The music of Elvis Presley, Patsy Cline and Buddy Holly will permeate the Belle Starr Theatre Saturday, Nov. 3.Their presence will be felt and heard thanks to look-alike, sound-alike impersonators who have honed their craft for years, and even decades.Steve Davis and the Mid-South Revival Band will perform “Memories of Elvis.” Davis, an award-winning Elvis Presley impersonator, who grew up in Florissant, has perfected his act during his 35 years playing Elvis.Shanna Fredrick will perform as Patsy Cline, best known for hits “Crazy,” “I Fall to Pieces,” and “Walkin’ After Midnight,” and Thomas Hickey will perform hits like “Peggy Sue” and “That’ll Be the Day” as Buddy Holly.The concert runs from 8-11 p.m. at the Belle Starr Theatre and Playhouse, 112 E. Booneslick, Warrenton. Advanced tickets are $15. Tickets at the door are $18.The theater’s owner, Loretta Parks, said seats are available and are selling fast. For tickets, call 636-456-7937 or 636-456-2510.Parks isn’t sure how many times Davis has performed at the Belle Starr. She said the former owner found him and after she took over, she continued inviting him back.“This is my 19th year and every year I’ve had him back. I usually have a full house. People really enjoy him. We always have a lot of people attending,” Parks said.She thinks Elvis Presley continues to attract a crowd because he had an amazing voice, so many good songs, and people could relate to him.Parks noted Elvis, who grew up in a working class family, had great respect for his mother, got his start singing in the church and he served in the military.Presley died 41 years ago at the age of 42. He had gained fame in the mid-1950s with hits like “Heartbreak Hotel” and “That’s Alright.” He would go on to score some 150 songs in Billboard’s Hot 100 charts. His singing style effortlessly coasted through rock ’n’ roll, country, soul, gospel and R&B.Davis started impersonating Presley 35 years ago, as a college prank. While attending what is now Truman State University in Kirksville, he was invited to an exclusive party hosted by a professor. Guests were to arrive in costume as a historical figure. Davis went as Elvis.The impression, the looks, the voice, the gestures, were so good, he started getting calls to play Elvis at birthday parties and other events. The moonlighting jobs, which earned him $20 an event, helped him make ends meet as a student.One day an agent called with an opportunity for him to make $50. That was big money. He said walking into that hall, where he was performing at a wedding reception, “It was as if I stepped into ‘The Jerry Springer Show,’ ” he recalled.He got the feeling the bride did not request his services. The bride’s mother, however, wanted to dance with Elvis after his show. Davis, reluctantly, stayed in character for his “fans.”He learned a lesson that night when the bride’s mother, smelling of gin and cigarettes, he said, let him know: “You was worth every bit of that $500.”With that, he figured out the agent made $450 for the event while he did the performance and made $50.“I learned that I received what I had asked for. I just wasn’t aware of how much the asking price was,” he said.Davis charges enough now that he can play Elvis fulltime. He performs about 450 Elvis events a year, in and out of the state. He has won competitions for his impression of Elvis, against as many as 500 competitors.He believes people are fascinated by Elvis because of his talent, his rise to fame and how he lived. In some ways, the public saw him as royalty.While a career in impersonating Elvis has been good to Davis, he’s not Elvis. He’s just a guy who plays Elvis.“I’m Steve, I’m an actor,” he said.While he has played bigger venues, he keeps his calendar open for the smaller ones. And he is loyal to the Belle Starr.“I think Loretta, as a single-business proprietor, should be supported. I’m happy to support single ownership theaters wherever they exist,” Davis said. “A lot of them have gone away. Loretta’s seems to be one of the last ones remaining.”Both Loretta and Davis said to expect a fun show for all ages.This is the second year the “Memories of Elvis” show is bringing special guests Shanna Fredrick as Patsy Cline and Thomas Hickey as Buddy Holly.“What’s interesting about Hickey is he’s a school teacher,” Parks said. “He does an excellent impersonation of Buddy Holly.”The last time he was at the Belle Starr, she said, “he got a standing ovation.”

Steve Davis, a man with the likeness of Elvis Presley, is making an appearance at the Belle Starr Theatre. The impressionist will perform some of Elvis’ greatest hits.

Photo courtesy of memoriesofelvis.com