $4,000 each," Moss said. "And the timing of the concert is important, too. We always try to have it within a week or two of the anniversary of Elvis' death."
Moss, who performs as J.D. Moss for the show, was a friend and fan of the late gospel great J.D. Sumner. Moss pays tribute to Sumner, whose gospel career spanned 60 years and included singing with The Stamps Quartet and Elvis during the 1970s, at the annual concert.
"J.D. Sumner, Jake Hess and other gospel singers were Elvis' heroes," Moss said. "J.D. was in awe of Elvis and Elvis was in awe of J.D. They had a tremendous respect for each other. I had an enormous respect for J.D. as a friend and a gospel singer. It's always a treat to sing in his place."
Moss said Sumner, who died in 1998 at the age of 76, would have been proud to be a part of Elvis Remembered.
"He would be right in the middle of it," Moss said. "He would have loved it, and the Stamps have said many times, too, that he would have loved it."
Last year, Elvis Remembered performers decided to use the concert as a means to encourage aspiring musicians in North Alabama to pursue musical careers by forming the North Alabama Music Foundation. A percentage of ticket sales from each Elvis Remembered show will be used to fund music scholarships for students.
"Look at all the people who showed up to audition for American Idol this week (in Birmingham) and that tells you there's a lot of folks here with musical talent," Moss explained. "We are currently forming a board to handle scholarship applications, but it won't be our job to say who's talented and who's not. We want to identify those individuals who really want a career in music--any aspect of music."
All seats for Elvis Remembered are reserved and are $20 each by visiting or calling Moss Audio in Hartselle at 773-0708 or Root Allstate Agency in Decatur at 350-8660.