Clearance Giddens: Difference between revisions

Clearance Giddens
Clearance Giddens
Birth name	Clearance Giddens
Also known as	Clarence Giddens, Black Elvis
Born	Virginia United States
Genres	Rock; Gospel
Occupation(s)	Painter, singer, elvis impersonator
Instrument	Guitar
Years active	1988–present

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Clearance Giddens is an African American Elvis impersonator from Melfa, Virginia, who has been billed as the "Black Elvis". He has appeared on The Arsenio Hall Show and the Geraldo Show, and in the film Honeymoon in Vegas.^[1]^[2] In the early 1990s, he also sang on stage in a duet with Jimmy Buffett singing "Jailhouse Rock".^[3] He is listed in the book I Am Elvis: A Guide to Elvis Impersonators.^[4]^[5]

Early life

Giddens grew up in Painter, Virginia and works as house painter.^[6]^[7]^[8]^[9] He received his first guitar as a gift from his mother.^[10] Upon leaving school, he worked in local fields to support his family.^[11] Giddens' parents are devout Christians and his mother was initially hesitant about his Elvis act because she considered it worldly.^[12]

Clearance Giddens's early influences are country and gospel music, specifically Elvis Presley, James Brown, and Roy C.^[13]^[14] His family didn't have a TV, so he only watched it at his uncle's house about once a month. He remembers being in disbelief in his early teenage years when he first saw Presley dancing and singing on TV since he hadn't ever heard a white singer with so much soul before.^[15]^[16] He recalls hiding in the closet to listen to Elvis because his strict Christian mother did not allow rock and roll in the house.^[17]

Before Giddens started his Elvis act, he was a member of a gospel group called the Gospel Specials who sang with artists such as Al Green and Solomon Burke.^[18] He is also credited as guitarist as well lead vocalist on two tracks by a group called Gospel Expressions who released an album, Good Times Bad Times.^[19]

Career

Origin of Black Elvis

Giddens learned to strum "Love Me Tender" because it was a favorite of his then-girlfriend, a devoted Elvis fan. As he was clowning around singing Elvis songs, she suggested he seriously pursue an Elvis impersonator career.^[20]^[21]^[22] He remembers thinking "Black Elvis? Nobody's going to buy that."^[21] Giddens mentioned the idea to his boss, who was so enthusiastic that he got Giddens a Saturday gig performing at a restaurant the crew had recently painted. Giddens was so nervous that his legs shook but the crowd roared and tipped him generously. A chef accompanied him on piano and lead guitar, and the room was so full that Giddens' friends had to watch through the window from outside. The duo continued getting gigs and the chef eventually quit his restaurant job. By 1987, Clearance Giddens was performing as Black Elvis across the Eastern shore of Virginia.^[21]^[22] His ex-girlfriend saw his success and requested a cut of his earnings for inspiring him, a request he denied.^[22]

International fame

Giddens' Black Elvis performance was attracting national media attention, and reporters were writing about his talent and "raw dynamism".^[23] For his first national TV spot, he faced his fear of flying to attend The Arsenio Hall Show in California but was so exhausted upon arriving that he slept through his performance. Shortly after waking up that evening, he answered a knock at his hotel room from Entertainment Tonight staff requesting an appearance.^[24] He continued getting invites from shows, and he performed for programs such as Hard Copy, Inside Edition, Viva Elvis weekend,^[25] a Jimmy Buffet concert, ^[26]and the Howard Stern Show.^[27] In one appearance on the Geraldo Show, a Black audience member told Giddens that imitating a white performer was betraying his race. Another Elvis impersonator named Russ Howe responded that what Giddens was doing was beautiful, which caused the audience to applaud.^[28] A Hollywood casting director reached out about a film role that involved parachuting out of a plane with other Elvis impersonators as part of a recurring joke in the 1992 romantic comedy Honeymoon in Vegas, which starred Nicolas Cage, James Caan, and Sarah Jessica Parker. Giddens was cast for the Black Elvis role even though he said he wouldn't jump out of a plane, appearing in other scenes instead.^[29]^[30] Despite his growing profile Giddens struggled to book shows of his own in clubs, so he made his act more ridiculous by performing with a backing band called The Flamin' Caucasians. Another one of his backing band was The White Trash Band.^[31] Clearance Giddens remained in disbelief as he became more and more successful, sometimes questioning his own talent. He challenged a fellow Black Elvis impersonator named Robert Washington to a head-to-head showdown and did not get a response.^[32]

Giddens became a father in the mid-1990s and realized he could not keep up with both parenthood and his touring schedule. He stepped back from the Black Elvis circuit so that he could be a dad.^[33] He has said he is proud of his daughter. In a 2014 interview, Giddens reported that she had grown up and was studying to become an obstetrician.^[33]

2000s

Clearance Giddens continued his Black Elvis career on a smaller scale, with Italian restaurant owner Franco Nocera booking shows and a keyboard player named Snowflake providing backup. In addition to regular appearances at local venues and parties,^[34]^[35] he makes appearances in various productions, such as a a 2018 Apple ad that showed Elvis impersonators talking on a group Facetime calls.^[36]^[37]

