'Elvis' wows United Way crowd
By Becky Barclay
Published in News on August 21, 2016 1:45 AM
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News-Argus/CASEY MOZINGO
Stephen Freeman performs during the Elvis and Friends benefit concert for the United Way of Wayne County Friday night at the Paramount Theatre.
Sandy Light turned 53 Friday and wanted to celebrate her birthday with the king of rock 'n' roll. So she and her sister attended the United Way of Wayne County's Elvis benefit concert at the Paramount Theatre.
To hear tribute artist Stephen Freeman crooning Elvis' hits, the sisters drove 272 miles from their homes in Virginia.
"We saw Stephen in Draper, Virginia, and liked him," Mrs. Light said. "We saw that the concert in Goldsboro was Elvis and friends, and thought it would be something fun to do to celebrate my birthday."
Her sister Janet Norville, 54, said they left the dads in charge of the families while they traveled to Goldsboro for the concert and to stay the night.
"I like everything about Stephen, especially when he threw the teddy bear at his concert in Draper and my sister was fighting over it and got it," Mrs. Norville said. "I am an Elvis fanatic -- he was cute, hunky and sexy. I loved his music and his movies."
Mrs. Light saw Freeman before his concert in Draper, when he went to visit her father at the nursing home.
"When he came out, I almost had tears in my eyes," she said. "He had all the moves and stuff. He was so good with the people in the nursing home. He would sing to them and kiss them on the cheek."
Being at Freeman's concerts brings back memories of their mother. Mrs. Light said their mother liked Elvis and lot and now that she has passed away, it's like having part of her with them at the concerts.
Friends Joan Thayer, 79, and Patsy White, 67, have attended the concert for five years.
"I just love Stephen," Mrs. Thayer said. "I've seen Elvis impersonators in Las Vegas and other places, and he's the best. He absolutely has it down to a science."
She grew up listening to Elvis' music and even saw him in person in the 1950s on a Potomac River cruise in Washington, D.C.
"The fellow I was with hoisted me up on his shoulders and I was able to see Elvis," Mrs. Thayer said.
Mrs. White grew up on Elvis' music, but never saw him in person.
"I didn't have high expectations the first time Stephen had a concert here, but he really is very, very good," she said.
Opening for Elvis and friends was the Casey Bluegrass Trio, composed of local musicians Daniel Casey and his daughter, Samantha, 20, and son Adam, 13.
This is Casey's second time of opening for Freeman.
"I was very honored when asked the first time," Casey said. "The second time was even better."
The Caseys have done hundreds of benefits for various causes.
"Our parents raised us to have a strong passion for giving back to the community," Samantha said. "And this is a wonderful cause to support and a way that we have fun, enjoy our talents and hopefully share them with others."
Freeman said the Goldsboro audience is a great crowd and the concert is a great event.
"Goldsboro people are very responsive, I'll put it that way," he said. "And anytime you can be part of something like this where you can make everybody happy at the same time, you can't beat that."
Freeman visits nursing homes frequently throughout the year as Elvis.
"They love the show," he said. "It's right in their age group. It brings some brightness to their day and some joy and some music they like."
The other tribute artists are all members of his Freeman's Echoes of a Legend Band.
Kenny Rogers is portrayed by 59-year-old Tim Sells. He has been a fan of Rogers for most of his life, he said. He remembers the first time he ever saw the singer on "The Ed Sullivan Show," where he did "Ruby."
"Kenny is the type of artist that if you go back and look at his career, he has done all genres of music," Sells said. "He started with rock 'n roll, then went with jazz, folk rock and country. He's done everything and he's been successful in all of them."
Chuck Martin became Ray Stevens on stage Friday night.
He met the singer when he was about 21.
"I went to Nashville knocking on doors," the 65-year-old said. "I'm a guitar player."
Martin was told to go to Stevens' studio, where he met the singer and played for him. Martin ended up playing on five of Stevens' albums and even co-writing a song with him that was on three albums.
The other tribute artists included Patsy Cline, Tina Turner and Ringo Starr.
Before the concert began, United Way board member Glenn Phillips told the audience members that their attendance was proof that they are committed to improving the lives of people in Wayne County through United Way.
Board member Phil Kerstetter said a pledge to United Way goes beyond a checked box on a pledge form.
"United Way is about garnering resources to relieve suffering, help people and give them opportunity, hope and safety," he said. "This year, United Way's goal is to improve 24,680 lives through investments of $1,234,000. The theme for this year is 'more than a checked box' because your investment in United Way is more than just checking a box on a pledge form or writing a check, it is an investment in our family, friends and neighbors here in Wayne County."
The 2016 frontrunners, businesses that conduct their campaigns before the general campaign starts, have already raised a total of $220,722, 18 percent of the goal, to improve 4,415 lives.