A Gentleman ETA Representing Elvis so Well
ETA Garry Wesley. Photo Credit: Garry Wesley.
Necedah, Wisconsin native, Garry Wesley, is a multiple and international award-wining Elvis tribute artist who was honored with the Heart of the King Lifetime Achievement Award in July, 2013, in Las Vegas. In addition to receiving the award, Garry was given the opportunity to perform on one of Elvis’s most noted stages, the Las Vegas Hilton (now known as the Las Vegas Hotel and Casino).
In the same year, 2013, which marked his 25th annual tribute show, Garry was inducted into the Elvis Tribute Artist Hall of Fame in Memphis--a fitting tribute for an ETA with the longest-running Elvis tribute show in Memphis.
Over the years, Garry travelled to many parts of the world performing his tribute to Elvis and has sung with some of the same people who shared a stage with Elvis.
Garry’s shows in Ontario, are arranged by Canadian booking agent, Nigel Husing, whom Garry first met at the Hill Top Restaurant in Oshawa in 2006. Nigel said in a previous article that once he heard Garry sing “Hurt”, he didn’t need to hear more. Nigel has been booking all of Garry’s shows in Canada for over 15 years.
(For more information on Garry’s career achievements or to read about Garry’s Burlington show and Brantford show in 2019, links are provided at the end of this article.)
It was wonderful seeing ETA Garry Wesley in Brantford, Ontario, on Tuesday, August 20th, 2024. It has been a few years since I last saw Garry, so I was very pleased when Garry’s agent, Nigel Husing, invited me to attend his show. I arrived at 7:20, only to find the show started at 7:00 (not sure how I missed the time, seeing I posted posters for all the Ontario shows lol). Unfortunately, all the doors were locked, and it wasn’t until the intermission that Garry saw me on his way to change for his second set. But what I missed seeing in the first set, was well made up for in the second set.
Garry looked splendid in his Arabian jumpsuit that I learned was made in British Columbia, Canada, by ProElvisJumpuits. It was such a surprise when Garry momentarily left the stage and gave me the royal blue scarf he was wearing, saying that it was nice seeing me again as it has been a while. Garry mentioned that he and his wife were celebrating their anniversary on August 20th, 2024. Elaine was not able to join Garry on his Ontario tour this year, but it was lovely that he mentioned their 36 years together. The highlights of the evening for me, vocally, were Garry singing “Unchained Melody” acapella to a fan listening on the phone, hitting the notes in the challenging song “Hurt”, and demonstrating his award-winning voice in several Gospel songs. Garry shared that he had 12 shows over three days in Memphis before coming to Ontario, and at almost every show, someone wanted to hear “Hurt”. Tuesday was the first time on his Ontario tour that Garry sang “Hurt”, and he hit every note.
When I had a moment to chat with Garry after the show and take some photos of Garry with fans, Garry told me he had performed in Niagara Falls a few years ago at one of our two casinos. It was pre SIDEBURNS Magazine (and before my first ETA show in 2015), so I would be interested in hearing from anyone who saw Garry’s NF show). We talked about the NFEF and other shows and also about the ETAs I had met. Garry had kind words to say about each ETA I mentioned. Garry asked if I had heard of a young ETA named Logan Ramey. I said, “Yes.” In fact, we are friends on Facebook. Garry had great praise for Logan. It demonstrated once again how supportive and caring Garry Wesley is to other ETAs. Donny Edwards stated it best in his answer to my question, “Is there anyone you would like to thank for helping you in your career?
ETA Donny Edwards with his mentor and friend, ETA Garry Wesley. Photo Credit: Donna Edwards.
Garry is my mentor and "big brother". He is a class act. Garry is always kind, and never partakes in the "ugly" side of this business in any way. Definitely a great role model for anyone, and I feel lucky that he was mine. He helped by pointing me in the right direction when I was a young, up and coming, ETA. Garry was the voice of reason and experience that I needed early on and I still bug him every now and then. The best advice he gave me was not to watch him or any other ETAs like so many do today, but to let Elvis alone be my teacher. I knew he was right, so I took that to heart and I tried to get footage of everything Elvis ever did. Well said, Donny! (Excerpt from Donny Edward’s interview, June 27th, 2019. Click here.)
Photos from Garry’s 2024 Brantford Show
Thank you for a wonderful evening of entertainment, Garry. On behalf of fans and everyone at SIDEBURNS Magazine, we look forward to seeing you on your next tour of Ontario. Wishing you safe travel home. Thank you, also, to Harmony United Church volunteers in Brantford,. You made the evening so much fun with your silent auction and offer of ice cream bars during intermission.
Best regards, Carolyn,
A lovely message on my scarf from Garry Wesley. Garry also mingled with the audience and gave out several scarves at his Brantford show. During the singing of "Teddy Bear", a young fan was the lucky recipient of a brown teddy bear.