by Dawn Greer
Teddy Bear Productions and Carlos Colon The Roustabouts on MySpace.com Thursday, June 4th, 2008 Dawn Greer: You are an Elvis impersonator correct? Carlos Colon: No, we are a six-piece band that celebrates Elvis' music with a special focus on the movie tunes. I just think of myself as the lead singer, I don't really like to think of myself as an impersonator. DG: For the record what is the name of your band? CC: We are known as The Roustabouts, but our official name is Roustabouts-The Elvis Movie Tribute Band. DG: And what do you play in the band? CC: I am the lead singer; on some tunes I might play a little harmonica. Frank plays the bass; every once in a while he’ll bring out the stand-up and do a little “Bill Black”, which is really cool. Warren is on the keyboards, Gerry is on guitar, our drummer is Bob, and Dan plays the sax. DG: Can you please tell how us how you became a band or a musician? CC: We all have a varied history dating back to the 1950's with Warren playing in Alan Freed's showcases, Frank playing with members of the E Street Band, Gerry playing with several rockabilly bands. Meanwhile, I was doing the CBGB's punk/glam scene in the early 80's. Bob has been a sought after drummer for many years and Dan had been jamming on sax all throughout New Jersey and Philadelphia. I got the idea to start a band based on the songs from Elvis’ movies in late 2005 and started auditioning musicians. Little by little, we eventually got the right mix. This current lineup has been together now for almost one year. DG: Where are you originally from? CC: Gerry, Warren and I are New Yorkers. I was born in Spanish Harlem and grew up in the Bronx. Gerry and Warren are from Staten Island. Bob is from Philadelphia; Frank and Dan are native New Jerseyans. We all live in Jersey now. DG: When did you play your first concert? CC: Our debut performance was at the library in Manchester NJ back in February 2006. We were under-rehearsed, I was sick and had hardly any voice, but somehow we managed to make it through. DG: What is the biggest crowd you and the band have ever played for? CC: Last summer, we played for a crowd of close to 4,000 people at Denny Stadium in South River. Our performance was followed by fireworks for the 4th of July. So it’s possible, it just might be possible that a tiny portion of those 4,000 people came to see the fireworks. DG: So what is your favorite song either that you perform or you like from one of Elvis' albums? CC: We like doing Kissin' Cousins and Let Yourself Go because we invite the ladies to come up onstage and do their sexy go-go dance moves. My favorite Elvis song is probably Such A Night from the Elvis Is Back album. It’s probably his greatest single performance on record. DG: So what can people expect to see at one of your shows that have never seen a show of yours before? CC: Our tribute is like no other. We focus on the music rather than an impersonation. We like creating the Elvis Movie environment with Hawaiian Leis, Teddy Bears, and flourescent dice decorating the stage. We encourage members of the audience to come up on stage to dance, sing, and even play with us. Audiences never forget the time they have with us. DG: How many times do you perform a month? CC: On the average, two to three times a month. DG: What is the weirdest thing a fan has done for you? CC: Nothing weird, but many, many kind things like giving us gifts, food, and even letting us use their mobile home as our dressing room. Hi, Bev and Bill. DG: Do you think MySpace is the place to help undiscovered musicians and solo artists? CC: It certainly can't hurt. MySpace has been a wonderful marketing source. We've gained friends from all over the world and some have come from out of state to the Jersey Shore just to come see us. DG: What are your music goals? CC: Making our audiences happy after every performance. When people come up to us after shows and tell us about the memories we've brought back and what a great time they had with us, nothing tops that. DG: What's one thing you would suggest you need if you want be in music biz? CC: Blind determination, complete focus, and most importantly, network and develop contacts in the industry. If you need to work to support yourself, try to do it with a job where you can develop those contacts. DG: Was music your passion since you were young? CC: That's probably true of anyone in the music business. We all have been playing as long as we can remember. There’s a real funny picture my mother took of me when I was about five years old. I was wearing a red cowboy outfit, sort of like Elvis when he sang Teddy Bear, and I had a guitar in one hand and a glass of scotch in the other. I can’t be sure, but I really think there was scotch in that glass—at least that’s the way it looks from the face I make in another picture of me drinking from the glass. DG: Are there any new artists out there you like or recommend to people? CC: There are some pretty good acts out there, but sadly the music industry doesn't appear to emphasize long-term success for today's new artists. Personally, I’m a big fan of The Bleeding Alarm. And, of course, it has nothing to do with the fact that my son, Chris plays guitar for them. And keep your eye on my daughter Victoria, she’s quite a guitarist herself. But enough about them, let’s talk about me. DG: What's one question that you’re tired of people asking you? CC: We do a lot of adult resort communities where we expand our act to include oldies. That’s when we get people walking up to the stage and make requests like the Electric Slide, the Chicken Dance, YMCA, merengue, etc. It's like, uhhh, have you been paying attention to the type of band that we are? DG: Who are your influences besides Elvis? CC: For our act, the Beatles, Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Ray Charles, Bobby Darin, Dion, The Stray Cats, etc. Personally, I’m a big fan of Alice Cooper, Billy Joel, the Ramones, Queen, Mink Deville, Nat King Cole, Frank Sinatra, I can go on and on. DG: Do you like any other Elvis impersonators or recommend any others to our audiences? CC: There are many really good ones