Discography

EPs and albums
Title	Catalogue	Year	Notes #
Jump, Shout, Scream		1993	^[38]
Can You Feel the Flavor?		2009	As Black Elvis^[39]

Filmography

List
Title	Role	Director	Year	Notes #
Viva Elvis – Channel 4 1×75 1991 Elvis Special, presented by Jonathan Ross	Himself		1991	^[40]^[41]
Honeymoon in Vegas	Black Elvis	Andrew Bergman	1992	^[42]
Homicide: Life on the Street				^[43]

Stage

List
Title	Role	Director	Year	Notes #
Seoul House	Delivery driver		1991	^[44]

References

^ The Free Lance Star August 15, 1991 Page 3, Scene, Elvis is everywhere Especially in Memphis, where wannabes compete by Woody Baird
^ The Enquirer January 24, 1993 No Ordinary Hunka-hunka Burning Impersonator As Black Elvis, Singer Clearance Giddens Has Appeared On Tv And In A Recent Feature Film. By Cheryl Squadrito
^ Pittsburgh Post Gazette, Saturday, February 9, 1991 Page 17, People, Pages/Elvis By Any Name
^ Cherokee County Herald April 17, 1991 Page 3, Picking hits is science to trivia task Ethel Anne DeVare
^ Am Elvis: A Guide to Elvis Impersonators Edited by Marie Cahill I am Elvis: a guide to Elvis impersonators
^ Daily Press June 10, 1994 Elvis Has Left The Image, Well, Not Exactly, But Black Elvis Is Eyeing Nashville by Sam McDonald
^ Crutchley Enterprises Meet the staff, Clearance (Elvis) Giddens Archived 2015-07-07 at the Wayback Machine
^ Spin August 1989 Volume Five Number Five Page 65, Black Elvis by Mark Mobley
^ Library of Congress Thunder Castle, State Route 607 vicinity, Painter, Accomack County, VA
^ ABC 12 News Now December 19, 2014 Eastern Shore icon Black Elvis has 'one more tour left'
Clarence Giddens, who earned fame as Black Elvis, is back on stage and performing after earning fame two decades ago in movies and on television Jennifer Cording, Eastern Shore News Archived 2015-09-27 at the Wayback Machine
^ Elvis Information Network Eastern Shore icon Black Elvis has 'one more tour left'
^ The Free Lance Star, Thursday September 22, 1994 D2 from page D1 Elvis
^ The Baltimore Sun September 16, 1995 Black Elvis: That's The Way It Is By Dail Willis
^ Blue Virginia Monday, September 28, 2009 From the "Too Fun Not to Mention" File
^ Secrets of the Eastern Shore, July 18, 2015 – Characters / Meet Black Elvis, the Pride of Itty Bitty Painter on Virginia’s Eastern Shore – written by Jim Duffy
^ delmarva now, Dec. 18, 2014 – Va. Shore icon Black Elvis has 'one more tour left' – Jennifer Cording
^ Secrets of the Eastern Shore, July 18, 2015 – Characters / Meet Black Elvis, the Pride of Itty Bitty Painter on Virginia’s Eastern Shore – written by Jim Duffy
^ Spin August 1989 Volume Five Number Five Page 65, Black Elvis by Mark Mobley
^ Discogs Gospel Expressions – Good Times Bad Times
^ Eastern Shore Post, October 23, 2018 – Do Drop Inn Celebrates 50 Years of Lifting Spirits By Stefanie Jackson
^ ^a ^b ^c The Free Lance Star September 22, 1994 Elvis Noir, The King borrowed from black musicians; now a black singer's borrowing back by Michael Zitz
^ ^a ^b ^c "Seeing Black Elvis perform is, well, astounding". The Daily Times. 1995-07-02. p. 22. Retrieved 2024-09-21.
^ "Black Elvis still finds his career unbelievable". The Daily Times. 1995-07-09. p. 22. Retrieved 2024-09-21.
^ "Black Elvis still finds his career unbelievable". The Daily Times. 1995-07-09. p. 22. Retrieved 2024-09-21.
^ The Virginian-Pilot, Sunday, June 4, 1995 – THOUSANDS SIGHTED HONORING THE KING AT VIVA ELVIS WEEKEND – BY BILL REED, STAFF WRITER
^ The Baltimore Sun September 16, 1995 Black Elvis: That's The Way It Is By Dail Willis
^ Blue Virginia Monday, September 28, 2009 From the "Too Fun Not to Mention" File
^ Race and the Subject of Masculinities Harry Stecopoulos, Michael Uebel Page 205, All the King's Men
^ New York Times Honeymoon in Vegas (1992), Acting credits
^ Elvis Information Network Eastern Shore icon Black Elvis has 'one more tour left'
^ Santa Cruz Sentinel February 10, 1991 Page 51, Whoah! That Isn't Elvis
^ Wounds of Returning: Race, Memory, and Property on the Postslavery Plantation Jessica Adams 51 – 52
^ ^a ^b ABC 12 News Now December 19, 2014 Eastern Shore icon Black Elvis has 'one more tour left'
Clarence Giddens, who earned fame as Black Elvis, is back on stage and performing after earning fame two decades ago in movies and on television Jennifer Cording, Eastern Shore News Archived 2015-09-27 at the Wayback Machine
^ Eastern Shore Post, October 23, 2018 – Do Drop Inn Celebrates 50 Years of Lifting Spirits By Stefanie Jackson
^ ABC 12 News Now December 19, 2014 Eastern Shore icon Black Elvis has 'one more tour left'
Clarence Giddens, who earned fame as Black Elvis, is back on stage and performing after earning fame two decades ago in movies and on television Jennifer Cording, Eastern Shore News Archived 2015-09-27 at the Wayback Machine
^ Shore Daily News, Dec 4, 2018 – Two Eastern Shoremen Make the National Media
^ Local Scoop – Black Elvis scooped by Mark Atkinson
^ The Free Lance Star September 22, 1994 – Elvis Noir, The King borrowed from black musicians; now a black singer's borrowing back by Michael Zitz
^ Spotify – Can You Feel the Flavor, Black Elvis
^ Channel X Viva Elvis Archived 2015-10-01 at the Wayback Machine
^ Youtube Viva Elvis (1991)- Part 4 of 7 #Channel 4 UK#
^ TV Guide – Honeymoon In Vegas, Cast
^ The Baltimore Sun September 16, 1995 Black Elvis: That's The Way It Is By Dail Willis
^ Los Angeles Times May 17, 1991 'Seoul House': Rap Opera to Social Commentary :
Stage: Set in a Korean-owned store in a black neighborhood, the multimedia piece has found itself mirroring recent news events. by Diane Haithman

