By LEIGH C. MERRIFIELD
News & Journal Editor
If you haven’t heard, ‘the beat goes on’ in Clarksburg every Friday as the Harrison County Commission hosts “Tunes at Noon” on the Courthouse Plaza each week throughout the summer. In addition to being a great way to celebrate the end of the work week, it also will hopefully draw folks to the city and perhaps interest them in visiting some of the stores in the uptown area.
This Friday’s noon show will feature Jack Evans as the main attraction with his performance of the “Best of Elvis”. A popular Elvis impersonator in this area for years, Jack’s appearance on Friday will be an opportunity to wish him well as he departs next week for Myrtle Beach to compete in the Ultimate ELVIS Tribute Artist Contest.
This competition, hosted by Elvis Presley Enterprises, held its inaugural event in 2007, and it gathered such a huge response that it has been repeated each year since that time. From that 2007 tribute contest, 24 of the best Elvis tribute artists from around the world went on to Memphis during Elvis Week to compete for the title, which was won by a man from Pennsylvania. Since that time, winners have hailed from Louisiana, Illinois, Michigan, Arkansas, and even from ‘across the pond’ in England! Perhaps this year the Mountain State will have a winner!???
The contest draws worldwide interest, and the final round narrows down from the top ten to the title winner with the all receiving prizes. The first place winner takes home a cash prize of $20,000 along with a contract to perform for Legends in Concert and other valuable prizes.
Contestants are scored on more than their vocal ability; they must also present a style that represents Elvis, stage presence and the recreation of the Elvis charisma.
Be sure to attend this Friday’s Tunes at Noon in Clarksburg and wish Jack Evans well as he attempts to make it through the preliminary round to earn the right to compete in Memphis in August! And don’t stay home if it rains; in the event of inclement weather, the event will be moved indoors at the PWA’s event center located behind the courthouse at 305 Washington Avenue.
