Collingwood, ON – In his lifetime, Elvis Aron Presley® recorded 22 gospel albums and won three Grammy Awards for gospel albums. One Grammy-winning album, “Peace in the Valley (The complete gospel recordings)” is a critically acclaimed Triple LP collection featuring a diverse collection. Elvis® was well known to sing gospel music as a way to wind down after a high energy show in an informal jam session that sometimes lasted until dawn. He learned gospel music at church in Memphis and during the R&B-influenced all-night gospel sings he loved to attend as a child.

In every decade of his recording career, Elvis® was inspired to record gospel songs and made groundbreaking efforts to expose the world of pop and rock music to gospel in entertainment venues such as Las Vegas casinos and variety television. He performed the gospel song, “Peace in the Valley” on the Ed Sullivan Show in 1957, and in 1966 recorded “Where could I go but to the Lord.” In 1970, he had a big hit with “Bridge over Troubled Water” by Paul Simon - just one year after the Simon & Garfunkel original version was on the charts.

Only thirteen Tribute Artists have been invited to compete in the 2nd Annual Sirius Satellite Radio Collingwood Elvis® Festival Gospel Competition. John Loos, David Muggeridge, Jimmie King Kai, Paul Ross, Lance Dobinson, Ben Klein, Roy LeBlanc, Mark Andrews, Doug McKenzie, Mike Bravener, Villie Verhousek, Robin Kelly, Marcus Wells and Garyelvis Britt will honour this aspect on Elvis® music. Hosted by the 2005 Gospel Competition winner, Ray Guillemette, the show also features a five-member Harmony Chorus and a 10-piece band.

While the Matinee Gospel show is not a worship service, the songs are selected by Festival Manager Rosemarie O’Brien from the 22 gospel albums recorded by Elvis® over his lifetime and are performed in a respectful manner. Observes O’Brien: “Elvis® Tribute Artists love to sing gospel, especially when they get together informally. The gospel competition presents a side of Elvis® that was very important, a part of who Elvis®, the man, really was.”

Ray Guillemette is honoured to be the first winner of the Gospel competition and adds, “Singing gospel has always been an important part of performing as an Elvis® Tribute Artist and the Sirius Satellite Radio Collingwood Elvis® Festival continues to lead the way to present to the public Elvis Presley®, the man and his music.”

© 2006 E.P.E. Inc. Elvis, Elvis Presley and Elvis Aaron Presley are registered trademarks of Elvis Presley Enterprises Inc.

For more details, contact Marion Lewis (705) 445-8132 or media@collingwoodelvisfestival.com.