Introduction

SIDEBURNS Magazine editor, Carolyn MacArthur, poses with ETA Connor Russo. Photo Credit: Louis Young. — SIDEBURNS Magazine editor, Carolyn MacArthur, poses with ETA Connor Russo. *Photo Credit: Louis Young.*

ETA fans have enjoyed watching the talented Connor Russo grow as a performer since he first stepped on the stage at the Collingwood Elvis Festival at the tender of age 3. Connor has won numerous titles since that first appearance; and he has headlined along side of some of the biggest names in the ETA world.

In 2017, Lori-Anne and I met Connor and his family for the first time at the Flaming Star Festival in Mississauga. The young teen was friendly, focused, respectful and courteous. He answered questions with a maturity beyond his years. After seeing Connor compete and perform in 2018 and 2019, we both agreed that whatever Connor chooses to do in life, his dedication and personality will stand him in good stead.

In celebration Connor’s 16th birthday on August 9th, I have the pleasure of posting his interview. I wish to thank Connor for his well-thought-out answers, and Connor’s mom, Stacy, for providing photos and links to the videos that highlight Connor’s ETA journey.

On behalf of everyone at SIDEBURNS Magazine, “Happy birthday, Connor! We wish you much success with your ETA career, your academic studies, and all future endeavours.” Best regards, C.M.

Interview

Q. How did you first learn about Elvis Presley?

A. To be honest, I don't remember. I only know what my family has told me. When I was one, my parents got a karaoke machine for Christmas and it came with 20 different discs. One of them was Elvis. Soon after they played them, they noticed I was trying to say something but they couldn't figure out what it was. Several weeks later, family friends were over and they said, "I think he's trying to say 'Blue Shoes’." Those were my first words. I heard that, ran over to the karaoke machine and my parents figured it out. My parents were Elvis fans, so after that, they started playing videos of Elvis's '68 Comeback Special and Aloha from Hawaii concerts. Every day, I would put on my black suit that I got for a wedding when I was a ring bearer - I thought it was just like Elvis's Comeback leathers - and I put on concerts in the living room. Some kids love trains or super heroes. I loved Elvis.

Q. What do you remember about your first performance as Elvis?

A. I attended the Collingwood Elvis Festival for the first time when I was two years old. Because I insisted on wearing that black suit everywhere for two years - to the grocery store, to see Santa - my parents had a friend make me a tiny powder blue suit for Christmas when I was three. I wore it to Collingwood that summer and insisted that my dad get me on stage during the Friday street party to sing ‘Baby What Do You Want Me to Do’. I didn't have a backing track, so my dad played guitar for me.

The next day, we went over to the Pizza Hut because Collingwood used to have a Saturday afternoon venue tour and the ETAs would play at different restaurants. All of the Youth ETAs would always perform at the Pizza Hut and it was packed. I had my dad convince the host there to let me get up and perform a few songs and I was a lot more comfortable, adding in a lot more of my moves

Q. When and where did you enter your first competition?

A. Collingwood was the first competition I entered. I was five years old. My parents had no idea where to get me a backing track, so Rosemarie at Collingwood put us in touch with Marcus Wells who sent me a '50s track of ‘Blue Suede Shoes’. So, my first competition was the preliminary round at the Gaiety Theatre and I did a '50s version of ‘Blue Suede Shoes’ in my jumpsuit. We were at the beginning of a very large learning curve.

Q. What do you recall as being the best part and the worst part of your first competition?

A. I don't remember it at all to be honest. I do remember my second competition which was the following year at Collingwood. I was six and I performed ‘Walk a Mile in My Shoes’ in the Grand Finals. We chose that song because I was going through speech therapy and the 'W' was one of the sounds I couldn't, make so my parents had me practicing it without my realizing it. I remember the excitement of being backstage and then performing on that huge stage in front of thousands of people. That was the first competition that I won.

