JOE PASSION TRIBUTE TRACKS
How I Became A Tribute Artist
“At nine years of age when I first started playing ‘Whole Lotta Shaking’ and ‘Great Balls of Fire’ by Jerry Lee Lewis were the first Rock n Roll songs I ever learned on Piano, and ‘Twist and Shout and Hard Days Night’ were my first songs on guitar.
Many years later I found myself being the bandleader and musical director of a Toronto Dinner Theatre my first steady gig in a career of one-nighters.The show was called ‘Rock & Roll Heaven’. I was playing boogie piano for the Elvis impersonator and I was hamming it up. The band was off to side stage so the audience could easily see what the band was doing and I was visible.
Years of fronting my own bands were hard to forget and even though I had that steady paycheque as musical director I couldn’t resist the temptation of working with the headliners. It was fun for a while, then people began coming up to me at the end of the night and telling me how much they enjoyed my performance and saying I played just like Jerry Lee Lewis so why didn’t I do Jerry in the show?
My gypsy blood was beginning to boil.
People kept coming up and saying the same kinds of compliments almost to the point of embarrassment. So… I went to the producer of the show when the cast was changing and I new there would be an opening and made my suggestion.
“Why don’t you let me try Jerry Lee in the Show?’
At the time the cast had an Elvis, Buddy Holly, Richie Valens, Roy Orbison
and Big Bopper. I thought a Jerry Lee would be perfect.
He looked at me and said ‘Joe …Jerry Lee is still alive! This show is called Rock & Roll HEAVEN!!!’
I was embarrassed to say the least, but the flame was lit so to speak and I continued with my idea. Honestly at the time I’m sure I was partially motivated by the extra money and new opportunities of fame and fortune.
I designed and built with some help a prop piano that my electric grand would fit inside. Then designed the front leg to collapse as the finale to my act would involve destroying the piano ‘something Jerry was known for as well as kicking the stool’. Then took my invention to a local pyro-tech company and had the piano fitted for fire.
ITS GOTTA BURN!!!
Shortly after I heard the show was looking for a John Lennon they were going to bring someone in from Vegas. BIG BUCKS!!!
I thought here’s my second chance. I had played in a Beatle Band in my earlier club days so the Lennon was already rehearsed - well comfortable anyway.
My wife thought I was crazy. I went out bought some wigs, clothes, a Rickenbacker guitar did a demo of Lennon and Beatles songs in my studio played everything myself and walked into the office at the theatre.
I said in my best Liverpool accent, “Yeh – um,…I’m - ah, here to apply for the John Lennon roll in your show man….yeh, it’s what I do yeh….so how about it?’
They looked at me and for about 2 minutes didn’t know it was me.
Then we all had a good laugh and they gave me a shot…audition they called it.
At the time I thought Audition Me!….Don’t you know who I think I am?!!!
However everything worked out and I got the gig I also managed to sneak Jerry Lee in the show. They did it by saying,
‘This is as close to HEAVEN as the Killer is ever going to get…
ladies and gentlemen Jerry Lee Lewis.’
Thus began my new performing career as a Legends entertainer.
I stayed at Rock & Roll Heaven on and off for 4 years and have worked
throughout the States and toured Australia in 1999 for Legends In Concert based out of Vegas. My main character these days is Jerry Lee, then Barry Manilow and my icon John Lennon to the roster. All my life people would say ‘You know who you look like?….
They may see another character in me that I never thought of.
I look at the tribute world as a musical acting gig. I am a member of ACTRA and unlike some of my peers that are still playing local gigs I’ve always focussed on Music in the Studio and Performance on Stage.
So recreating these characters and adding my own slant is not much different than doing Hamlet or Twelve Night…well not too much…’
I went to see Jerry Lee in concert a few years back. I met the band, Kenny Lovelace, James Burton (of Elvis fame) and Slim Jim Phantom of the Stray Cats. They were hot! Jerry had already left the building by the time I got in the dressing room but I still keep in touch with Kenny.
I still hope to meet Jerry someday, I think he’s great and I’m obviously a huge fan.