Links

[1] The Free Lance Star August 15, 1991 Page 3, Scene, Elvis is everywhere Especially in Memphis, where wannabes compete by Woody Baird

[2] The Enquirer January 24, 1993 No Ordinary Hunka-hunka Burning Impersonator As Black Elvis, Singer Clearance Giddens Has Appeared On Tv And In A Recent Feature Film. By Cheryl Squadrito

[3] Pittsburgh Post Gazette, Saturday, February 9, 1991 Page 17, People, Pages/Elvis By Any Name

[4] Cherokee County Herald April 17, 1991 Page 3, Picking hits is science to trivia task Ethel Anne DeVare

[5] Am Elvis: A Guide to Elvis Impersonators Edited by Marie Cahill I am Elvis: a guide to Elvis impersonators

[6] Daily Press June 10, 1994 Elvis Has Left The Image, Well, Not Exactly, But Black Elvis Is Eyeing Nashville by Sam McDonald

[7] Crutchley Enterprises Meet the staff, Clearance (Elvis) Giddens Archived 2015-07-07 at the Wayback Machine

[8] Spin August 1989 Volume Five Number Five Page 65, Black Elvis by Mark Mobley

[9] Library of Congress Thunder Castle, State Route 607 vicinity, Painter, Accomack County, VA

[10] ABC 12 News Now December 19, 2014 Eastern Shore icon Black Elvis has 'one more tour left'
Clarence Giddens, who earned fame as Black Elvis, is back on stage and performing after earning fame two decades ago in movies and on television Jennifer Cording, Eastern Shore News Archived 2015-09-27 at the Wayback Machine

[11] Elvis Information Network Eastern Shore icon Black Elvis has 'one more tour left'

[12] The Free Lance Star, Thursday September 22, 1994 D2 from page D1 Elvis

[13] The Baltimore Sun September 16, 1995 Black Elvis: That's The Way It Is By Dail Willis

[14] Blue Virginia Monday, September 28, 2009 From the "Too Fun Not to Mention" File

[15] Secrets of the Eastern Shore, July 18, 2015 – Characters / Meet Black Elvis, the Pride of Itty Bitty Painter on Virginia’s Eastern Shore – written by Jim Duffy

[16] rva now, Dec. 18, 2014 – Va. Shore icon Black Elvis has 'one more tour left' – Jennifer Cording

[17] Secrets of the Eastern Shore, July 18, 2015 – Characters / Meet Black Elvis, the Pride of Itty Bitty Painter on Virginia’s Eastern Shore – written by Jim Duffy

[18] Spin August 1989 Volume Five Number Five Page 65, Black Elvis by Mark Mobley

[19] Discogs Gospel Expressions – Good Times Bad Times

[20] Eastern Shore Post, October 23, 2018 – Do Drop Inn Celebrates 50 Years of Lifting Spirits By Stefanie Jackson

[:0-21] The Free Lance Star September 22, 1994 Elvis Noir, The King borrowed from black musicians; now a black singer's borrowing back by Michael Zitz

[:1-22] "Seeing Black Elvis perform is, well, astounding". The Daily Times. 1995-07-02. p. 22. Retrieved 2024-09-21.

