Young
Cody Slaughter Dares To Rock and Wins!
Step back in time with me for a moment or two. The year is 1950. A
15-year old boy might be seen roaming the streets of Memphis, going
to the movies, hanging out at the local record shop or stopping off
at the corner soda fountain.
 During
the summer months, you might see him cutting lawns with a push mower
for $4 per yard. This particular boy would end up giving all of his
hard-earned money to his mother and father, with the promise that
some day he was going to buy them everything they ever wanted.
Closer to home you might see him sitting under a tree, strumming a
guitar with his friends gathered around him, or practicing that same
instrument in the laundry room underneath his apartment at
Lauderdale courts. He’s a nice southern boy – very shy, humble, and
thoughtful to others – wanting only to make them happy.
The songs he plays are those he’s heard on the radio - hillbilly and
country, gospel music he’s learned in church, or even the soulful
blues tunes he’s heard down on Beale Street. His voice sounds soft
and sweet and quavers slightly. He’s more at ease playing his guitar
than chatting with his friends, and anyone can easily tell that it
is music that thrills him the most.
At this particular moment in time, however, he is totally unaware of
where his music will take him or the enormous icon he will become.
His name, of course, is Elvis Presley.
It wouldn’t be until 3 years later that Elvis even recorded his
first record for SUN Records. And a year after that before his first
record would hit the airwaves. At that time, he was only 19 years
old. “Heartbreak Hotel” will be his first hit record at age 21.
Fast forward with me now about fifty-some years to May 2006. Another
15-year old boy has just won FIRST place with his onstage portrayal
of that same Elvis Presley! He’s from Harrison, Arkansas, and his
name is Cody Slaughter!
The 3-day Branson Elvis® Explosion took place May 27, 28 and 29 at
the Lodge of the Ozarks and in attendance are Elvis Tribute Artists
(ETAs) from all over the United States - Arizona, Arkansas,
Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Minnesota,
Missouri, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Texas.
There were five judges including two personal friends of Elvis,
Bobby Stewart and Mack Gurley. Special informative guests included
Elvis’ karate instructor Wayne Carman and Elvis’ longtime friend
Dottie Booth (pictured with Cody).
The ETAs are all different ages and sizes. They are dressed in Elvis
style jumpsuits of all colors, in black leather, army uniforms, and
their street clothes. Some perform the Elvis of the fifties, some
the sixties, and some the seventies. One thing is very unmistakable
- they are all there because they love to sing and they love the
King!!
Many Elvis fans gathered to enjoy the competition and to cheer for
their favorite ETA. The fans know and love Elvis and his music, and
an excellent performance can be very emotional for some of us.
It is so exciting to watch Cody Slaughter perform. He looks,
acts, and sounds so much like the real thing that one can’t help but
do a double take. He brings the young Elvis back to life on stage
with the same energy, talent andcharisma. Not only is he the image
of Elvis when he first started performing but he has the same
passion for the music!
Yes, Cody possesses the early Elvis persona – confident in his
performance and able to tease the audience with some of the same
purposeful moves. It’s obvious this young man has been studying the
early Elvis very closely. I think every Elvis fan that has seen
early Elvis footage will agree that it appears to be almost second
nature for Cody. He looks that natural! It is also very apparent
that when Cody takes the stage, he is having a lot of fun!
I was fortunate enough to see Elvis in concert four times in the
seventies. Before that, only on television and I always thought it
would have been so exciting to be one of the young screaming fans
back in the 50’s.
When I watch Cody perform, I see the images of Scotty Moore on
guitar, Bill Black on the stand-up bass, and D.J. Fontana behind
him, and of course, all the screaming young girls that were always
at Elvis’ feet. I imagine what it must have been like back in 50’s
when Elvis was on stage and I’m transported back in time to
experience it myself! I’m actually one of those very young and
excited, screaming girls!!
The first day of his performance, Cody wore (in early Elvis style) a
black shirt, white tie, black dress pants with a white belt, black
and white shoes, and a light blue jacket. His first song was “Baby,
Let’s Play House” (1955) which he performed with all the voice
hiccups and dance moves of an early Elvis, even dropping to his
knees at one point. Cody worked the entire stage with the microphone
stand dragging along while he was singing and dancing. He tantalized
the audience with the famous shaky legs and hips, hand motions,
sudden shoulder shrugs, head snaps, and did it all with the same
twinkle in his eye. Cody brought the crowd to their feet with his
performance!
