Elvis is back in the building—tribute artist to perform on 45th anniversary of ‘The King’s’ death

Music legend Elvis Presley died on Aug. 16, 1977. Almost 45 years later to the day, Elvis will again be in the building. The building in this case is Eddie’s Attic in downtown Decatur, and Elvis will be present in the form of Dwight Icenhower, who performs all over the world in the persona of the 1950s superstar.

The Elvis tribute artist laughs about the fact that his actual name has a familiar ring. “It’s not spelled—or quite pronounced—like the name of the former president,” he said, “but it’s close enough that people ask if it’s a stage name since Dwight Eisenhower was president of the United States when Elvis first came on the scene. No, it’s not a stage name; Dwight Icenhower is the name on my birth certificate.”

Icenhower, although born a few years after Elvis’ death, has been a lifelong fan. “My mother was a fan, so I grew up with Elvis’s music. No Christmas was without Elvis’s “Blue Christmas.” I always loved all types of music and was in the high school band. When the high school did a variety show, I decided to do a couple of Elvis tribute songs. The football coach enjoyed it so much he hired me to sing at a wedding. Someone who heard me there asked me to perform at a benefit and things took off from there. I was just 15 or 16, but every time I performed, it led to more people approaching me to perform.”

The only five-time World Champion Elvis Presley Tribute Artist, Icenhower has performed with musicians who also worked with Elvis, including The Jordanaires, The Stamps Quartet, The Sweet Inspirations, Joe Gerchio, DJ Fontana, and Duke Bardwell. Icenhower said that has even been mistaken—perhaps by the very confused—for Elvis Presley himself. In 2018, Icenhower was chosen by APPLE to be the face of its worldwide advertising campaign. Referring to his career as “an amazing journey” and “a dream come true,” Icenhower said he hopes to keep the memory of Elvis Presley alive for many more generations to come.

Elvis continues to be a musical icon because of his unique place in music history, according to Icenhower. “He bridged the gap between Black music and mainstream music. He did it all—not just rock ‘n’ roll, but country, gospel, rhythm and blues, everything—and he was the whole package. He didn’t just have a great voice; he was good looking and had an alluring stage presence.”

Icenhower pointed out that decades after his death, Elvis remains a household name. “Approaching the 45th anniversary of his passing, Elvis is still making headlines,” he said. “The biopic Elvis recently crossed the $210 million mark at the global box office, and on Aug. 16 media outlets across the globe will be covering the anniversary of his death.”

Describing the Aug. 17 event at Eddie’s Attic as “a unique celebration of Elvis’s music,” Icenhower said he and his band “will be recreating the sit-down session in Elvis’s ’68 Comeback Special as depicted in the Elvis film. Billed as Elvis: One Night with You, the performance is endorsed by Elvis Presley Enterprises and Graceland.  

Icenhower wears costumes that not only duplicate those worn by “The King” but also are made by the same costume manufacturer, using the same patterns that were used for Elvis Presley.
The band features Don Randi, whose musical credits include work with Elvis Presley himself. Pianist of the group of studio musicians known as the Wrecking Crew, Randi—whom Icenhower called “a living embodiment of rock and pop music history”—throughout the 1960s and ’70s, played on recordings and/or shared the stage with a roster of talent that also included The Beach Boys, Simon and Garfunkel, The Carpenters, Frank and Nancy Sinatra, Dean Martin, The Jackson 5, Linda Ronstadt, Sammy Davis Jr., Glen Campbell, The Monkees, and Sonny and Cher.

Randi, who performed piano on the original ‘68 Comeback Special soundtrack, will join Icenhower and the band in performing songs from that recording and tell the stories behind them at the Eddie’s Attic event.

“This is a great show, even for those who aren’t especially Elvis fans,” Icenhower said, “and for those who are Elvis fans, it will definitely be a night to remember.”
Elvis: One Night With You will be Aug.17, 7 and 9:15 p.m. at Eddie’s Attic, 515-B North McDonough St., Decatur. For ticket information, call (404) 377-4976 or visit Eddiesattic.com.