Jesse Garron's Elvis Tribute turns 20

To commemorate its 20th Anniversary, Jesse Garron's Tribute to Elvis will debut at the Milton Theatre, 110 Union St., Milton, Friday, April 28, at 8 p.m. This very special night will feature songs that have become favorites for Jesse fans over the years while introducing some new ones not performed before.

When Delaware-based Jesse Garron performed his first show in October 1997, he was a newcomer to the Elvis tribute scene. His sister was running a fundraiser at Dewey Beach's Bottle & Cork and asked him to participate in the Halloween-themed event that featured dead celebrities. "I didn't want to do it at first because I thought it would mock Elvis," says Garron. He conceded, and they ended up selling out the event with people coming through twice to see if he was really singing. "Club owners told me I should consider doing an Elvis show professionally."

Later that month he filmed his promotional video to a packed house in a pub that isn't there anymore. The pub may not have survived, but Garron's career took off.

Ruth Hayes, entertainment director of the Rehoboth Bandstand, was the first to book him. "My wife contacted her to see if she would give me my first shot," says Garron. "Her schedule was already planned and the budget already spent for the upcoming summer, but she gave me a date to play for free." The rest is history. That June date in 1998 brought Jesse another packed house, this time in a much bigger venue. He performed by himself to prerecorded music. The crowd stayed the entire show. He has been a favorite in the Rehoboth summer concert lineup ever since.

Twenty years later, Garron continues to fill houses in venues nationwide. Fans show up early to get a good seat and don't leave until after the meet and greet at the end of the show. With an international fan base of close to 7,000, his popularity continues to grow every day.

The show itself has changed over the years. Jesse has upgraded his costumes to include custom-designed jumpsuits created by Elvis' own designer, Bill Belew. He added a live band in 2008 with musicians and background singers. (At its largest, the group consisted of five musicians and three female backup vocalists.) His wife and daughter are both in the current show. Some of the players have changed, but the act remains a genuine portrayal of Elvis in the height of his career right down to the scarf serenades and standing ovations.

He waited until 2016 to make his first CD. "The timing was finally right," says Garron. He worked with Bon Jovi's sound engineer, Obie O'Brien, who brought in Grammy award-winning producer Phil Nicolo (who's worked with John Lennon, Bob Dylan, Sting, Amy Grant, and Billy Joel, among others). "We were lucky to be able to work with such reputable names in the business!" The CD features the current Jesse Garron Band along with a horn section out of Philadelphia.

Having performed for thousands of Elvis Presley fans nationwide, sharing the bill with an impressive resume of celebrities, Garron continues to be ranked "The Closest Thing to the King" by fans and venues alike.

Seating is limited, so this is sure to be a sellout. Tickets are $15 to 25. To order, go to pcade.com or call the theatre at 302-684-3038. For more information on Jesse Garron, go to jessegarron.com.