[23] "Black Elvis still finds his career unbelievable". The Daily Times. 1995-07-09. p. 22. Retrieved 2024-09-21.

[24] "Black Elvis still finds his career unbelievable". The Daily Times. 1995-07-09. p. 22. Retrieved 2024-09-21.

[25] The Virginian-Pilot, Sunday, June 4, 1995 – THOUSANDS SIGHTED HONORING THE KING AT VIVA ELVIS WEEKEND – BY BILL REED, STAFF WRITER

[26] The Baltimore Sun September 16, 1995 Black Elvis: That's The Way It Is By Dail Willis

[27] Blue Virginia Monday, September 28, 2009 From the "Too Fun Not to Mention" File

[28] Race and the Subject of Masculinities Harry Stecopoulos, Michael Uebel Page 205, All the King's Men

[29] New York Times Honeymoon in Vegas (1992), Acting credits

[30] Elvis Information Network Eastern Shore icon Black Elvis has 'one more tour left'

[31] Santa Cruz Sentinel February 10, 1991 Page 51, Whoah! That Isn't Elvis

[32] Wounds of Returning: Race, Memory, and Property on the Postslavery Plantation Jessica Adams 51 – 52

[:2-33] ABC 12 News Now December 19, 2014 Eastern Shore icon Black Elvis has 'one more tour left'
Clarence Giddens, who earned fame as Black Elvis, is back on stage and performing after earning fame two decades ago in movies and on television Jennifer Cording, Eastern Shore News Archived 2015-09-27 at the Wayback Machine

[34] Eastern Shore Post, October 23, 2018 – Do Drop Inn Celebrates 50 Years of Lifting Spirits By Stefanie Jackson

[35] ABC 12 News Now December 19, 2014 Eastern Shore icon Black Elvis has 'one more tour left'
Clarence Giddens, who earned fame as Black Elvis, is back on stage and performing after earning fame two decades ago in movies and on television Jennifer Cording, Eastern Shore News Archived 2015-09-27 at the Wayback Machine

[36] Shore Daily News, Dec 4, 2018 – Two Eastern Shoremen Make the National Media

[37] Local Scoop – Black Elvis scooped by Mark Atkinson

[38] The Free Lance Star September 22, 1994 – Elvis Noir, The King borrowed from black musicians; now a black singer's borrowing back by Michael Zitz

[39] Spotify – Can You Feel the Flavor, Black Elvis

[40] Channel X Viva Elvis Archived 2015-10-01 at the Wayback Machine

[41] Youtube Viva Elvis (1991)- Part 4 of 7 #Channel 4 UK#

[42] TV Guide – Honeymoon In Vegas, Cast

[43] The Baltimore Sun September 16, 1995 Black Elvis: That's The Way It Is By Dail Willis

[44] Los Angeles Times May 17, 1991 'Seoul House': Rap Opera to Social Commentary :
Stage: Set in a Korean-owned store in a black neighborhood, the multimedia piece has found itself mirroring recent news events. by Diane Haithman

