Elvis lives
in the heart of one EOU student
By Dick
Mason
The La
Grande Observer
Published: May 22, 2004
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The Observer/Dick Mason
C.J. Gish gives an impersonation of Elvis Presley during a presentation on the King's life at EOU's Spring Symposium.
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How many Elvis Presley fans are there?
The Original Unofficial Elvis Home Page says the answer is basic. It lists the number as 6.42 billion, the earth's current population.
The number includes 35,000 people listed as Elvis impersonators.
Make that 35,001.
A new Elvis impersonator made his public debut this week at Eastern Oregon University -- one who showed promise the way the King did in 1956 when RCA Records released Elvis's first hit record, "Heartbreak Hotel."
The impersonator, C.J. Gish -- wearing a pompadour wig, two silk scarves and a white jump suit -- lit up the stage at the concluding session of Eastern Oregon University's Spring Symposium at McKenzie Theatre.
Gish, curling his lips in Elvis's signature manner, shaking his hips slightly and speaking in deeper tones than he normally does, brought people to their feet.
A feeling of authenticity permeated the concert hall. Gish not only looked and acted like Elvis, he began and ended his show the way the King did late in his career.
Gish entered to the theme of "2001: A Space Odyssey," just as Elvis used to do. He concluded by lip-syncing "Can't Help Falling in Love," the number Elvis ended his concerts with.
In between, Gish treated his audience to a wealth of facts and trivia about Elvis during a Power Point presentation that included 100 photographs and eight songs.
Fans learned that:
* Elvis had a wide range of musical interests including gospel music. In fact, all three of the Grammy awards he won were for gospel albums. Elvis is the only person in the rock-n-roll, country and gospel music halls of fame.
* Presley was a passionate animal lover who had a chimpanzee.
* Presley enjoyed karate and flag football.
* Elvis had 114 records that made Billboard¹s top 40. Elton John is second with 61 top 40 records.
Gish portrayed Elvis as a down to earth person who had difficulty dealing with fame.
At a 1972 press conference Elvis said, "The image is one thing and a human being is another. It is very hard to live up to the image."
Gish said that Elvis was a regular person who did not enjoy the same freedom as others because of his celebrity status.
"He was trapped by the person he had become," Gish said.
Gish, a former Observer sports reporter, works in Eastern's public information office and is a student. He will graduate in June with a liberal studies degree.
He credits Meegan Andersen, an Eastern theater student, with giving him an authentic look by getting his wig and helping him with makeup. Gish said he felt more relaxed on stage than he expected to.
"It was easier to be in character. I was not quite as tense as I would have been presenting something as myself," Gish said.
Gish has studied Presley's career closely for more than two decades. He may know more about Elvis than some of Elvis's own biographers. This depth of knowledge made him more comfortable on stage.
"I've spent 22 years getting to know Elvis," Gish said.
