Collingwood, ON – Remember the CHUM Chart? Today it’s a collector’s item, but ‘back then’ it was the longest running Top 40 chart in the world. Now, 20 years after the last one was published, the CHUM Chart continues to be a major musical influence by inspiring the 2006 Sirius Satellite Radio Collingwood Elvis Festival’s Main Stage show, featuring acclaimed Award winning Elvis Tribute Artists Shawn Klush, Ray Guillemette, Robin Kelly and Ben Klein.

Collingwood Elvis® Festival Manager Rosemarie O’Brien is pleased to announce the addition of Klush to the impressive roster of headliners for the Saturday, July 29, Main Stage show, starting at 8pm in the heart of Downtown Collingwood.

Written and produced with the co-operation of the venerable Toronto radio station 1050 CHUM, and hosted by CHUM on-air personalities Amber Payie and Gord James, the Vegas-style show features Klush and other Tribute Artists backed by the 10-piece Casino Brothers Band. The show will track the history and progress of Elvis Presley® from a Canadian perspective, through the use of vintage material and images. An added bonus for the show is that the Collingwood Elvis® Festival title sponsor, Sirius Satellite Radio, will broadcast live from the Collingwood Elvis® Festival main stage with Elvis® Radio personality, DJ TY.

When Presley’s first Canadian tour reached Maple Leaf Gardens in the 1950s, CHUM was there to introduce him to the adoring fans. In fact the first song CHUM played when it signed on at 6AM on May 27th, 1957 was “All Shook Up”. It was also the first #1 song on the first CHUM Chart. The “Elvis...The Dream Lives On” CHUM Chart Elvis show will track his decades of influence in popular music through the use of archived CHUM Charts.

Shawn Klush is an actor, singer, songwriter and Elvis® Tribute Artist who has recorded 2 CDs and performed with The Jordanaires, DJ Fontana, and The Sweet Inspirations. He recently portrayed Elvis® in the hit TV mini-series, “Shake, Rattle, and Roll” which aired on CBS and VH1. In 2005, Shawn won the World Elvis® Tribute Artist Competition and received the People's Choice Award for Best Concert Elvis® from Ladyluckmusic.com at the Gibson Showcase Theatre, Nashville TN. Those who knew Elvis® identify Shawn Klush’s performance as one of the best by Tribute Artists working today. Ray Guillemette is a Collingwood favourite and reigns as the only two-time, Professional Grand Champion (1995 and 1997). He has performed with numerous friends of Elvis® while touring internationally. Ray was also featured on ABC’s 20/20 prime time show. Robin Kelly, Edmonton Alberta was Collingwood’s 2002 Grand Champion. Robin performs regularly at many casinos in Western Canada and was voted 2005 People’s Choice for Collingwood’s premiere main stage showcase. Ben Klein is a relative newcomer to the Tribute Artist community and has made headlines by winning several awards including 2005 Grand Champion Early Years in Collingwood and Professional Champion in Penticton, British Columbia’s annual Elvis® Festival.

“Elvis®..The Dream Lives On” CHUM Chart Elvis® Saturday, July 29, 8pm – 11pm Main Stage Show, 97 Hurontario Street. Tickets: $25 - $75

The Saturday, July 29, Matinee Show on the Main Stage is “Elvis®..Just Can’t Get Enough” The Elvis® Trivia Concert. Featuring Elvis® Tribute Artists and past Grand Champions of the Festival including Dean Vegas, Gino Monopoli, Shon Carroll and David Lee, it offers a fabulous prize to an audience member who answers the questions correctly for the Elvis Presley® Enterprises sanctioned Elvis® Trivia Contest. This contest feature will be exclusively offered to ticket holders attending the Saturday Matinee Show.