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@@ Line 21: / Line 21: @@
 '''Clearance Giddens''' is an African American [[Elvis impersonator]] from [[Melfa, Virginia]], who has been billed as the "Black Elvis". He has appeared on ''[[The Arsenio Hall Show]]'' and the ''[[Geraldo (TV series)|Geraldo Show]]'', and in the film ''[[Honeymoon in Vegas]]''.<ref>''The Free Lance Star'' August 15, 1991 [https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1298&dat=19910815&id=TG9WAAAAIBAJ&sjid=FeQDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6819,2312991&hl=ko Page 3, Scene, Elvis is everywhere ''Especially in Memphis, where wannabes compete'' by Woody Baird]</ref><ref>''The Enquirer'' January 24, 1993 [http://articles.philly.com/1993-01-24/news/25961643_1_impersonator-black-elvis-clearance-giddens No Ordinary Hunka-hunka Burning Impersonator As Black Elvis, Singer Clearance Giddens Has Appeared On Tv And In A Recent Feature Film. By Cheryl Squadrito]</ref> In the early 1990s, he also sang on stage in a duet with [[Jimmy Buffett]] singing "[[Jailhouse Rock (song)|Jailhouse Rock]]".<ref>''Pittsburgh Post Gazette'', Saturday, February 9, 1991 [https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1129&dat=19910209&id=5K5RAAAAIBAJ&sjid=bG4DAAAAIBAJ&pg=6449,2309615&hl=ko Page 17, People, Pages/Elvis By Any Name]</ref> He is listed in the book ''I Am Elvis: A Guide to Elvis Impersonators''.<ref>''Cherokee County Herald'' April 17, 1991 [https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=354&dat=19910417&id=Sa0vAAAAIBAJ&sjid=gj4DAAAAIBAJ&pg=6748,1511242&hl=ko Page 3, Picking hits is science to trivia task Ethel Anne DeVare]</ref><ref>'' Am Elvis: A Guide to Elvis Impersonators'' Edited by Marie Cahill [https://books.google.com/books?id=fXTZAAAAMAAJ&q=I+Am+Elvis:+A+Guide+Clearance I am Elvis: a guide to Elvis impersonators]</ref>
-==Personal background==
+==Early life==
 Giddens grew up in [[Painter, Virginia]] and works as house painter.<ref>''Daily Press'' June 10, 1994 [http://articles.dailypress.com/1994-06-10/features/9406100133_1_black-elvis-blue-suede-shoes-garth-brooks Elvis Has Left The Image, Well, Not Exactly, But Black Elvis Is Eyeing Nashville by Sam McDonald]</ref><ref>Crutchley Enterprises [http://www.crutchleyenterprises.com/staff.html Meet the staff, Clearance (Elvis) Giddens] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150707132215/http://www.crutchleyenterprises.com/staff.html |date=2015-07-07 }}</ref><ref>''Spin'' August 1989 Volume Five Number Five [https://books.google.com/books?id=kPkc1_IBN2kC&dq=%22Clearance+Giddens%22Elvis&pg=PA65 Page 65, Black Elvis by Mark Mobley]</ref><ref>Library of Congress [https://www.loc.gov/item/va0032/ Thunder Castle, State Route 607 vicinity, Painter, Accomack County, VA]</ref> He received his first guitar as a gift from his mother.<ref>ABC 12 News Now December 19, 2014 [http://www.13newsnow.com/story/news/local/virginia/2014/12/19/eastern-shore-icon-black-elvis-has-one-more-tour-left/20629921/ Eastern Shore icon Black Elvis has 'one more tour left'<br>''Clarence Giddens, who earned fame as Black Elvis, is back on stage and performing after earning fame two decades ago in movies and on television'' Jennifer Cording, Eastern Shore News] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150927175932/http://www.13newsnow.com/story/news/local/virginia/2014/12/19/eastern-shore-icon-black-elvis-has-one-more-tour-left/20629921/ |date=2015-09-27 }}</ref> Upon leaving school, he worked in local fields to support his family.<ref>''Elvis Information Network'' [http://www.elvisinfonet.com/almostelvis.html Eastern Shore icon Black Elvis has 'one more tour left']</ref> Giddens' parents are devout Christians and his mother was initially hesitant about his Elvis act because she considered it worldly.<ref>''The Free Lance Star'', Thursday September 22, 1994 [https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1298&dat=19940922&id=1egyAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ugcGAAAAIBAJ&pg=5128,4771809&hl=ko D2 ''from page D1'' ''Elvis'']</ref>
-==Career==
-===Early years===
 Clearance Giddens's early influences are country and gospel music, specifically Elvis Presley, James Brown, and Roy C.<ref>''The Baltimore Sun'' September 16, 1995 [http://articles.baltimoresun.com/1995-09-16/news/1995259103_1_elvis-began-black-elvis-giddens Black Elvis: That's The Way It Is By Dail Willis]</ref><ref>Blue Virginia Monday, September 28, 2009 [http://bluevablog.blogspot.com/2009/09/from-too-fun-not-to-mention-file.html From the "Too Fun Not to Mention" File]</ref> His family didn't have a TV, so he only watched it at his uncle's house about once a month. He remembers being in disbelief in his early teenage years when he first saw Presley dancing and singing on TV since he hadn't ever heard a white singer with so much soul before.<ref>Secrets of the Eastern Shore, July 18, 2015 – [https://www.secretsoftheeasternshore.com/eastern-shore-black-elvis/ Characters / Meet Black Elvis, the Pride of Itty Bitty Painter on Virginia’s Eastern Shore – ''written by Jim Duffy'']</ref><ref>[[DelmarvaNOW.com|delmarva now]], Dec. 18, 2014 – [https://www.delmarvanow.com/story/news/local/virginia/2014/12/18/va-shore-icon-black-elvis-one-tour-left/20582927/ Va. Shore icon Black Elvis has 'one more tour left' – Jennifer Cording]</ref> He recalls hiding in the closet to listen to Elvis because his strict Christian mother did not allow [[rock and roll]] in the house.<ref>Secrets of the Eastern Shore, July 18, 2015 – [https://www.secretsoftheeasternshore.com/eastern-shore-black-elvis/ Characters / Meet Black Elvis, the Pride of Itty Bitty Painter on Virginia’s Eastern Shore – ''written by Jim Duffy'']</ref>
