Introduction
ETA James Gibb was one of my first posts on Focus ON way back on November 3rd, 2017. After we talked briefly at the first ETA competition I covered, the Flaming Star Festival in Mississauga, James sent me some great photos, an outline of his career, and posters of his upcoming shows. SIDEBURNS Magazine was barely one month old at the time of the festival—having just launched on September 10th, 2017, and almost everyone at the competition was new to me. A few ETAs said they had heard of SIDEBURNS as I introduced myself and handed them my business card and that was reassuring; but it was those first few posts, including Focus ON: ETA James Gibb, that helped SIDEBURNS sprout roots.
ETA James Gibb performaing at the 2017 Flaming Star Festival. Photo Credit: Lori-Anne Crewe, for SIDEBURNS Magazine.
I have had the pleasure of seeing James perform many times over the two and half years since our first meeting at Flaming Star. I have enjoyed posting recaps of his Flamboro Downs, Mohawk Raceway, Harmony Square, and Collingwood Village shows on my website. James also has been a featured ETA in PHOTO FEATURE on our Facebook page.
In the ETA world, James has taken on many roles over the years: competitor, performer, headliner, emcee, and judge. And this week, James can add SIDEBURNS Magazine interviewee to the list. The answers that James Gibb, the ETA with “the famous sneer and flashy clothes” and “the wild dance moves”, are very entertaining…just like James himself. I invite you all to enjoy Focus On: ETA James Gibb, Take 2.
The Interview
Q. Where were you born and raised? Where do you now reside?
A. I was born in Windsor, Ontario. I have lived in Harrow, Ontario, my whole life.
Q. Tell us five interesting things about your childhood.
James at the age of 11. Photo provided by James Gibb.
A. I discovered Elvis at the age of 13. I started sign-painting also at the age of 13. In high school, I was the only one in with a ducktail and sideburns at the time. I won a ‘best dancer’ award in my last year of high school for dancing like Elvis at the prom. I was very shy all throughout my school life.
Q. Describe your life as a teenager.
A. As mentioned, I was extremely shy, with not a lot of friends. LOL…didn't have a date to the prom.
Q. What did you do with your time after your high school years ended?
A. I went to St. Clair College in Windsor where I studied Commercial Art.
James in his teen years. Photo provided by James Gibb.
Q. What career path did you decide to take after high school?
A. Well, I wasn't really interested in moving away to get a job in commercial art, so I became a draftsman at a local forklift manufacturing plant. Then I went on the work at different Windsor area sign shops.
Q. Did you take any lessons related to the performing arts? Please explain.
A. I never took performance lessons, but after I bombed at the first contest I had entered, my wife, Lisa, signed me up for singing lessons. I took singing lessons for two years straight…every Tuesday afternoon.
Q. What music was most often heard in your home?
A. My parents listened strictly to the country music of the day, which is probably why I enjoy that kind of music now. My parents were 'casual' Elvis fans. I was the one who became fanatical about him.
Q. Were you a performer prior to becoming an ETA?
A. No, I was not a performer prior to becoming an ETA. I had entered and won some karaoke contests, but that was the extent of it.
Q. What made you decide to embark on a career as an ETA?
A. Lisa signed me up for the first ever Windsor Elvis Festival, but didn't tell me that she did. When it got to the point where it was about a month away, she told me. Then I started practicing to be able to be ready for the contest. The contest came, and I was NOT ready! LOL
Q. Do you recall your first ETA performance? When and where did it take place?
A. It was at the Windsor Elvis Festival. I recall it very well. I was literally scared to death throughout the whole experience. I was doing all the moves and signing, but I was not breathing—a huge mistake! LOL
Q. Describe the atmosphere before a competition backstage.
A. Well everyone is a little different: some guys are very casual, some very scared, some talk a lot, some won't talk at all. I'm somewhere there in the middle—not really scared, but extremely nervous. I pace a lot.
Q. Describe how you felt before, during, and after your first competition. Did you achieve the outcome you desired?
A. LOL...No, I did not achieve the outcome I desired. I never made it past the first round! But despite the result, I discovered that I enjoyed it very much. I figured I would enjoy it even more if I got better at it; so I set out to do that—get better at it.
Q. What is the biggest mistake that young ETAs make in their tribute?
A. That's a very simple question to answer. A lot of guys (young and old) spend too much of their efforts studying other ETAs when what they should be doing is studying Elvis footage. He wasn't manic and moving around constantly. All moves were done for an effect. He wasn't just moving to move. What he did was very calculated. He was very smart about it.
