05-17-17   Dennis Thornberry, an Elvis Tribute Artist

This week’s show features Dennis Thornberry, an Elvis Tribute Artist who has definitely built his dream and is living his sparkle by honoring the magic, generosity and love of Elvis Presley.

Dennis has been an Elvis fan for as long as he can remember. He doesn’t know of a time when he didn’t love Elvis , his music or his story. He considers himself a amateur historian of all things “Elvis”. Growing up in the seventies, he resisted the peer pressure to listen to the popular music of the times (even if that meant that he wasn’t considered “cool”). He was always drawn towards “Roots Rock”, beginning his record collection at early age with artists such as Buddy Holly, Jerry Lee Lewis, Chuck Berry, Johnny Cash, all the classic DooWop Groups and of course any Elvis record he could get his hands on (even if that meant stealing them from his dads collection).

He began his music career in 1990 with a Degree in Radio Broadcasting putting himself thru school working in bars and night clubs around Dallas, Texas as a  bartender and a DJ. Raising a young family he continued working as a nightclub DJ because the money was better than an entry level position at a radio station. In 2001 he returned to his birth state of Colorado. Believing that it was time to leave the “bar scene” he and his wife began their own DJ/Entertainment Company.

In 2004 they decided to expand the entertainment portion of the business by adding some live entertainers. As a karaoke jock at several bars, Dennis was forced to sing “to get the party started”. The obvious choice was for him to sing an “Elvis” song or two. In 2004, when deciding to expand the business, the thought crossed his mind to become a professional “Elvis” entertainer. A trip to Las Vegas cemented his decision when he ran across several Impersonators that made a mockery of the memory of the Legendary entertainer. Convinced that he could at least pay tribute with love and respect to someone that he had looked up too his entire life, the journey began.

Since 2004 he has performed all over the country from California to Maine, performing for crowds from 5 to 5,000. In the past few years he has began expanding his talents by adding more impersonations too his act including Johnny Cash.  Traveling the country and spending less than a total of two months a year at home, he averages more than 200 shows per year.

“Talent is just talent until you share it, that’s when it becomes a gift”. So he continues to share his tribute with as many people as he can.