Real
Fireworks - Tony Roi
There was a big EXPLOSION at the Lodge of the Ozarks in Branson this
past Memorial Day Weekend. But the REAL FIREWORKS were down at the
other end of the strip at Tony
Roi’s House –
Music City
Centre!!
 The
explosion I’m referring to was the Elvis Explosion. There were, I
believe, 16 Elvis Tribute Artists who were competing for a chance to
go to Graceland. I don’t know all the details about that, but I do
know that Sandi and I were privileged to see our own favorite “young
Elvis,” Cody Slaughter - who has opened several times for Tony Roi -
win first place.
We were so proud of him – most of
you know he just turned 15 a few days after the competition, and he
has a great big future ahead of him!! So, Congratulations, Cody, and
we hope to try to see you in Memphis in August!!
Now, as for the REAL FIREWORKS, it was Fan Appreciation Day on
Saturday at what we are now calling Branson’s Graceland!! About 30
or 35 members of Tony’s Club were in town to support Branson’s Best
Performer, and most of us stayed on for four or five days.
We had so much fun, and Tony, of
course, didn’t let us down in the entertainment department!! He
turned the HEAT “WAY UP” when he opened with “WAY DOWN,” and the
TEMPERATURE just kept rising from there!! Some of us decided to
carry portable fans to cool off with – that gives a whole new
meaning to the words “FAN CLUB!”
One of our members, Carol, actually had real orchid leis flown in
from Hawaii to present to Tony during the show!! Wow – they were
just as gorgeous as the man himself!! Another loyal fan, Linda,
brought sunglasses like Elvis used to wear and asked Tony to wear
them for the on-stage photos.
It was startling how much Tony
looked like Elvis in “Aloha From Hawaii” – I’m still convinced that
the soul of Elvis is living in the body of Tony!! Sherry, Tony’s
professional photographer, took some really great pictures of “that
look,” and I will treasure mine forever!! Such a great memory-maker,
this man Tony Roi!!
Of course, a favorite Elvis song is always “Teddy Bear,” so the club
members each brought along a teddy bear to present to Tony as he was
singing that song. I’m not sure how many bears were collected, all
sizes and colors, but they will be donated to the local hospital,
with love from Tony and all of us.
Tony always includes a tribute to our veterans at the close of the
first half of his show. Because Monday was Memorial Day, there was
another tribute included, remembering September 11th and those who
died, as well as all those who have fought for our freedom down
through the years. Words of President Bush were woven into the
background – it was very touching, and I, for one, appreciated it
very much. Tony’s patriotism is always evident in his shows, and I
know he means it from the heart when he says “God Bless the United
States of America.”
There’s a brand new billboard south of Springfield advertising the
Tony Roi Elvis Experience. It says, “THIS SHOW SIZZLES!!!” What an
understatement!! Tony’s new show this year is so HOT that it is hard
to put into words. Fabulous, fantastic, fascinating, feral,
FEVERISH, fine, first-rate, FLAMING, flashy, flawless, flirtatious,
forceful, frantic, frenzied, fun, furious, … but I guess FIERY,
which the dictionary defines as INTENSELY HOT, says it best!!
Every
song
in the show, Tony just kicks it up a notch, until the roof is ready
to blow off the theatre!!! He has added many new songs this year,
such as “Angel,” “Devil In Disguise,” “Moody Blue,” and “Big Hunk of
Love,” but my two favorites are “Come On, Everybody,” from the
movie, “Viva, Las Vegas,” (that one REALLY raises the roof!), and
“Sylvia,” a love song so beautiful that it gives you HEAT STROKE!!
I told Tony that he could just call
me “Sylvia” from now on!! Be still, my heart!! He keeps promising us
“FEVER” and “STEAMroller Blues,” and I believe he has performed
those numbers at some of his shows, but so far, I haven’t been one
of the lucky ones to hear them!! It may be just as well. I think it
could be dangerous – they just might have to call the FIRE
Department and/or the paramedics!! And then there is always “BURNING
Love!!” Add a little Tony SALSA on top of that!! Enough said!!
I’ve mentioned it before, and it won’t be the last time, but I don’t
know how he keeps going like this – six shows a week – 2000% - all
of them SMOKING and SIZZLING with energy!! At my age, I wish he’d
share his secret – I could use a little help in the “pep”
department!! Of course, just sitting in Tony’s show for five days in
a row tends to be the greatest “pepper-upper” in the whole world!!
All of us ladies down there the
past several days felt like we were a bunch of teenagers. We laughed
and laughed – the more we laughed, the younger we got!! It feels so
great to just let go and be silly and not let age stand in the way
of enjoying life as long as we can!! We all thank TONY for that!!
And when we have to return home and we get to feeling so low that we
can’t take it anymore, we just BURN up the highways and return to
Tony’s House for a RECHARGE of our YOUTH!!
There have also been a few changes in the wardrobe Tony wears on
stage. Of course, the Elvis jumpsuits are number one with him, but
during the second half, he has been coming out in black LEATHER
PANTS and different shirts, and sometimes in a RED JACKET that just
FUELS THE FIRE!!
This man has every right to feel
pretty full of himself the way he IGNITES all of us women, but as
everyone knows, at the end of the day, Tony is just Tony – gracious
and humble and sweet and so visibly thankful for every one of his
fans. Believe me, we’re thankful for him, too!! I need to say, also,
that with all the HEAT and SIZZLE of Tony’s shows, the line is never
crossed – Tony is never inappropriate in any way. After all, this is
Branson, and it is a family place.
All of us were also FIRED UP over the new DVD which just became
available. Now we can - as Tony says from the stage - take him home,
watch him in slow motion, pause him, fast forward him – whatever our
little hearts desire!! At least now we have a little help to get
through the long days, weeks, or sometimes months between visits to
Tony’s House. The DVD is great – and it is dedicated to Tony’s
beloved Mother, whom he lost a few months ago. How proud she must
have been of this wonderful son of hers. Everyone who is a true Tony
fan MUST HAVE THIS DVD!!
I could go on forever about the FIERY effects of Tony, but I felt
another kind of FIRE this week – especially in the last show we were
able to see before coming back to reality and home. Tony absolutely
STILLED the audience when he sang “Lead Me” and “How Great Thou
Art!!” I felt the heavens open and the blessings came pouring down
upon everyone who was sitting there, all of them in stunned silence
and disbelief at the powerful, moving voice that filled the theatre.
I wasn’t the only one who was
openly and uncontrollably weeping. Beautiful music makes me cry,
anyway, but this wasn’t just music – it was FIRE FROM ABOVE –
delivered through this talented man, so blessed by God. No sermon in
any church could have conveyed such a message of faith. I still have
a very large lump in my throat and tears in my eyes just thinking
about it – I only wish it had been recorded, but I will forever hear
it in my heart.
That’s all for this time – all of you who were there for these
wonderful days – say a prayer of gratitude that your lives have been
touched by Tony Roi. I can’t even imagine life without Tony in it,
and it has only been one year since my sister and I discovered this
special man. He was put here in Branson for a reason. And all of you
out there who have never experienced The Elvis Experience, or as we
call it, The Tony Experience – go quickly and buy your tickets – you
won’t be sorry.
Your hearts and your souls will be
filled. You’ll come out of Music City Centre with a big smile on
your face!! Tell all your friends, and then come over here to
Bransoncritic and tell all of your FELLOW FANS about it – for once
you see this man, you WILL be one of us!!
Thank you, Tony, for a wonderful five days!! Thank you for who you
are and what you do for all of us – we all love you so much!! Till
we meet again……
Shirley Hendricks
Olathe, Kansas
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