-Before Giddens started his Elvis act, he was a member of a gospel group called the Gospel Specials who sang with artists such as [[Al Green]] and [[Solomon Burke]].<ref>''Spin'' August 1989 Volume Five Number Five [https://books.google.com/books?id=kPkc1_IBN2kC&dq=%22Clearance+Giddens%22Elvis&pg=PA65 Page 65, Black Elvis by Mark Mobley]</ref> He is also credited as guitarist as well lead vocalist on two tracks by a group called Gospel Expressions who released an album, ''Good Times Bad Times''.<ref>Discogs [http://www.discogs.com/Gospel-Expressions-Good-Times-Bad-Times/release/6578360 Gospel Expressions  – Good Times Bad Times]</ref> Eventually, the group broke up.
+Before Giddens started his Elvis act, he was a member of a gospel group called the Gospel Specials who sang with artists such as [[Al Green]] and [[Solomon Burke]].<ref>''Spin'' August 1989 Volume Five Number Five [https://books.google.com/books?id=kPkc1_IBN2kC&dq=%22Clearance+Giddens%22Elvis&pg=PA65 Page 65, Black Elvis by Mark Mobley]</ref> He is also credited as guitarist as well lead vocalist on two tracks by a group called Gospel Expressions who released an album, ''Good Times Bad Times''.<ref>Discogs [http://www.discogs.com/Gospel-Expressions-Good-Times-Bad-Times/release/6578360 Gospel Expressions  – Good Times Bad Times]</ref>
+==Career==
-Giddens learned to strum "[[Love Me Tender (song)|Love Me Tender]]" because it was a favorite of his then-girlfriend, a devoted Elvis fan. As he was clowning around singing Elvis songs, she suggested he seriously pursue an Elvis impersonator career.<ref>''Eastern Shore Post'', October 23, 2018 – [https://www.easternshorepost.com/2018/10/23/do-drop-inn-celebrates-50-years-of-lifting-spirits/ Do Drop Inn Celebrates 50 Years of Lifting Spirits ''By Stefanie Jackson'']</ref><ref name=":0">''The Free Lance Star'' September 22, 1994 [https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1298&dat=19940922&id=1egyAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ugcGAAAAIBAJ&pg=6606,4768651&hl=ko Elvis Noir, The King borrowed from black musicians; now a black singer's borrowing back by Michael Zitz]</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite news |date=1995-07-02 |title=Seeing Black Elvis perform is, well, astounding |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-times-seeing-black-elvis-perfo/155751350/ |access-date=2024-09-21 |work=The Daily Times |pages=22}}</ref> He was interested but skeptical, and he said "Black Elvis? Nobody's going to buy that."<ref name=":0" /> Giddens' boss liked the idea and got him a Saturday gig performing at a restaurant the crew had recently painted. On the night of the performance Giddens was so nervous that his legs shook when he stood, and the crowd roared and tipped him generously. Some of Giddens friends had to watch from outside because the room was so full. A chef played piano and lead guitar, and kept joining Giddens at his next gigs until they were so successful he could quit his restaurant job. By 1987, Clearance Giddens was performing as Black Elvis across the Eastern shore of Virginia.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /> His ex-girlfriend reached out to ask him for a cut of his earnings, which he refused.<ref name=":1" />
+===Origin of Black Elvis===
+Giddens learned to strum "[[Love Me Tender (song)|Love Me Tender]]" because it was a favorite of his then-girlfriend, a devoted Elvis fan. As he was clowning around singing Elvis songs, she suggested he seriously pursue an Elvis impersonator career.<ref>''Eastern Shore Post'', October 23, 2018 – [https://www.easternshorepost.com/2018/10/23/do-drop-inn-celebrates-50-years-of-lifting-spirits/ Do Drop Inn Celebrates 50 Years of Lifting Spirits ''By Stefanie Jackson'']</ref><ref name=":0">''The Free Lance Star'' September 22, 1994 [https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1298&dat=19940922&id=1egyAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ugcGAAAAIBAJ&pg=6606,4768651&hl=ko Elvis Noir, The King borrowed from black musicians; now a black singer's borrowing back by Michael Zitz]</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite news |date=1995-07-02 |title=Seeing Black Elvis perform is, well, astounding |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-times-seeing-black-elvis-perfo/155751350/ |access-date=2024-09-21 |work=The Daily Times |pages=22}}</ref> He remembers thinking "Black Elvis? Nobody's going to buy that."<ref name=":0" /> Giddens mentioned the idea to his boss, who was so enthusiastic that he got Giddens a Saturday gig performing at a restaurant the crew had recently painted. Giddens was so nervous that his legs shook but the crowd roared and tipped him generously. A chef accompanied him on piano and lead guitar, and the room was so full that Giddens' friends had to watch through the window from outside. The duo continued getting gigs and the chef eventually quit his restaurant job. By 1987, Clearance Giddens was performing as Black Elvis across the Eastern shore of Virginia.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /> His ex-girlfriend saw his success and requested a cut of his earnings for inspiring him, a request he denied.<ref name=":1" />
