Elvis is IN the Building – Dan Fontaine Pays Tribute to “The King”

By Jennifer Russo

The function room at the Bellingham Senior Center was packed to the brim recently with seniors who were excited to step back in time to get a glimpse of Elvis. Okay, okay…not the real Elvis (though there are still people out there who hold fast to the belief that he is still out there somewhere), but national award-winning Elvis’s impersonator, Dan Fontaine.

Dan, who is originally from Worcester, has a father who pastored a nearby church, and so grew up playing guitar, singing, and loving gospel music, much like Presley. He fell in love with Elvis’ music and in 2014, started performing his tribute shows. He won first place at the Georgia Tribute Festival earlier this year and last year won two blind Elvis vocal contests.

For the audience, none of this was surprising. Dan delighted with Elvis’ trademark sideburns, signature moves and looking dapper in a collared shirt (with a few buttons undone, of course). When he stepped up to the microphone, his voice was like pure gold. Having seen several impersonators, I can attest that he has the closest voice to the real Elvis that I have ever heard. Like his awards would suggest, if you closed your eyes, you would swear you were listening to the real thing.

Those in attendance chatted happily about the first time they heard certain songs and how his music impacted them and the world so profoundly. Some even reminisced about the first time they saw him live on TV or in concert, or that their parents didn’t like them listening because they thought his moves were too risqué, and how they still found ways to get to the music.

Fontaine started with Elvis’ first hit record and gave a nod to his “invisible band, who always knows all of the songs,” a player on the table with accompaniment recordings. Familiar songs like “All Shook Up,” “Hound Dog,” “Don’t Be Cruel,” “Jailhouse Rock,” and a beautiful renditions of “Love Me Tender” and “Blue Moon” filled the room with pure and soulful sound. Even those attendees with limited mobility were bouncing in their seats and throwing their hands up. Some people got up and danced, and many clapped and sang along to their favorites.

“Elvis” worked his way through the aisles to connect with his fans, shaking hands and giving the occasional “How ya doin,’ hunny” with his well-known drawl. Between songs he shared facts about albums, songs, and movies that Elvis appeared in and some tidbits about his life.

Encouraging the crowd to sing along with him for “Viva Las Vegas” and “Sweet Caroline,” and even throwing in a couple of gospel favorites such as “How Great Thou Art,” Fontaine didn’t miss a beat. He even sang one of my absolute favorites, “If I Can Dream,” which shares an idea that is still as relevant today as it was back then. 

Elvis’ music is so iconic that it resonates not only with an older crowd but is appreciated by all ages of fans across the globe. Though he has now been gone 47 years, we are fortunate to have the next best thing to seeing The King live!

Fontaine will be headlining at the Cape Cod Tribute Festival on October 3-6 this year. More information on Dan and his upcoming shows can be found on his website at www.newenglandelvis.com 

Don’t forget to check out the latest Senior Center calendar of events for information on more great opportunities to engage!