His second song was “Don’t Be Cruel” (1956) which was equally well
performed and well received. There were even several ladies who
presented Cody with roses in appreciation for which he thanked them
with a kiss on the cheek.
The second day, Cody took the stage dressed in one of Elvis
signature colors – a pink jacket with an open-necked black shirt
with the stand-up collar, and black pants. His opening song was the
rocking “Blue Suede Shoes” (1956) performed with guitar in hand.
Cody was equally comfortable on stage and performed with so many of
the same energetic and exciting Elvis moves that it’s hard for me to
describe. You have to see it to believe it!
Then Cody introduced the beautiful ballad, “I Was The One” (1956)
that Elvis first performed on the Jimmy Dorsey Show. You could
definitely hear the quavering voice of Elvis as Cody sang the lyrics
that tell of a broken hearted lover. Elvis would often recall this
ballad as one of his proudest early recordings. And Cody received
more roses and another standing ovation.
Cody’s final song for the day was the rebellious number from the
movie King Creole entitled “Trouble” (1958) which includes a raucous
Dixieland-style ending. By the end of this performance the audience
was once again on their feet.
The third day’s performance was the most spectacular with Cody
wearing a black shirt and slacks with the famous, flashy, gold-lame
jacket. He rocked the crowd with “Shake, Rattle and Roll” (1956) and
then my personal favorite from the movie Jailhouse Rock, “(You’re So
Square) Baby, I Don’t Care” (1956). Definitely some screaming going
on during these performances as Cody shook and shimmered all at over
the stage in that shiny gold jacket!
Before Cody performed his final song of the competition, he asked
the audience for a round of applause to pay tribute to Elvis
Presley.
Cody’s final selection was the gospel song Elvis sang for his mother
on the Ed Sullivan show in 1956 entitled “Peace In The Valley”
(1956). It was after this song that Ed Sullivan pulled Elvis aside
and commented to the world watching what a “decent, fine boy” he
was. Once again, Cody had the crowd on their feet by the end of this
touching and very memorable number.
After the final ETA performance, all the ETA’s took the stage.
Ronnie Craig, a former ETA himself and MC for the event, announced
the winners. Joe Beavers took third place and Irv Cass took second.
Cody was then announced as the first place winner!! He was awarded
$1000 cash, a $2,000 recording certificate, and a $700 wardrobe
certificate.
His family and fans were ecstatic and we think Cody was actually in
shock! After all, he was one week short of being 15 years old and
even his family thought it would be a few more competitions before
he actually won first place!
 To
meet Cody, it is very much like what I imagine meeting a young Elvis
would have been like in many ways. He is tall, dark and has the
handsome good looks (yes, including the sideburns). He possesses the
country boy charm, the southern politeness and respect for all who
take the time to meet him. He is sincere and genuine in the way he
pleases his fans by signing autographs and having pictures taken
with them.
In the short few years Cody has been performing as a young Elvis, he
has appeared in many private shows as well as local charity events.
He was honored to perform at Graceland in August 2005. He won third
place in the All Shook Up in Branson Elvis competition in November
2005. He also had the opportunity last year to perform occasionally
in a pre-show format at the “The Elvis Experience with Tony Roi.”
Cody’s win at the Branson Elvis® Explosion earned him an automatic
slot in the finals of the Worldwide Images of the King Championship
to be held in Memphis beginning the anniversary of Elvis’ death on
August 16, with the finals on the 18th and 19th.
He has been invited to compete in the Elvis® Explosion of LaCrosse
on September 8th – 10th in LaCrosse, Wisconsin.
Also, because he won the Branson Elvis® Explosion, Cody will have
the honor of hosting and performing at the next Branson Elvis®
Explosion on October 6, 7 & 8 at the Lodge of the Ozarks.
Cody has aspirations to one day have his own show and also to become
an actor. Future plans are also in the works to perform with Elvis’
backup group, the famous Jordanaires. Also, be sure and watch for
him in and around Branson.
I want to wish Cody the very, very best in all his future
engagements and thank him for taking us all back to an era when the
young and exciting Elvis Presley first appeared on the music scene.
Way to go Cody! Follow That Dream! Good luck! Your fans love you!
Visit Cody’s new website where he tells everyone, “Dare To Rock!” at
www.thecodyslaughtershow.piczo.com. You can also contact Cody at
etacody@yahoo.com or join his Yahoo Group called Love Me Tender
Always, Fan Club President Char Black, at LMTACodySlaughter@yahoogroups.com.
-Sandi McKim
With picture permission from Vic Freeman and Cody Slaughter
Editors Note: What a review Sandi---Wow!!
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