Elvis' Birthday Bash featuring Chris Presley
Tickets: $10
Chris Presley
Chris first heard Elvis Presley’s early recordings for the Sun Records label while in high school, from a teacher who thought since he had the name and an erie resemblence to the king, he should listen to the music. The records introduced the young artist to the sounds of rockabilly and early rock'n roll, which would shape the entertainer's career.
Shortly after graduating from high school in 1990, Chris enlisted in the Navy where he was stationed in Hawaii. While serving he managed to performing rockabilly tunes for eager audiences. Hawaii was a great location for the young singer to develop his Elvis act --Hawaii loved Elvis and Elvis loved Hawaii--so it was the beginning of what would become a passion for Chris to portray the king in the early days of his stardom. With a first tour in Japan after his enlistment was up, the crowds showed positive response for a promoter to take notice and set up a tour in Europe.
Forward to today after hundreds of shows and Chris is still knocking them dead with his Baltimore based band of the past 17 years. If you try, and maybe not too hard, Chris’ act will take you back to the days when rock was young and so was Elvis, so slip on your blue suede shoes and be prepared to get all shook up.
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Phil Ravita
Bassist Phil Ravita works in the Mid-Atlantic region as a free-lance musician and fronts his own jazz group. He is a member of The Baltimore and New York Musician's Unions, Baltimore Music Club, The Baltimore Composer’s Forum, and the Baltimore Jazz Alliance.
Mr. Ravita playes various styles of music in small and large ensembles. He has performed in orchestras as principal bassist, big bands, musical theatre, Free Fall Baltimore, and for the Maryland Arts Festival. He has shared the concert stage with guest artists who include Claudio Roditi and Gabrielle Goodman, Diane Hoffman, Joyce Scott, Charlene Cochran, Ruby Glover Scott Wenholdt and Steve Wilson. He played an after show reception for Wayne Shorter and John Patitucci and has performed at Mid-Atlantic College Jazz Orchestra and at the Annual Calvin Jones Big Band Jazz Festival. . His efforts include performances at Artscape, a benefit performance with he touring company of "Grease," the East Coast Jazz Festival, Lexington Market and Night of 100 Elvis’s. His original compositions have received both local and national attention.
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Mark Leppo
Mark Leppo started playing drums and percussion at the age of 9. He continued playing through the school years culminating in a Music Performance degree from Towson State University. Mark has taught music at many different area locations including a 15 year stint as Adjunct Faculty at Harford Community College. Mark has played percussion with hundreds of musicians in the Baltimore area encompassing all musical genres. He has traveled with Harford Community College's Artists in Residence "After Hours" on a dozen performances all over the United States and to Europe twice to play at the Montreaux Jazz Festival and the North Sea Jazz Festival. Some of Mark's current musical groups are the Bel Air Community Band, the Bel Air Community Chorus, the "Baltimore Big Band," the "Regents," the "Sounding Brass Quintet," "Second Shift" at Harford Community College, different choral groups at Patterson Mill High School, the "Chuck Baker Orchestra" and "Sounds Good." He has recently played for musicals at Bel Air High School, Phoenix Festival Theater and Cockpit in Court at Essex Community College. Mark also helps with the percussion section in the Bel Air High School band, which is about to make another trip to Disney World in February. Mark loves playing different musical styles and is enjoying his time with Mr Presley. He would also like to thank his long suffering wife and parents for his musical wanderings.