Q. What valuable life lessons did you learn from your parents, or mentor, that you still use today?
A. My parent taught me to be kind to everyone. I think that has served me well.
Q. Do you have tattoos? Explain their importance to you.
A. I have a tattoo on my arm. It's a TCB (with lightning bolt) symbol. It is important to me because it represents Elvis. Lots of people have asked me over the years, “What does that mean?” I'm always happy to explain it to them.
Q. Describe the highlights of your ETA career.
A. Oh geez! Other than contest wins, I would say singing with the Imperials and the Stamps quartets, and singing to, and dancing with, Cynthia Pepper. I got to meet Bill Haley's son. I've met lots of people who were close to Elvis. But I'd have to say the real highlight is the close friendships I've made. I never ever would have met these people if it weren't for Elvis. I'm very grateful for that. He has done so much for me.
Q. Who are the important women in your life? Why are these women important to you?
Lisa Gibb at the controls at James’ Flamboro Downs show. Photo Credit: Carolyn MacArthur
A. The most important women in my life are my wife Lisa, my mom, my daughter, Allison, and my granddaughter, Aubree. I just cannot imagine my life without them in it.
Q. How are you different on stage compared to off stage?
A. Well, other than the fact that I don't gyrate and sing in my private life…LOL..I am actually pretty much the same on or off stage. I think that no matter how hard a person is trying to 'imitate' someone during a performance, you will see glimpses of their true personality showing though. I think the audience sees it and I think their opinion about you is based on what they see of it.
Q. Is there an ETA title that you will continue to pursue
A. I think we're all sort of striving for the Ultimate thing, so I will continue to go after that when I can. But I have to say I get the best feeling from just making people happy during a show. Lately I've been doing a little bit of Facebook Live performing, something I had never done before. I really enjoy that and the people seem to really enjoy it as well. The only difference is that you have to read the comments later to see if it was going over well or not; whereas, in a show in front of an audience, you can tell immediately if that is happening and you and feed off it.
Q. What are the challenges of being an ETA competition judge?
Moments before the judging begins at the Flaming Star Festival. Photo Credit: Carolyn MacArthur.
A. I would have to say the real challenge of judging an ETA contest is getting the person you are judging to understand that you are only trying to help them improve on what they are doing. All the judges that I know just really want to help everyone with their performance.
Q. What men have had a positive influence on your life? How?
A. Certainly my dad and grandfather taught me to have a good work ethic. Elvis also (if you study him) teaches a person a great deal about how to treat others. I would say my dad, and what I know of Elvis, have had the greatest male influence on me.
Q. What makes you sad? How do you cope with sadness?
A. How evil people can be to one another. I guess I cope with it by performing. Performing is escapism for the performer as well as the audience.
Q. Is there a country where you really want to perform as an ETA?
A. Oh certainly. I would love to go to Europe and Australia. I would love to be able to take Lisa to Greece because she would really love to go there.
James performing at Harmony Square,Brantford, in 2019. Photo Credit: Carolyn MacArthur.
Q. What are your strengths as a performer?
A. Oh I don't know. I guess I'd have to say it is the fact that I strive to give the audience something that they will enjoy. If an audience member goes home and tells another person to go see you because they liked what they saw, that is great. Also, if a person leaves your show and goes out and downloads some Elvis songs that they didn't know or had forgotten about, then I've done my job.
Q. Describe your typical non-performance day.
A. I get up and go to work making signs for my sign company.
Q. What makes you laugh?
A. I love to laugh. My favourite shows are “Seinfeld” and “The Office”. That should tell you pretty much where my sense of humour lies.
Q. If it were possible, what would you like to ask Elvis? What would you say to him?
A. I'd like to drop in on him in 1976. I would like to get him to take a look at what he's doing to himself and convince him that he should be taking caring of himself as much as he was trying to take care of other people.
Q. What do you treasure?
A. My wife, my family, my grandchildren, and my extended family of friends.
James making fans happy at Flamboro Downs, 2018. Photo Credit: Carolyn MacArthur.
Q. Do you have a career outside your ETA? What would you like us to know about your other career?
A. As I mentioned, I have my own sign company. I enjoy it very much, and thankfully we're staying pretty busy.
Q. What is the best part of being an ETA?
A. The ability to make people happy.
Q. What has surprised you most about being an ETA?
A. The actual power that we have over people…the power to make them forget their problems even if it's just for an hour or two. It is a real thing, and it is my favourite thing about it.