Q. What instruments do you play? Who taught you how to play these instruments?

A. I have been playing guitar for the past seven years and taking lessons from a professional jazz musician. I have also been playing drums and taking lessons for the past ten years. I had the opportunity to play both guitar and drums in a scripted gospel show with Dean Z and Justin Shandor at the Niagara Falls Elvis Festival and that was a lot of fun.

Q. Have you taken other lessons that you feel have helped your Elvis tribute?

A. I've also done some vocal lessons, but not a lot. That's something I plan to step up going forward.

Q. Would you like to share your thoughts on home schooling? What do you think are the advantageous? Are there any disadvantages?

A. Homeschooling was great for my sister and me. We were able to work throughout the morning and have time every afternoon for the things we loved to do. For me that was practice guitar, drums and my Elvis. Also, it gave me a lot of time for private hockey skills training. We were involved with a number of homeschool groups, so we had regular field trips with friends; but most of my socialization always revolved around hockey. I've done really well since I started high school two years ago, but I've only done that to get into the university program I'm interested in.

Q. In addition to school and your Elvis tribute, what other interests do you have?

Connor Russo wins 2018 Collingwood Elvis Festival Youth Division. Photo Credit: Lori-Anne Crewe for SIDEBURNS Magazine. — Connor Russo wins 2018 Collingwood Elvis Festival Youth Division. *Photo Credit: Lori-Anne Crewe for SIDEBURNS Magazine.*

A. Hockey. Hockey and music are it for me. For most of the year, I'm on the ice 5-6 days a week. I play high level competitive hockey and I would love to play college hockey - that's something I'm seriously considering. Also, I've wanted to get into hockey management for as long as I can remember. I have a YouTube hockey talk show channel - Connor's Corner - in which I talk about all things hockey. I've also been doing volunteer work with the Mississauga Steelheads, an OHL team just outside of Toronto.

Q. How have the first two years in high school been for you? Is it what you expected?

A. Ok. I'm doing well and I've met friends for sure; but all my best friends are through hockey. It took me a couple of weeks to get used to the high school schedule but after that it's been pretty smooth.

Q. What type of response do you get from your peers at high school when they learn that you are an ETA?

A. They think it's cool; but honestly, I don't think they really get it. The guys and the families on my hockey teams have always known that I do it and they've always been supportive. With hockey, if they respect what you do on the ice and see you as a leader, they will respect anything that you do. A number of my friends and their families come out to see me at Toronto area shows and are at first shocked and then love it.

Q. Have you, or would you, perform as an ETA in your high school’s talent show?

A. Not really. I don't spend any time at school once the bell rings. I have too many other things to do. If my friends want to see me perform, I have them come out to one of my shows with the band to get the full effect.

Connor Russo in a photo by photographer Lori-Anne Crewe.

Q. Have any students shared with you that they are Elvis fans?

A. Not really. Anyone my age that I know who are Elvis fans, for the most part, have come to know Elvis through me and my performances. There are a number of teachers though who are Elvis fans and want to come out to a show.

Q. Other than Elvis Presley, what type of music, singers or bands do you enjoy?

A. I'm not really a fan of any of today's music. I am a big fan of classic rock - I love Led Zeppelin and lately, I've been listening and playing a lot of The Band. I like singer / songwriters like Jim Croce.

Q. High school goes by very quickly. Do you have an idea of what you would like to do after high school?

A. I plan to go into a Sports Management program at university. I've already been doing volunteer work to help me build relationships in the business of hockey that can help me set up an internship and eventually a good job prospect coming out of university. As I mentioned, I would like to play college hockey as well.

Q. Will you continue your ETA career into adulthood?

A. That is my plan. I love to perform and that is something that I will do as long as I can do it well. The ETA world has been great to me and my family and has become family to us. We have made many of our best friends through Elvis. The festivals are the best parts of my year.

