Published: January 31, 2009 08:41 pm      

Elvis tribute artist gets Bluefield crowd all shook up

BLUEFIELD — People were lined up at the door to the Bluefield Performing Arts Center almost an hour before the doors to the theater swung open — all to see a Elvis tribute artist, Lou Vuto in concert.

“We usually do the photos after the show,” Vuto said as he waited patiently, and spoke in soft tones to people waited in line to get a photograph taken with him. “At Memories, we usually bring out a Harley-Davidson like Elvis had at some of his concerts, but this is fine.”

“Have you heard him sing yet?” Dr. C. Stuart McGehee, leader of the Bluestone Wildcats said as he prepared to take the stage. The Wildcats were the opening act for Vuto. “He has a great voice. The Wildcats are entering our 20th year of performing, and it is a real honor for us to open for Elvis.”

Sophia Hall of Bluefield, Va., was anxious for the show to start. “I have pictures of Elvis, tapes, CDs and even a clock.

Malia Sloan, 5, of Bluefield, couldn’t wait for the show to start. “I even dance to Elvis music,” she said.

Candy Shrader, her daughter JoJo and friend, Jane Crawford, came from Cedar Bluff, Va., to see the show. “JoJo and I are Elvis fans, and we’re working on Candy,” Cradford said.

The show was sponsored by the Bluefield Daily Telegraph as a benefit for the Newspapers In Education program that puts newspapers in area public school classrooms.

– Contact Bill Archer at barcher@bdtonline.com