To Ed Enoch, the death of Elvis Presley seems like it was only a few days ago, not 30 years.

�It�s a time to remember,� said Enoch, a member of Elvis� backup band J.D. Sumner and the Stamps. �Elvis was an employer, a friend and like a brother. It was all of those emotions put together. Elvis was a great entertainer and gave a great gift to society.�

Enoch, 64, of Nashville, Tenn., continues to tour the country with The Stamps, a gospel quartet. Sumner died in 1998, and Enoch took over the ownership and management of the Stamps� name in 2003. Enoch and the Stamps will perform a concert with Reidland native Terry Mike Jeffrey at 7 p.m. July 14 at the Kenneth Shadowen Performing Arts Centre at Marshall County High School. The annual concert featuring gospel music and Elvis tunes draws nearly 1,000 people, said Jeff Waters of WCBL-FM radio in Benton.

The concert normally is in August, but Waters said the date was moved up this year because of Jeffrey�s and the Stamps� commitments to perform during the 30th anniversary celebration of Presley�s death. Elvis died on Aug. 16, 1977. The concert also traditionally fell on the same weekend as the Fancy Farm Picnic and the Benton Watermelon Bust.

�These guys are such great entertainers for one thing,� Waters said. �Then there�s the Elvis connection.�

Jeffrey performs at Elvis tribute concerts throughout the country and traditionally performs during the celebration in Memphis of Presley�s death.

�It�s a great show,� Waters said. �The first year we had Terry Mike Jeffrey, we were blown away at how good the show was. The last two years, we have booked them for a return on the day of the show. They truly enjoy performing with each other. It�s something that we have a lot of fun with.�

The show is a benefit for the Marshall County Arts Commission. Tickets are $10 and available at WCBL and WCCK radio stations, all branches of the Bank of Benton in Marshall County, and at the Paducah branch on Park Avenue.

Source: Paducah Sun/Charmaine Voisine

Posted: 22nd. June. 2007