You might say that Terry MacGillivray was destined to be an Elvis tribute artist. Ever since he was a young man people called him Elvis because he had “the hair.” “When I walked down the street people would yell out ‘hey Elvis,’ ” says Terry.

He also remembers “like it was yesterday,” the first time he heard Elvis sing Love me Tender. “I thought one day I’d like to be like him.” That day was a long time coming. Although MacGillivray grew up on Elvis’ music and loved it, his first stage appearance with a band at the age of 17 left him reluctant to ever enter the spotlight again: “It was so brutal, I was terrified to go on stage again.” The audience didn’t jeer or throw tomatoes. “They just sat there,” he says. He admits now that he butchered the song. So that was the sum total of his performing life until a few years ago.

MacGillivray ended up in transportation as a career, and although he continued to listen to, admire, and sing (in his truck) Elvis’ music, his stage life had seemingly come to an end. After retirement, he ended up in Peachland where he and his wife bought a home. By chance he was at the pub one Karaoke night. Anita, the karaoke leader, talked him into getting up and singing a song. “I was so nervous I think only one person could hear me.” Anita talked him into trying again and when he sat down “everyone said I sounded like Elvis.”

So his life as an Elvis tribute artist began. Some friends talked him into joining the Penticton Elvis Festival. He performed wearing a simple outfit of black pants, shirt, a white tuxedo jacket and white shoes. “I had the hair–I just have to paint it black now,” he remarks. In front of a crowd of 4,000 he managed to combat his stage fright: “I just started singing and hoped for the best. People said I did well so that kept me going.” The community of local Elvis tribute artists also helped him along: “We’re like a family,” he says.

He started collecting some Elvis outfits and working out new songs and routines. He took up the stage name Elvis Express. “I try to do a little of everything,” he says, “ I do some early songs, a movie set, a Vegas set and a G.I. set, about 5 songs per set.” Sometimes Terry performs solo but usually he has a back-up band, the Regals, composed of local musicians. His favourite songs to perform are Can’t Help Falling in Love and American Trilogy. “My voice is best suited to the ballads,” says MacGillivray, “ maybe because of my age.” Elvis Express performs at many kinds of functions but Terry is most proud of the shows he does for free at local senior’s centres.

So how did he get over his stage fright? “I never did,” says MacGillivray, “ I still shake like a leaf and pace all over the dressing room. I think I put on about 9 miles a night.” What motivates him to keep doing it then? “I just love the music.”

I’m sorry to report the sudden passing of Terry M:  gone to the great Elvis festival in the sky.