An Elvis tribute artist from Chilliwack is bringing some Christmas joy and music to seniors during lockdown via a new DVD.
Steve ‘Elvis Elite’ Elliott is hoping his DVD Why Can’t Every Day be Like Christmas? will give seniors in care homes across B.C. some hope amid these dark times.
Normally at this time of year, Elliott is hopping from one location to the next performing his Christmas show. Last year, he did about 50 Christmas shows through the months of November and December at various churches, theatres, retirement homes and legions – about 70 to 80 per cent of them in Langley.
But due to the most recent COVID-19 restrictions, they’ve been cancelled. To fill the void of his in-person holiday show, Elliott is now bringing the performance to seniors through his DVD.
“You don’t want to disappear as an artist. You need people to know you’re thinking of them,” Elliott said.
This was an easy Christmas gift to hand out, he added.
“The whole idea is that at Christmas everyone wants to be together.”
The DVD was filmed at Ryder Lake Studios in front of a green screen and features 21 songs with different backdrops. Snow falls during one song, there’s a Christmas tree in another, while moving water rolls through a different song.
There’s even a Hawaiian backdrop where dancer Jacquie Hamon joins Elliott in four of the songs.
The DVD is high-definition and even though it appears Elliott and Hamon are right next to each other, they were actually brought together digitally.
“It’s a good project. It’s done professionally,” Elliott said, adding that physical distancing and other COVID-19 protocols were followed during the filming of the DVD.
He’s sent the finished product out to about 40 seniors homes from here to Prince George. Some of the care homes will be showing the video in dining rooms or common spaces, while others have the ability to stream it into each resident’s private room.
Elliott said music is “essential” for people in these trying times, especially those who can’t leave their homes.
“There’s something about music… it’s magic because it connects them with times past,” Elliott said.
What really touches his heart is seeing seniors, especially those with dementia, come alive when they see and hear him perform. As soon as the music starts, they suddenly light up, clap their hands and start singing along.
“It’s quite incredible.”
The DVD is not just for seniors, but for everyone to enjoy as it has a variety of songs including gospel, upbeat tempo and seasonal music.
The cost is $30. To buy a copy of Why Can’t Every Day be Like Christmas? email tribute@elviselite.com, call 604-793-8367, or message him at facebook.com/elviselite.
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