Niles Elvis impersonator to perform two shows for charity

Published 7:35 am Thursday, September 24, 2015

Rick Schram performs a show as Elvis in South Bend, Indiana, in this picture he said was taken about 40 years ago. (Submitted photo)

Rick Schram performs a show as Elvis in South Bend, Indiana, in this picture he said was taken about 40 years ago. (Submitted photo)

What would Elvis look and sound like at age 63?

Niles’ self proclaimed original Elvis impersonator, Rick Schram, is coming out of retirement to answer the question during a special performance Friday and Saturday at the Niles Inn and Conference Center, 930 S. 11th St., Niles.

The three-part show begins at 7 p.m. both nights. Doors open at 6 p.m. Tickets are $10 at the door and proceeds go to Blossomland Learning Center, a special education school in Berrien Springs that serves southwest Michigan.

“This is a great cause to support because the kids really could use the money,” said Schram, a 63-year-old Niles native.

Schram said he was the first person from Niles to do regular Elvis impersonations. He started in 1974 and toured the country doing performances for several years after Elvis’ death in 1977.

“When he passed away the demand was so great,” he said.

Schram said he hasn’t done a show in 10 years, but decided to come out of retirement to raise money for Blossomland.

Schram will perform 14 Elvis songs and dress and act as if Elvis was 63 years old.

“Everybody else does ‘70s Elvis. I wanted to try it from a new perspective — imagine what it would be like if he was still performing now, like I am at 63,” Schram said. “It will be a great show.”

The show will feature two other acts in addition to Schram’s Elvis impersonation.

Singer Sean Laturno will sing songs from the 1950s and 1960s and the TTYL Girls will sing and dance to current popular music.

TTYL, or Talk To You Later, is made up of 13-year-old Emma Schram, 11-year-old Hannah Tabbert, 9-year-old Lauren Tabbert and 6-year-old Lilly Kline.

All four girls go to school in Niles.