out there that put on some great shows. I prefer the ones with live bands over the ones with the karaoke machines. But what really kind of irks me, are the impersonators that perform in sunglasses. Elvis NEVER wore those on stage. DG: Who is the one band you would like to tour with? CC: Our friends, Stricty 60's. Or maybe the Spice Girls. DG: What do you think of the major record labels nowadays? Do you prefer independent or major? And why? CC: The music industry is in a difficult state right now. For the most part, the days of an artist coming in and making huge money in the music industry are probably past. Record labels, major or independent, are being very careful and looking for "the sure thing". But how many "sure things" are there really out there? And with all the downloading, streaming, etc. I don’t know that you can make any real money these days from the recordings. Everyone says the money is in the touring, but with the current fuel situation, that’s becoming a problem also. DG: Where do you see yourself in the next five years? CC: Five years older and ten pounds heavier. DG: How would you describe your sound to someone who has never heard your music? CC: We focus on movie Elvis, that swinging go-go sound, but we also like to do the rockabilly years. We also do some of the later material, but pretty much avoid the Vegas years. DG: If you could be one animal what would it be and why? CC: What are you talking about? I am an animal! I'm the king of the jungle, they call me the tiger man. By the way, I thought the lion was the king of the jungle. DG: Do you ever get compared to any other impersonator? CC: No, there are no other acts out there like us. DG: Best thing you like about music? CC: It expresses in feeling want can’t be expressed with just words. DG: Best thing about your fans? CC: Their loyalty; their friendship. DG: Favorite aspect of being a musician? CC: Getting out there, having a good time and making people happy. DG: Your greatest accomplishment? CC: As a person, having a beautiful family. As a musician, I don’t think I’ve achieved it yet but I’d be happy if I could master the F chord on the guitar. I can’t seem to hold those first two strings down, ah, never mind. DG: Hobbies & interests besides music? CC: Baseball and spaghetti westerns DG: Your most prized possession is: CC: My family, and this little figurine of a guy sitting on a chair watching a portable TV with a beer in his hand. We call him “TV Man”. DG: If there is one person in history besides Elvis you could meet who would it be and why? CC: Lady Godiva. For horseback riding lessons. DG: If there was one musician or band besides Elvis you could meet who would it be and why? CC: The Beatles. They’re my favorite band of all time. DG: If you were stranded on a desert island what 3 things could you not live without? CC: Girls! Girls! Girls! Actually, my blood pressure medication, Zyrtec and Lactaid. I know, I'm a mess. DG: What is in your I-pod or cd player right now? CC: I have no idea how to use an I-pod. Right now, in my CD player is Nat King Cole. I love that guy. DG: Favorites. Food: CC: Peanut butter and banana sandwiches fried in... nah, just kidding. I don’t know, my wife makes this wild grain rice and chicken that’s out of this world. That’s probably it. I also love her spaghetti sauce. DG: Movie: CC: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly. DG: Book: CC: I don’t read books as much as I’d like, which is kind of strange because my wife works in a library. The last novel I read was The DaVinci Code. I usually like to read non-fiction stuff like crime investigation analysis profiles and sports and music bios. DG: Song: CC: El Reloj. It’s a beautiful Spanish love song about making a moment of love last forever. My favorite version is by Luis Miguel. DG: Album: CC: First Night by Jane Olivor. DG: Quote: CC: “The only thing in this world you can be sure about is the fact that you can’t be sure about anything.” I think that’s mine, but I also like what Ray Charles said, something like, “Live everyday like it’s your last because one of these days you’re going to be right”. DG: Do you have any hidden talents? CC: I would tell you but then you’d want to marry me. DG: Do you think you can make a difference in the music scene and if so how? CC: No, but we would be happy if by taking this approach, people would see Elvis as more than the caricature of a guy running around in a studded jumpsuit wearing sunglasses. DG: What is so different about you that should make people want to listen to your music? CC: Our act is a fun, interactive act. No one else does a tribute to the movie years. We bring out the fun, silliness and innocence of those movies. And we bring out a lot of the forgotten tunes like Please Don't Stop Loving Me, Shopping Around, and I'll Take Love. DG: What’s your favorite Elvis song? CC: Didn’t you ask that already? There are so many great ones, but the one that gets the best response from our audiences is The Wonder of You. I sang it to my wife, Maria, on our wedding day, so it is especially heartfelt. DG: What’s your favorite Elvis album? CC: 50,000,000 Fans Can't Be Wrong is one of the greatest rock 'n roll albums of all time. I am also a big fan of the studio tracks on That’s The Way It Is like Just Pretend, How the Web Was Woven, The Next Step Is Love, Stranger In The Crowd and Twenty Days and Twenty Nights. DG: If you could perform with one of Elvis' old backup bands who would it be and why? CC: Scotty Moore and D.J Fontana because they were there when it all began. DG: Do you have a website people can check out? CC: Our website is www.theroustabouts.net. It's a fun, colorful website with lots of pictures, videos and free music downloads. And we love communicating with our audience, so people, leave comments! DG: Anything else you would like to add? CC: We are having a great time and have been enjoying meeting new people at our shows and through MySpace. We love seeing you all out there at our shows and are very grateful for all the support we've been getting. Everyone, have a rockahula summer! |
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