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Elvis tribute artist brings old-time gospel to Prince George

It won't be the hip-swiveling, rock 'n' roll Elvis who will perform at the How Great Thou Art gospel concert at the First Baptist church on Saturday, Jan.
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Steve Elliott, Elvis tribute artist, will present How Great Thou Art gospel concert at the First Baptist Church Saturday, Jan. 14 at 7 p.m. Net proceeds will go to the Canadian Cancer Society's Kordyban Lodge.

It won't be the hip-swiveling, rock 'n' roll Elvis who will perform at the How Great Thou Art gospel concert at the First Baptist church on Saturday, Jan. 14 but tribute artist Steve Elliott will still hit the emotional high notes people come to expect during the sixth annual event.

This year's fundraiser, sponsored by The Prince George Citizen, sees net proceeds going towards the Canadian Cancer Society's Kordyban Lodge and this time it's personal.

Organizer Glen (Moose) Scott lost his sister to pancreatic cancer last year just two weeks before Elvis tribute artist, Elliott, appeared in the gospel concert. Scott didn't really feel up to attending but went anyway.

"Listening to his songs, they were overpowering and they really helped me get over my tough time," said Scott. "I was really down in the dumps and it really helped me get out of the depressed state I was in so I could continue on with life."

Elliott gets a lot of positive feedback about his shows and especially the gospel show, just like those words from Scott.

"That's the power of the gospel music," said Elliott. "It touches everybody in certain ways - it brings back memories or helps them deal with loss and brings peace and joy and comfort, which we need in our world more now than ever."

We've all been touched by cancer, said Scott.

"So this cause is close to my heart," he said. Scott not only lost his sister but good friend, David Mah, who died of lung cancer in May. "Cancer is all around us and in my mind it's the world's worst disease."

The concert will feature classic gospel music.

"I guess you can say there'll be some old time religion featuring the songs of yesteryear like In the Garden, He Touched Me and How Great Thou Art," said Elliott. "These songs were written long before Elvis's time and they've got that old southern Baptist gospel feel. They've got some nostalgic meaning and unlike some of the modern gospel songs that rely heavily on melody, these tell a story and I think it's the stories that impact people when they listen to songs like In The Garden or Amazing Grace."

Elliott comes to Prince George several times a year.

"I call Prince George my home away from home and I love it," said Elliott. "At the concert we're going to go back to a time where songs spoke to people and they're welcome to sing along. As well as ballads there will be up-tempo, hand-clapping songs that will give it that rock 'n' roll feel. This music has soul and no matter if you're black, white, red or green you're going to enjoy it. And that's what Elvis was all about - no matter what he'd sing he would take it back to those early days and put all that emotion and passion into it."

Of all the music Elvis Presley ever recorded, his Grammy nominations and awards were for gospel music, said Elliott. "As a performer that really moves me and I hope people in the audience will see that during the concert."

Doors open at the First Baptist Church, 483 Gillett St., at 6 p.m., concert at 7 p.m. with a break that includes refreshments. Tickets are $35 available at the church, Koops Bike Shop, 1659 S. Nicholson St., Bibles for Mission Thrift Store, 1210 Third Ave., A & D Power Equipment Ltd., 2218 S. Nicholson St., and also available at the door. For more information call Glen (Moose) Scott at 250-640-0297.