Elvis is in the Facility
Jan. 8, 2010 is Elvis Presley’s 75th birthday. While it may satisfy conspiracy theorists, most people will be surprised to learn that The King has recently been spotted at Life Care facilities. Elvis tribute artist Dennis Thornberry has been travelling the country with his wife, Carrie, performing for residents and associates for two years. “It started by accident,” explained Thornberry, his soft baritone evoking similarities with Elvis even off stage. “The first was Cañon Lodge Care Center, in Canyon City, Colorado. We own a DJ company that kept our weekends busy, but we had nothing to do through the week. Now, we’ve been to Life Care centers from the top of Wyoming to the bottom of Florida.” The Thornberry’s travel tends to follow their weekend, nighttime Elvis show bookings at bars, nightclubs and diners, which garner greater fees and sustain the majority of their expenses. During the weekdays, they perform for discounted rates at assisted living facilities. “He was very good,” said Activities Director Cindy Howard, from The Bridge at Life Care Center of Colorado Springs. “I was extremely pleased with the performance and so were my residents, which matters the most.” Thornberry first discovered his love for Elvis when he was 5 years old when his father would play “For the Heart” on a record player. By 12, he was doing concerts based on the “Live at Madison Square Gardens” album for his siblings. After graduating from Elkins Institute of Broadcasting with an associate degree in broadcasting, Thornberry became a DJ and karaoke host at local nightclubs. With a penchant for teasing the amateur singers, he was eventually forced to prove his own talent and sing a song himself. He chose “Teddy Bear.” “It has all the typical Elvis-isms in it,” Thornberry shared. “That was the first time I had sung in front of anybody. It was a scary thing.” Since then, Thornberry has performed his tribute to The King of Rock and Roll at charities, schools, fairs, bars and museums for all occasions. His show has grown to six different costumes from all eras of Elvis’ career and 35 songs that incorporate narration to share history about the man he is emulating. Thornberry is careful to stress he’s not an Elvis impersonator simply mocking Elvis stereotypes. “Elvis had a 22-year career, and for 33 years he’s been passed away. But they’re still buying his movies, still buying his records, still fascinated by this man,” Thornberry said. “I call myself a tribute artist because I want my audience to realize that they are seeing someone who loves their hero as much as they do.” It’s a sentiment made even more important to him when he performs at a Life Care center. “‘Can’t Help Falling In Love’ is one of those songs I get to go into the audience and sing part of the song to whomever I’m kneeling in front of,” Thornberry said. “What really makes that touching for me at the nursing homes is that the women’s eyes always tear up because it brings back a real memory. They’re reacting with true, meaningful emotions because they actually experienced this history, and it’s a lot more touching.” Performing at assisted living facilities has also granted Thornberry the opportunity to brush against the life of his hero. “I’ve run into several people that knew Elvis,” he said. “I met a woman whose son played drums on some of Elvis’ studio tracks. I’ve gotten to meet a telephone operator at a hotel in Vegas who would give him grief whenever he called down, and he eventually invited her up to his room to play gin. I’ve even met a gentleman who was a paramedic on response the morning he died.” Getting to share those memories is important to Thornberry, who was only 10 years old when The King died. “I never got to meet the man,” said Thornberry of Elvis, who could be in an assisted living facility if still alive. “But I keep my eyes open.”
If you'd like more information, Dennis can be found online at coloradoelvis.com
