Swap meet rock
Having actually grown the long side-burns characteristic of the
king himself, 44-year-old Mark Curran has incorporated his love for
Elvis Presley into his everyday life. The former Web site designer
began his Elvis impersonation days when he attended a costume party
two years ago. He has since turned his love for performing as the
entertainer into a full-time career.
“It’s a lifestyle and each artist brings something different to
his performance,” said Curran who had just finished a performance at
the Orange County Marketplace in Costa Mesa Sunday. “He was one of
the greatest entertainers of all time. He had such a far reach and
was such a dynamic performer.”
Judging by the appearance of the crowd that attended the third
annual Endless Summer Classic Car, Truck and Motorcycle Show and
Elvis Fest at
the marketplace, many others would agree.
Although the event was geared toward Elvis fans, car lovers and
swap meet shoppers were also given plenty of entertainment as well.
With a 26-contestant karaoke contest, raffles, a number of different
vendors and a classic car show consisting of about 100 cars, the
all-day event gave the paying public plenty of good rockin’.
“Most car shows you just walk around and look at the cars,” said
Garden Grove resident Ron Jobes, who enters his 82 silver beige
Corvette in the car show every year. “With this one you have
entertainment.”
And for Jobes, who has been an Elvis fan since he was 9-years-old,
there is no entertainer that comes close to him.
“His music, if you ever listen to it, it not only fits his life
but it fits my life too,” he said in an effort to provide an
explanation for Elvis’ continued appeal since his death on Aug. 16,
1977. “There’s no one who can sing like Elvis.”
While Jobes may not think there is anyone who can sing like him,
there are many people who try. And many did Sunday.
“Their hearts are in the right place,” said Christine Dashner,
president of the Jailhouse Rockers fan club, an official Elvis
Presley fan club based in Orange County. “They’re paying tribute to
the best entertainer this world has ever seen.”
The club, which has been a part of the event every year, donates
the money raised from raffle sales, Elvis memorabilia sales and the
entrance fee to a variety of charities, the primary one being the
Elvis Presley Memorial Trauma Center in Memphis, Tenn.
“It’s really a great event,” said Dashner. “We get to put our name
out there and there’s so many people that love cars that are Elvis
fans.”
However, not all of the people that attended the event were
die-hard Elvis fans. Some of them just loved classic cars and the
Elvis music was a nice bonus.
“So far the quality of the cars here have just been spectacular,”
said R.C. Peak who traveled with his family from San Diego County to
see the car show. While not the biggest Elvis fan, Peak did enjoy the
Elvis-themed entertainment.
“Well, I do have all his greatest hits albums,” he admitted.
* CHRISTINE CARRILLO is the news assistant. She may be reached at
(949) 574-4298 or by e-mail at christine.carrillo@latimes.com.
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