Known for his easy Aussie charm, Dean Vegas, the Grand Champion in 2000, returns this year as a festival favourite. Toronto-born Gino Monopoli is the 2003 Professional Grand Champion and also won the World’s Finest Elvis® competition in Las Vegas in 2004. David Lee took 2004 by storm as the World Champion of the International Images of the King, was voted People's Choice and garnered Professional Concert Years Grand Champion of the Collingwood Elvis® Festival competition. Kitchener native Shon Carroll, also known as The Flash, has been breaking new ground as a competitor, taking home the Professional Early Years Grand Champion title in Collingwood and in Lake George, New York’s annual Elvis® Festival in 2004.

“Elvis®..Just Can’t Get Enough” The Elvis® Trivia Concert is set for Saturday, July 29, 2pm – 4pm and tickets are $15 - $45. The winner of the Trivia Contest draw will be announced on August 1.

The Sunday, July 30 matinee 2nd Annual Inspirational Elvis® Gospel Competition will be hosted by Ray Guillemette, the 2005 Inspirational Elvis® Gospel Competition winner. This musical show and competition whose winner receives $1,000, will feature a star-studded list of competitors including Lance Dobinson, Robin Kelly, John Loos, Roy Leblanc, Paul Ross, Doug McKenzie, Marcus Wells, David Muggeridge, Garyelvis Britt, Mike Bravener, Jimmy King Kai, Ben Klein and direct from Australia, newcomer Mark Andrews. The tribute artists will be singing some of the great gospel songs of Elvis®. He recorded 22 gospel albums in his lifetime and loved to sing gospel with his band mates after his shows. This is not a service but a diverse and reverential musical gospel show backed by the Casino Brothers Band led by Paco Danesi and is not to be missed.

Sunday, July 30 features the Main stage Sirius Satellite Radio Grand Finals with the top three finalists from the weekend’s three rounds of competition in the Youth, Amateur and Professional divisions representing The Early Years, and The Concert Vegas Years. This show is a nail-biting cliffhanger with audience roars of approval supporting their favourites. Sirius Satellite Radio Elvis Radio personality DJ TY co-hosts the Sunday night grand finals with International tribute artist and 2001 Collingwood Elvis® Festival Grand Champion Roy LeBlanc.

Other official Festival venues offering Tribute Artist performances and showcases are the Collingwood Curling Club and the Gayety Theatre.

Saturday, July 29, features “Aloha from Hawaii – Revisited” at the Collingwood Curling Club starring Roy LeBlanc and friends with the RoyL Tribute band. Tickets are $30, discounted exclusively through Shopper’s Drug Mart at www.shoppersdrugmart.ca. (General admission seating only; LLBO licensed venue).

“Elvis®..Elvis®..Elvis®” a retrospective of the career of Elvis Presley® starring Roy Leblanc and friends also takes place at the Collingwood Curling Club on Sunday, July 30. (Tickets $30, general admission; LLBO licensed). London, Ontario’s Roy Leblanc has a strong fan base all over North America and has been returning to the Collingwood Elvis® Festival for over five years. Roy performs regularly throughout Ontario and was named Grand Champion in Collingwood in 2001. Leblanc has a pleasant and amusing character all his own and he really entertains the crowd.

Friday, July 28, 3pm – 10pm, Saturday, July 29, from 10am throughout the day and again on Sunday, July 30, from 8am into early evening, the Gayety Theatre in Downtown Collingwood will host as official venue for the new Starshine Series. Enjoy 45-minute sets of your favourite Elvis® Tribute Artist in cushy seats and air-conditioned comfort. Backing tracks only. A must see for the budget conscious fan with tickets costing only $5.00 and available in advance. General Admission only. Headliners and performance schedule available May 18 at www.collingwoodelvisfestival.com.

The Sirius Satelite Radio Collingwood Elvis® Festival enters its 12th consecutive year with an expanded line up of spectacular musical tributes and a range of inexpensive family events including the 50’s dance with Freddy Vette and The Flames in the Pine Street Venue on Saturday, July 29, midway rides and games running all weekend, the famous vendors block with a range of fun Elvis® merchandise, great food, the return of the Texas Hold’em Poker Challenge and more.

© 2006 E.P.E. Inc. Elvis, Elvis Presley and King of Rock & Roll are registered trademarks of Elvis Presley Enterprises Inc.

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