Jonathan Von Brana as Elvis, Bobby Brooks as Stevie Wonder
and Sy as Michael Jackson.
Jonathan Von Brana as Elvis, Bobby Brooks as Stevie Wonder
and Sy as Michael Jackson.
When mainland impersonators stopped drawing to Cione's satisfaction he took things to a low-budget extreme by going three-for-one: Japanese-American Elvis (who was a sincere fan), Local Elvis (a colorful Top 40 singer whose love of performing far exceeded his talent), and The Unknown Elvis (the showroom light man with a paper bag over his head).
Elvis was comic fodder for the Society of Seven and the Krush. The Love Notes presented Big Elvis and Little Elvis (John Valentine and Bruno Hernandez) - touting Bruno as the world's youngest Elvis. And Dread Zeppelin came to town with massive lead vocalist, Tort Elvis, for a free concert at the Hard Rock Cafe.
In short, Elvis wasn't getting much respect here when Von Brana walked away from a secure job in Las Vegas and opened "Flashback," a serious Vegas-style celebrity impersonator revue. He worked hard, paid his dues, and brought dignity to the profession. He had established personal credibility when "Legends in Concert," the big-budget show he'd left behind, came to town in 1993 and took over the Aloha Showroom atop the Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center.
Von Brana closed "Flashback" and became "Legends' " resident headliner. He's still there - Hawaii's all-time top Elvis.
"Legends" is a fast-moving celebration of modern American icons - Marilyn Monroe (Sydney Revere), Madonna (Eileen Fairbanks), Whitney Houston (Elisa Randolph), Prince (Frank Moore), the Blues Brothers (Michael St. John and Robb Horton). The performances are enhanced with state-of-the-art sound and lighting, and Waikiki's only Vegas-style dance line.
Each performer gets three or four songs; Von Brana has a slightly a longer segment that barely suffices to establish his personal appeal. The clientele is predominately visitors from Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Europe and North America; Von Brana has a local following as well.
The cast signs autographs and poses for pictures after each show. After that the "stars" become distinct individuals
Bobby "I'm very grateful ... but I don't want to live off somebody else's success." |
 Sy: "I could be like the guys who wear makeup all the time and try to have all the mannerisms, but they're trying to use his stage image as an alter ego. I'm perfectly fine with who I am." |
Jonathan "I'm not ... as talented Elvis; but I can entertain people." |
"There are maybe four or five jobs in the whole country where an Elvis (impersonator) is making regular money on a daily basis. I've made over $100,000 a year since 1983, but if someone makes fun of me because I'm performing as Elvis, it hurts as much as if he was making fun of me performing as myself," he said
"It's too bad (this hair style) is so connected with Elvis (because) it would be my hairstyle (anyway) - only not so exaggerated and with thinner sideburns. When I went to L.A. on vacation, I shaved off the sideburns and slicked my hair back and people still said I looked like Elvis."
One of his biggest peeves is being dismissed by people who believe all impersonators are talentless look-alikes. The "Legends" stars must be able to sing, dance, and play an instrument if appropriate. He politely expresses utter contempt for third-rate Elvis clones who give the profession the buffoonish reputation epitomized in Skid Row & Mojo Nixon's "Elvis Is Everywhere" or the film "Honeymoon In Vegas."
"Those people make a bad name for all of us. I've seen so many of these guys get an attitude when all they really have is someone else's persona and a tremendous lack of talent.
"I'm not going to tell you I'm as talented as Elvis, but I can entertain people; I can get them to like me, and I can get them to believe that I have a nice voice."
Von Brana takes pride in his portrayal even though his set is programmed by the show's producers and they have him doing mostly pre-1968 material in a '70s-style jumpsuit. However, he succeeded in convincing them Elvis needed a haircut; he hopes to make costume changes, add a Hawaii movie medley and switch to a more authentic opening.
Although he looks considerably younger than Elvis, Von Brana feels his biological clock ticking.
"It scares me to think I'm getting at the age when I'll have to consider doing something else. Maybe politics, but I don't know if people would take me seriously. My focus (now) is to stay youthful and in condition because I'd better be the best (Elvis impersonator) there is."
"In 'Legends' I'm doing a serious impression - although how serious can you be with that much makeup on? I can do a dead-on Bill Cosby (voice), but I don't look anything like Cosby. With Michael Jackson it's the total package."
Soft-spoken, with a quick wit and sharp sense of humor, the 35-year old entertainer emphatically leaves his King of Pop persona at the showroom door.
"I could be like the guys who wear makeup all the time and try to have all the mannerisms, but they're trying to use his stage image as an alter ego. I'm perfectly fine with who I am."
Sy enjoys being ignored by people who raved over him an hour or two before. He lives quietly, a fan of old musicals, Fred Astaire, Sammy Davis Jr. and James Brown. He shares his home here with a Siamese cat and a parrot. He also enjoys bike riding and working out.
"You have to stay aerobically charged to do the set, but the hardest part (of the job) is putting on the makeup and being in character afterward. People will ask me (personal) things about his life, like I'm supposed to know. I met him through family friends, traveled in his entourage and talked with him many times, but I never asked him about personal things or tried to get anything from him."
If and when he decides to stop portraying Michael, Sy plans to diversify - "sing, dance, impressions" - and maybe parlay his acting skills into a sitcom. At the moment he's working on updating and improving his set.
"Everything you see me do was already set when I came here - songs, choreography, everything - but I've been on tour with Michael so I think I know a little more about what he'd be doing. Some things you have to keep, but I'd like to add what I call the 'Fred Astaire-style Side' of his dancing, and 'Man in the Mirror.'
"People come back (now) and still like it, but when they see what it's going to be they'll say, 'This is the real thing!' "
"I thought of it as something to do for fun off-duty (but) when I got my first paycheck it was more than my military pay. I knew I'd have no problem finding (civilian) employment if it didn't work out, so I decided to sing."
Brooks was soon promoted from back-up singer to a starring role with a dead-on impression of Jackie Wilson. "Legends" principal Paul Revere stopped by one night to look at someone else but offered Brooks an audition. He passed the audition and joined the show.
"Paul has believed in me from the beginning," he says, adding that Revere also encouraged him to add Wonder to his repertoire.
Brooks remains in character as long as he's in costume; another cast member leads him around and tells him which way to look when fans take pictures.
Brooks has contacts within the Wonder organization but has no intention of making a life out of impersonating Wonder or Wilson. He's working on originals that he sings as himself.
"I'm sure they've influenced my style, but there's a real high to getting that ovation as me. I'm very grateful that I was blessed with the ability to do what I'm doing (now) but I don't want to live off somebody else's success."
What: "Legends in Concert"
When: 6:30 and 9 p.m. daily in July
Where: Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center
Cost: $33-$135 ($20-$87 kamaaina
Call: 971-1400