+=== International fame ===
 Giddens' Black Elvis performance was attracting national media attention, and reporters were writing about his talent and "raw dynamism".<ref>{{Cite news |date=1995-07-09 |title=Black Elvis still finds his career unbelievable |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-times-black-elvis-still-finds/155753168/ |access-date=2024-09-21 |work=The Daily Times |pages=22}}</ref> For his first national TV spot, he faced his fear of flying to attend ''[[The Arsenio Hall Show]]'' in California but was so exhausted upon arriving that he slept through his performance. Shortly after waking up that evening, he answered a knock at his hotel room from [[Entertainment Tonight|''Entertainment Tonight'']] staff requesting an appearance.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1995-07-09 |title=Black Elvis still finds his career unbelievable |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-times-black-elvis-still-finds/155753702/ |access-date=2024-09-21 |work=The Daily Times |pages=22}}</ref> He continued getting invites from shows, and he performed for programs such as ''[[Hard Copy]]'', ''[[Inside Edition]]'', [[Viva Elvis (Cirque du Soleil)|Viva Elvis]] weekend,<ref>''The Virginian-Pilot'', Sunday, June 4, 1995 –  [https://scholar.lib.vt.edu/VA-news/VA-Pilot/issues/1995/vp950604/06040031.htm THOUSANDS SIGHTED HONORING THE KING AT VIVA ELVIS WEEKEND –  BY BILL REED, STAFF WRITER]</ref> a [[Jimmy Buffett|Jimmy Buffet]] concert, <ref>''The Baltimore Sun'' September 16, 1995 [http://articles.baltimoresun.com/1995-09-16/news/1995259103_1_elvis-began-black-elvis-giddens Black Elvis: That's The Way It Is By Dail Willis]</ref>and the ''[[The Howard Stern Show|Howard Stern Show]]''.<ref>Blue Virginia Monday, September 28, 2009 [http://bluevablog.blogspot.com/2009/09/from-too-fun-not-to-mention-file.html From the "Too Fun Not to Mention" File]</ref> In one appearance on the ''Geraldo Show,'' a Black audience member told Giddens that imitating a white performer was betraying his race. Another Elvis impersonator named Russ Howe responded that what Giddens was doing was beautiful, which caused the audience to applaud.<ref>''Race and the Subject of Masculinities'' Harry Stecopoulos, Michael Uebel [https://books.google.com/books?id=6o8mjm8YnmgC&dq=%22Clearance+Giddens%22&pg=PA205 Page 205, All the King's Men]</ref> A Hollywood casting director reached out about a film role that involved parachuting out of a plane with other Elvis impersonators as part of a recurring joke in the 1992 romantic comedy ''[[Honeymoon in Vegas]]'', which starred [[Nicolas Cage]], [[James Caan]], and [[Sarah Jessica Parker]]''.'' Giddens was cast for the Black Elvis role even though he said he wouldn't jump out of a plane, appearing in other scenes instead.<ref>''New York Times'' [https://web.archive.org/web/20150927165351/http://www.nytimes.com/movies/movie/22995/Honeymoon-in-Vegas/cast Honeymoon in Vegas (1992), Acting credits]</ref><ref>''Elvis Information Network'' [http://www.elvisinfonet.com/almostelvis.html Eastern Shore icon Black Elvis has 'one more tour left']</ref> Despite his growing profile Giddens struggled to book shows of his own in clubs, so he made his act more ridiculous by performing with a backing band called The Flamin' Caucasians. Another one of his backing band was The White Trash Band.<ref>''Santa Cruz Sentinel'' February 10, 1991 [https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/66936385/ Page 51, Whoah! That Isn't Elvis]</ref> Clearance Giddens remained in disbelief as he became more and more successful, sometimes questioning his own talent. He challenged a fellow Black Elvis impersonator named [[Robert Washington (singer)|Robert Washington]] to a head-to-head showdown and did not get a response.<ref>''Wounds of Returning: Race, Memory, and Property on the Postslavery Plantation'' Jessica Adams [https://books.google.com/books?id=Kj_PWmyolnsC&dq=%22Clearance+Giddens%22Geraldo&pg=PA1900 51 – 52]</ref>
