Shawn Klush

Shawn Klush live

Shawn Klush (Born June 17, 1969, (Pittston, Pennsylvania), is a lookalike soundalike American Elvis Presley tribute artist.

Early life

Shawn Klush was born and raised in Pittston, Pennsylvania. Klush's love for music led him to begin imitating his musical idol, Elvis Presley. Klush's father was a radio disc jockey. From an early age, Klush listened to Elvis singing. He studied guitar, and eventually joined a local band called Nightmoves, with members Joseph Bruno, Danny Gardnar, George Guman, and Charlie Newcomb.

Early career

Klush first began performing in the Poconos region. During a tour of Canada, he entered and won the $5,000 prize in the “Worldwide Elvis Competition” in Montreal. He was hired by Las Vegas show Legends in Concert to star as ‘Elvis’ in the company's Branson, Missouri production in 2004. He also alternated in their Las Vegas and Atlantic City show rooms. Each January he stars in the “Elvis Birthday Tribute Tour,” an Elvis show with Elvis’ original musicians, singers, and closest friends, in multiple cities. Klush also performed at Burnley Mechanics and performed at the Bolton Arena with Justin Shandor, Gordon Hendricks, Steve Preston, DJ Fontana, and The Sweet Inspirations.

Personal life

Shawn is married to his wife Beverly, and has two children, Shelby and Troy.

Competitions

As well as winning the “Worldwide Elvis Competition” in Montreal mentioned earlier on January 6, 2005, just two days before Elvis’ 70th birthday, Klush became grand champion at the $25,000 “World Elvis Tribute Artist Competition”. (Potawatomi Casino Contest) Then year he received “The People's Choice Award” from Gibson Guitar in Nashville as “Best Concert Elvis” in 2007. Klush was named the international champion of BBC1's [World's Greatest Elvis Competition in the United Kingdom by BBC1 Network U.K. Klush was chosen by Graceland as the winner of Elvis Presley Enterprises first ever Ultimate Tribute Artist Contest in Memphis, Tennessee , and is the only Elvis tribute artist officially endorsed and approved by Elvis Presley Enterprises.

According to Klush in a rare interview "I've won every one (Elvis Presley tribute artist competition) I ever attempted. I don't like them. I don't feel Elvis felt like he was in competition with anyone. (However) I graciously accept the awards (for winning) but I never stop working on my craft."

Klush has many times been dubbed by the news media as "The closest to The King in concert including The Chicago Tribune, The Las Vegas Sun and Newsweek Magazine.

Television

In 1999 Klush appeared in the VHI and NBC mini series "Shake Rattle and Roll" as Elvis. In 2014 Klush appeared on the Late Show with David Letterman at the end of the show as a featured performing musical guest singing the Elvis song 'Suspicious Minds'. In 2016, Klush appeared in an episode of the HBO series Vinyl playing Elvis Presley.