Elvis Presley isn't dead.
He's alive and well and playing the Gaslight Theatre.
Robert Shaw channeled the King's love for the Almighty with "How Great Thou Art: The Gospel Music of Elvis Presley" at the Gaslight May 14, a raucous retrospective that embraces the influence that church music had on the rock 'n' roll icon's life.
A regular Gaslight player and seasoned Elvis tribute artist, Shaw will repeat the feat for a sold-out crowd on Saturday, with follow-up performances June 16 and 23.
Equipped with a firm grasp on Presley's powerful vocals, the actor/singer whipped through two hours of original Presley material and Presley-covered hymns worthy of an old-timey field-tent revival.
Fans had to settle for the air-conditioned confines of the Gaslight, which ultimately meant more comfortable surroundings if and when the spirit moved them.
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"We are going to have some hand-clapping, foot-stomping gospel tonight," Shaw announced in his pressed white suit. "Feel free to do any or all of the above."
Anyone who has seen Shaw's Elvis tributes knows this isn't a bland regurgitation of the hits, though his other shows such as his "Rock-A-Hula Luau" and "The '68 Comeback Special" have incorporated the classics.
Shaw is well-schooled in Presley's life after putting a series of shows together in Tucson over the last three years.
His knowledge is laid out in "How Great Thou Art" as he takes a chronological stroll through Presley's gospel proclivities, each song given a detailed explanation on why it is included in the show.
Some, like the slide-guitar-laced "Amazing Grace," influenced an early Elvis Presley when he was just starting out.
Others, like "In the Ghetto," aren't necessarily religious in nature, but have that same sense of spirituality that Presley often included in his traditional repertoire.
Along with Shaw for the ride May 14 were some of Tucson's finest musicians. Local talent included popular performer Danny Krieger on guitar, Rebecca "Jane Crowe" Carlson as a member of the fully robed choir, and the amazingly talented Carla "Hurricane" Brownlee, who sang backup between stints on the flute and saxophone.
Elvis himself couldn't have gotten a more positive response from the crowd, a sea of baby boomers who whooped and hollered with approval throughout the performance.
Susan Klashak, 67, has season tickets for the Gaslight, but this was her first time experiencing Shaw as Elvis.
"I go to Vegas a lot," the retired Goodwill store manager said. "There isn't a casino out there that doesn't have an Elvis impersonator. He (Shaw) is better than anything they have. He puts his heart and soul into it, and that is what's important."
"Next time someone tells you gospel music is boring, you can tell them where to go," Shaw declared to his audience. "And by that, I mean here."
• What: A Robert Shaw tribute to Elvis Presley's gospel influences.
• When: 3 p.m. June 16 and 23.
• Where: Gaslight Theatre, 7010 E. Broadway
• Admission: $19.95, through the Gaslight Theatre, 886-9428