-Giddens became a father in the mid-1990s. Though he initially attempted to keep up with both parenthood and his extensive touring schedule, he soon stepped back from touring in order to be a dad.<ref name=":2">ABC 12 News Now December 19, 2014 [http://www.13newsnow.com/story/news/local/virginia/2014/12/19/eastern-shore-icon-black-elvis-has-one-more-tour-left/20629921/ Eastern Shore icon Black Elvis has 'one more tour left'<br>''Clarence Giddens, who earned fame as Black Elvis, is back on stage and performing after earning fame two decades ago in movies and on television'' Jennifer Cording, Eastern Shore News] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150927175932/http://www.13newsnow.com/story/news/local/virginia/2014/12/19/eastern-shore-icon-black-elvis-has-one-more-tour-left/20629921/ |date=2015-09-27 }}</ref> Clearance Gebbins has said he is proud of his daughter, and in a 2014 interview he reported that she was grown up and studying to become an [[Obstetrics|obstetrician]].<ref name=":2" />
+Giddens became a father in the mid-1990s and realized he could not keep up with both parenthood and his touring schedule. He stepped back from the Black Elvis circuit so that he could be a dad.<ref name=":2">ABC 12 News Now December 19, 2014 [http://www.13newsnow.com/story/news/local/virginia/2014/12/19/eastern-shore-icon-black-elvis-has-one-more-tour-left/20629921/ Eastern Shore icon Black Elvis has 'one more tour left'<br>''Clarence Giddens, who earned fame as Black Elvis, is back on stage and performing after earning fame two decades ago in movies and on television'' Jennifer Cording, Eastern Shore News] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150927175932/http://www.13newsnow.com/story/news/local/virginia/2014/12/19/eastern-shore-icon-black-elvis-has-one-more-tour-left/20629921/ |date=2015-09-27 }}</ref> He has said he is proud of his daughter. In a 2014 interview, Giddens reported that she had grown up and was studying to become an [[Obstetrics|obstetrician]].<ref name=":2" />
 ===2000s===
+Clearance Giddens continued his Black Elvis career on a smaller scale, with Italian restaurant owner Franco Nocera booking shows and a keyboard player named Snowflake providing backup. In addition to regular appearances at local venues and parties,<ref>''Eastern Shore Post'', October 23, 2018 – [https://www.easternshorepost.com/2018/10/23/do-drop-inn-celebrates-50-years-of-lifting-spirits/ Do Drop Inn Celebrates 50 Years of Lifting Spirits ''By Stefanie Jackson'']</ref><ref>ABC 12 News Now December 19, 2014 [http://www.13newsnow.com/story/news/local/virginia/2014/12/19/eastern-shore-icon-black-elvis-has-one-more-tour-left/20629921/ Eastern Shore icon Black Elvis has 'one more tour left'<br />''Clarence Giddens, who earned fame as Black Elvis, is back on stage and performing after earning fame two decades ago in movies and on television'' Jennifer Cording, Eastern Shore News] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150927175932/http://www.13newsnow.com/story/news/local/virginia/2014/12/19/eastern-shore-icon-black-elvis-has-one-more-tour-left/20629921/|date=2015-09-27}}</ref> he makes appearances in various productions, such as a a 2018 [[Apple Inc.|Apple]] ad that showed Elvis impersonators talking on a group [[FaceTime|Facetime]] calls.<ref>''Shore Daily News'', Dec 4, 2018 – [https://shoredailynews.com/headlines/two-eastern-shore-men-make-the-national-media/ Two Eastern Shoremen Make the National Media]</ref><ref>Local Scoop – [https://www.localscoop.com/eastern-shore-virginia/black-elvis Black Elvis ''scooped by Mark Atkinson'']</ref>
-Clearance Giddens continued his Black Elvis career on a smaller scale, with a local Italian restaurant owner booking his shows. He keyboard player known as Snowflake. On March 29, 2008, he was booked to appear at Quizzo Bowl IV, held at the Blue Horizon on 1314 North Broad Street, Philadelphia.<ref>Johnny Goodtimes [http://johnnygoodtimes.com/2008/03/quizzo-bowl-ivits-on/ Quizzo Bowl IV…It’s On!]</ref>
-In December, 2014, Giddens and backing group, billed Black Elvis and Snowflake appeared at a Christmas Party and Toy Drive at Little Italy, [[Nassawadox, Virginia]].<ref>ABC 12 News Now December 19, 2014 [http://www.13newsnow.com/story/news/local/virginia/2014/12/19/eastern-shore-icon-black-elvis-has-one-more-tour-left/20629921/ Eastern Shore icon Black Elvis has 'one more tour left'<br>''Clarence Giddens, who earned fame as Black Elvis, is back on stage and performing after earning fame two decades ago in movies and on television'' Jennifer Cording, Eastern Shore News] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150927175932/http://www.13newsnow.com/story/news/local/virginia/2014/12/19/eastern-shore-icon-black-elvis-has-one-more-tour-left/20629921/ |date=2015-09-27 }}</ref>
-As of 2018, Giddens was making appearances at the Do Drop Inn restaurant and lounge in [[Franktown, Virginia]].<ref>''Eastern Shore Post'', October 23, 2018 – [https://www.easternshorepost.com/2018/10/23/do-drop-inn-celebrates-50-years-of-lifting-spirits/ Do Drop Inn Celebrates 50 Years of Lifting Spirits ''By Stefanie Jackson'']</ref>
-===Recent activity===
-In late 2018, Giddens was one of a group of Elvis impersonators that were featured in [[Apple Inc.|Apple's]] [[FaceTime|Group Facetime]] Service commercial.<ref>''Shore Daily News'', Dec 4, 2018 – [https://shoredailynews.com/headlines/two-eastern-shore-men-make-the-national-media/ Two Eastern Shoremen Make the National Media]</ref><ref>Local Scoop – [https://www.localscoop.com/eastern-shore-virginia/black-elvis Black Elvis ''scooped by Mark Atkinson'']</ref>
 ==Discography==