Roy Reynolds All Shook Up About Tonight’s Elvis Tribute

It’s Been 45 Years

Since King’s Death

Tonight, Noblesville’s Roy Reynolds returns to the Noblesville Jim Dandy with his Elvis tribute show.

While celebrating his own 72nd birthday this week, on Friday (Aug. 26), he’ll also mark Elvis Presley’s passing, which was 45 years ago on Aug. 16, with a special performance, a Memorial Tribute to Elvis Presley.

“Come join us for some great food and a birthday rock ‘n’ roll memorial evening,” he said. “Bring your friends and their friends. Kids welcome.”

For nearly 50 years, Reynolds, with the support and assistance of his wife, Julia Reynolds, has been performing Elvis songs for private and public events.

Roy and Julia Reynolds usually start the show with their Tribute to Elvis Presley.

“Lots of Elvis and scarves,” Roy Reynolds said as he talked about tonight’s show.

“Then a lot of classic country, rock, blues and some originals,” he said.

“Yes, yes, and yes, and oh yes,” he replied when asked if he was performing Elvis songs, giving out scarves like Elvis, playing classics, and wearing his favorite Elvis costumes.

Show time is 6-8 p.m. today at Jim Dandy on East Conner Street in Noblesville. Admission is free. But Jim Dandy is an eating place, so he suggests going there for dinner to watch the show.

“Come on. It’s a blast,” he said.

During Covid, Reynolds didn’t perform much. But since last August, the Elvis tribute has made a comeback, performing at Jim Dandy, Books and Brews in Fishers, Indiana Wesleyan University, Circle of Hope Lakeview Wesleyan Church, Crestwood Village North in Carmel, Grand Brook of Zionsville and the Back to the Fifties Festival in Lebanon.

I’ve yet to meet anyone who has a passion for The King as much as Reynolds.

I remember when he and his wife, Julia, invited me into their Noblesville home in Old Town several years ago.

The phone was ringing. And it was Elvis. Err … “Jailhouse Rock” playing on the ringtone.

Yes, Reynolds was, and still is, all shook up about Elvis.

He has Elvis dolls, Elvis plates and Elvis mugs. And Elvis on velvet. And an official Elvis guitar. He has Elvis photos, including one photo of Elvis’ final concert, June 26, 1977.

Julia has made all of her husband’s ‘70s-style studded jumpsuits and the neck scarves that he hands out at the shows. But because he is performing both Elvis and his country, rock and blues sets at Jim Dandy, he won’t be in costume this time. There’s not a good area for changing costumes, he said.

Elvis’ birthday is celebrated every year on Jan. 8 (1935) and death date Aug. 16 (1977) (Elvis died 45 years ago at age 42)

Reynolds’ passion for Elvis began as a child, growing up in Noblesville. “I was 6 years old (in 1956). I remember my sister, more than anything, going crazy for this guy. For the longest time, I was buying records. I was hiding them in the bedroom, listening to Elvis music, learning the songs,” he said.

In 1972, he and his wife, Julia, then 5 months pregnant, saw Elvis in concert at the Indiana State Fair Coliseum in Indianapolis. “He rocked the house,” Reynolds recalled.

That same year, Reynolds saw “Little Elvis” Gary Gillespie performing “an Elvis routine,” but he didn’t look much like Elvis. So, Reynolds asked his wife what she thought about him doing his own Elvis tribute, since he knew all of the songs, had the moves and kind of looked like the King of Rock and Roll. Reynolds’ first gig was a Christmas party for an insurance company using 8-track tapes of Elvis music and singing over Elvis’ voice.

He went on to perform Elvis tributes in a band. He still does his Elvis tributes but has come full circle, now performing again to pre-recorded music; although he brings along his Elvis guitar.

Speaking of guitars, when Reynolds sings and plays guitar, he often also sings his own favorites, including Elvis, Eddie Rabbitt and Merle Haggard.

Reynolds’ grandkids love Elvis, too.

What makes Reynolds smile? “My wife, Julia,” he said. They celebrated 50 years of marriage in January.

Besides the Elvis tribute, Reynolds does a Gospel Sing at Lakeview Circle of Hope Wesleyan Church of Noblesville and a night of inspiration at Indiana Wesleyan University.

He usually sends out a text message to his followers and posts on Facebook about his upcoming shows. He also keeps his followers in the know about Elvis news. Last October, he sent out a sad message, that Ronnie Tutt, drummer for Elvis’ “Taking Care of Business (TCB)” touring and recording band, 1969-77, (and who also played for the Carpenters, Roy Orbison, Neil Diamond and Jerry Garcia) had passed away on Oct. 16, at age 83. Also, D.J. Fontana, who was also best known as a drummer for Elvis for 14 years, passed away in June 2018, at age 87 (but not before this columnist got to see him perform in concert three times at the Pike Performing Arts Center’s popular Elvis Tribute Artist Spectacular which took place each January to celebrate the King’s birthday.

Reynolds, himself, still has a full head of hair and his own sideburns (like Elvis). And any thoughts about quitting the gig have subsided. He’s said this before and will say it again, that he’d continue performing “as long as I can sing a song.”

Thank you, thank you very much.

Contact Betsy Reason at [email protected]