Steve Carlson, is regarded as one of the most successful commercial actors in USA, having filmed or supplied the voice for over 600 TV and radio commercials, industrial films and narration.
He has appeared as a series regular on General Hospital, The Young and The Restless and A New Day In Eden among many other appearances in hit shows such as Seinfeld, Baywatch and Hawaii 5-0
Steve has also been a writer in Hollywood for nearly twenty years, writing books on the craft and know-how of acting, but has now turned to Elvis as his subject matter in Almost Graceland, the tale of unemployed construction worker Ray Johnson.
Steve explained the reasons for writing his book to Elvis.co.uk:
'I think Almost Graceland started writing itself in my mind when I first heard that Elvis was born a twin but that the twin was still-born. I hadn't heard that before a few years ago but immediately started to wonder what would have happened if little Jesse had lived?''Would we have had the Presley brothers like the Everly brothers? ' 'How would that have changed Elvis's life and career as we know it?'
'The tack I decided to take was that they didn't meet until later in life. Elvis's life played out just as it really did. The twin possibility was kept from everyone; his family, friends, the press.'
'The whole experience has been great fun. This was one of the most unique of lives and it was a pleasure to spend time in and around it - even in a fictional sense.'
Here is a brief synopsis from Steve�s website:
Ray Johnston was an unemployed construction worker, whose only real claim-to-fame was that hardly a day went by without someone telling him how much he looked like Elvis. He got pretty tired of it.
Ray's life changed dramatically when he found some of his mother�s journals and learned that he was adopted. This was compounded when he later discovered that he had been born in Tupelo, Mississippi and shared the same hospital and the same birthday with � Elvis Presley.
Now, wait a minute! Those facts, plus the way Ray looked, (which even he had to grudgingly admit, was a dead ringer for Elvis) were just too many coincidences.
What was he supposed to do now? What should he do with this information? Would anybody believe him? How would Elvis feel? Ray found out. Word got out which led to the two men meeting face to face. That changed everything. As upset as Elvis was, thinking someone was trying to capitalize on his dead brother, neither could deny what they saw. Their eyes were mirrors.
An uneasy relationship ensued while they tried to figure out what to do about this.
Ray also got to know Vernon, Elvis's dad (and Ray's dad?). Though Elvis hadn't told anyone but Vernon about Ray, Elvis still couldn't decide if he wanted him around or not. One day he would, the next, everything would be called off. It was very frustrating for Ray, especially with a 'rag' offering up to a million dollars for the 'brother' story, which was awfully tempting at times
Eventually, Ray and Elvis rode motorcycles together, they argued, played racquetball, sang, dealt with a blackmail, shared stories about their very different lives and started growing closer. Ray was even mistaken for Elvis and kidnapped for ransom. Elvis got quite a kick out of that one. Ray also saw Elvis getting sicker by the day.
ALMOST GRACELAND tells the story of these two men, up to Elvis' death and it's aftermath. We are also privy to the poignant legacy left by Elvis, one that would change Ray's life forever.
Posted: 21st. November 2007