Connor Russo wows the audience with his performance at the 2018 Collingwood Elvis Festival. Photo Credit: Louis Young. — Connor Russo wows the audience with his performance at the 2018 Collingwood Elvis Festival. *Photo Credit: Louis Young.*

Q. What is the best part about being an ETA?

A. The people. I love to perform but when it comes down to it, it is all about the people. The ETAs I've met over the years have become incredible friends to me. When I was younger, they were mentors, but now that I'm older, they have become my friends. So many incredibly talented and interesting people from all over the world. Then there are the ETA families who have become my extended families. And the fans are incredible too - so loyal and supportive. You will not find greater people outside of the Elvis World.

Q. What awards have you won? Is there an award that you would like to win in the future?

A. I've been fortunate enough to win 14 youth competitions at the Collingwood, Lake George, Flaming Star, Tweed and Toronto festivals. Is there an award that I would like to win in the future - I think we would all have the same answer to that question.

Q. If you won a title that included a large cash prize, what would you do with the money?

A. I don't know. It really would depend on where I'm at in my life. To be honest, I've never really thought a lot about the cash prize - for me, it would really be a lot more about the title.

Q. What is your favourite Elvis song to perform?

A. At the moment, ‘Shake, Rattle & Roll’. I am mainly performing 50s and '68 these days, although I did perform Concert Years when I was younger.

Connor Russo on stage performing for the 25th Anniversary of the the Collingwood Festival, 2019. Photo Credit: Lori-Anne Crewe. — Connor Russo on stage performing for the 25th Anniversary of the the Collingwood Festival, 2019. *Photo Credit: Lori-Anne Crewe.*

Q. What advice would you offer other young people who are considering becoming ETAs?

A. I would definitely recommend that a younger person who is considering becoming ETAs watch and study Elvis rather than watching and studying other ETAs. I would also recommend that they attend ETA shows and festivals and get to know some of the ETAs - they are a really supportive group. There are a number of older ETAs who acted as mentors to me and really pointed me in the right direction. It is a long learning process - you can't learn it all at once; but it is a tonne of fun.

Q. Whom would you like to thank for supporting you in your ETA career?

A. First I would have to thank my parents. They have always been incredibly supportive and encouraging. If I wanted and was going to do this, then they wanted me to be able to do the best that I could. Zach Peddie, now an adult ETA, has also been incredibly supportive. He would always give me a pep talk before I went on stage and then appear backstage after my performance to tell me how well I did. Bruno Nesci has also been very good to me. He has given me a lot of guidance over the years and more recently has included me in a number of shows. I would also want to say a huge thank you to Dean Z for always making time for me over the years. The first time I met Dean, he spent half an hour with me privately at Blue Mountain in Collingwood, just talking to me, and he'll never know how much that meant to me. In recent years, I've been fortunate to be included in a number of shows with Ultimates and other gifted performers and they have always treated me like I belong on stage with them. They never talked down to me because I was younger. That also has had a huge impact on me. Lastly, I would have to thank each and every person who has followed me over the years at the various competitions and shows. Elvis fans are incredible people.

A shining star: Connor Russo. Photo Credit: Lori-Anne Crewe. — A shining star: Connor Russo. *Photo Credit: Lori-Anne Crewe.*

Q. When you have time to relax, what is your favourite pastime?

A. Without question, hockey is my favourite pastime - playing it, watching it, studying the business of it and talking about it! When I'm not doing something involving hockey, I'm usually playing guitar or drums. Also, I like to watch sports, particularly pro cycling, Formula 1, pro wrestling and pro football.

Q. What qualities do you admire most in your fellow ETAs?

A. I admire the way that the majority of ETAs interact with their fans. For the most part, they are extremely accessible to the people who come to support them and see their shows. They have great relationships with their fans and I am sure that is why Elvis fans are so loyal to their favourite ETAs.

I also admire the relationship that my fellow ETAs have with each other. I have found my fellow ETAs very easy to work with. In shows or competitions, I have found myself in groups that included kids from the age of five up to men the age of 60 and everyone is always included. We all love Elvis and pay tribute to him in our own ways.

connorrusso.com / Facebook - Connor Russo As Elvis / Instagram - @connorrussoaselvis