I had been looking forward to the “1969 LIVE The King Returns” event at the Westgate for some time. My friend Cole told me he would be performing in the lounge and since I had never seen him perform I was definitely going to be there!The event was celebrating Elvis’ opening night of performances in 1969 on the Westgate showroom stage that was originally the Continental. I wasn’t expecting the event to be as big as it was! Elvis was everywhere! There was historic memorabilia of Elvis in the lobby and every stage was taken over by Elvis!     I was there early as 3pm featured  autograph and photo ops with Jerry Scheff. Jerry was Elvis’ bass player for many years. He was such a sweet gentleman!

Also present was David Stanley (Elvis’ step brother). I had met David before a couple times and he seemed very happy to see me even though I am not so sure he remembered me. But he sure acted like he did!     Mindi Miller who had dated Elvis was also signing autographs. David and Mindi did Q&A sessions in the lounge answering questions from guests hungry for more information about the King.

Travis Powell took over the showroom main stage where Elvis performed many years ago for two sold out nights.    The Cabaret room kicked off an early show at 6:30 for an exciting Elvis show where the performer was mobbed for scarves from around his neck(which included me! LOL.      After that show I told my friend Ama to hurry up and get over to the lounge with me where Cole would be performing. I knew everyone would head over there because there would not be a lot of chairs or tables available. I grabbed a table and held onto two chairs with my life. Ama disappeared for 40 minutes and I got so angry with her because of the battle that ensued over my two chairs and she was gone so long I thought she left me there. And since I looked alone like I had extra chairs people kept trying to take them from me.     But it was worth the battle! This was going to be where all the excitement was going to be! As soon as Cole came on the stage to perform I was blown away. Cole portrayed Elvis and Johnny Cash in the hit Broadway musical “Million Dollar Quartet” and portrayed Conrad Birdie in the “Bye Bye Birdie” musical. He was inducted into the International Rockabilly Hall of Fame and was awarded Broadway’s “World’s Best Actor in a Musical” for his portrayal of Elvis in the Million Dollar Quartet”.     But what I enjoyed most was he was not an Elvis impersonator. He was just himself as a fan of Elvis. But his voice and moves matched the King’s exactly! He was better looking wearing his own sexy clothes that any Elvis impersonator I have ever seen in Elvis’ jumpsuits. The voice, with his charisma were amazing and his moves onstage seemed to have every inch of his body in motion. When he would grab the guitar and move, it was hypnotic to watch!      But wait! Who were the musicians onstage sitting in with him?!? Well…I was told I cannot say who they were since the keyboardist is under major contracts and is the King of Vegas LOL. With his brother on bass and son on drums it was a power-packed show. And when I showed up the next day for their second show, Cole acknowledged me and I told them there was no way I was going to miss this historic union onstage! The banter between the legendary keyboard player and Cole had me in stitches with the crowd laughing and applauding.     So many other great artists were there over the two days in the lounge and many of them sitting in as well. Jerry Scheff stopped by as well as Jerome “Stump” Monroe who was the drummer for “The Sweet Inspirations” as well as Elvis and legendary drummer Paul Liem. Some of Elvis’s friends were also in attendance including Sandi Miller, Kathie Spehar, Darwin Lamm (Publisher of Elvis International Forum magazine), Tony Torres, Johnny Kats, Toni Lee from Legends in Concert and many others.

 Jayson Campbell came onstage for a song and was a ball of fire and even did the splits! Other performers sat in including Llynda More (Bob Moore’s daughter), Cole’s brother Adam, Donnie Edwards and many more.  

In all honesty this was probably the most fun I ever had at a show this year!

I heard the Westgate will be doing this event next year. And I am very happy to hear that and it was very smart of them! And if they are really smart they will bring Cole back!

Sally Steele