Q. Describe a special moment with a fan or audience member.
A. Last year I was called by the family of a woman who was in hospice. Her last wish was to have me come to the hospice and perform as Elvis for her. She wanted upbeat fun Elvis songs. She was dancing and singing along and then she asked me to get in bed with her for photos…which I did. LOL She was a very fun-loving woman! Her family was so happy because she was having so much fun, and they wrote me later and told me she talked about it for days later. She passed away a couple weeks later.
Q. What Elvis costume is your favourite? Why?
A. My favourite performance outfit is anything from the 50s, the black leather, and the American eagle jumpsuit. Why? Because if we could look half as good as Elvis did in these outfits, we would be doing alright!
Q. Who taught you how to apply your Elvis makeup?
A. Nobody. I do not do my own makeup...that would be a disaster! I leave that to the professional, my wife Lisa.
Q. What special care does your hair or wig require to keep it looking good?
A. Washing it always helps. ;)
Q. What is the best part of being an ETA?
A. People who do not do what they say they are going to do.
Q. How do you handle disappointment?
A. Honestly? I sulk for a while. Probably longer than the average person, and then I dust myself off and move on.
Some of the friends and family destined for James’ commune? Photo Credit: Carolyn MacArthur.
Q. What do you fear?
A. I guess unknown things that I cannot put my mind around.
Q. Describe a future that is specifically designed for you.
A. It would be a future where my body stays fit enough that I can keep doing this for a long time and that I make so much money at it. One where all my friends and family can live in the same commune together that I have built, while other people talk about how weird we are! That seems pretty cool!
Q. How will you know when it is time to retire from being an ETA?
A. I expect my wife to inform me when I am becoming an embarrassment!
Q. What will you do in retirement?
A. I'm not sure. I don't think that's a word that will come easy to me.
Q. Who are the people you would like to thank for being there throughout your ETA career?
A. There are so many friends and family who I quite honestly cannot believe how loyally they come to things I do. Far too many to mention by name, but I know who they are, and I can never thank them enough. There is one person who has been in my corner regarding this from the very beginning, Lisa. She is my greatest promoter, champion and defender, and I love her for that, among other things!
Q. What would people be surprised to learn about you?
A. I think a lot of people are surprised that I'm a grandfather, which is a very cool job!
Q. What song do you wish Elvis had recorded so you could sing it on stage during your tribute to Elvis?
A. It is a Sam Cooke song, “Bring It On Home to Me”.
Q. What question would you ask a fellow ETA?
ETA James Gibb poses with SB Mag Editor, Carolyn MacArthur, after his Flamboro Downs show. Photo Credit: SIDEBURNS Magazine.
A. Do you have a good track for “Lonesome Cowboy”? ;)
Q. What question do you wish I had asked, but didn’t?
A. I think you asked great questions! Some I've never been asked before.
Q. How would you answer your own question?
A. I would agree with my statement above. Thanks so much for all you do promoting us all, Carolyn. It is very much appreciated! James.
Gospel Photos and Videos
Thank you, James, for your warm and wonderful interview answers. Thank you for entertaining us over the years with your amazing talent. Carolyn.
When James sings gospel, his voice touches his audience in a deeply reverent way. On a sunny Sunday morning in 2018, James lifted the spirits of those gathered at the Collingwood Village gazebo with his singing of Elvis’s best loved gospel songs. I took the photos you see above, but I was not able to find a video of that special day. However, I did find the following 2013 video with James singing gospel numbers with fellow ETAs on a cruise, and performing his solos (“Peace in the Valley” at 16:13, “I Believe” at 31:24, and “I’m Gonna Walk Dem Golden Stairs” at 39.16).
In the second video, James performs his victory number after winning the Pro Category Early Years at the 2011 Collingwood Elvis Festival. That was nine years ago, and James has not changed a bit!
A very special thank you to photographer Lori-Anne Crewe for her fabulous photos of James Gibb taken at the 2017 Flaming Star Festival and the 2019 Niagara Falls Elvis Festival used in this post.
ETA James Gibb and his wife, Lisa, at the 2019 Niagara Falls Elvis Festival. Photo Credit: Carolyn MacArthur for SIDEBURNS Magazine.