Love Those Red Hat Ladies

Last Fall I had the privilege of performing at the Southern Fried Festival in Columbia, TN. That is where I was introduced to the funnest group of women I have ever met.

These beautiful ladies, all over the age of 50, had one thing in common. They all had a zest for life! And the second thing they had in common was that they were all wearing red hats of all shapes, sizes and styles, along with red and purple attire.  They were flashier than Elvis! I loved those women because they were just like me.

"The Red Hat Society began as a result of a few women deciding to greet middle age with verve, humor and elan. We believe silliness is the comedy relief of life, and since we are all in it together, we might as well join red-gloved hands and go for the gusto together. Underneath the frivolity, we share a bond of affection, forged by common life experiences and a genuine enthusiasm for wherever life takes us next." - Sue Ellen Cooper, Queen Mother, Red Hat Society

They were fun and zany. But they weren't crazy.

Ray Walker & The Jordanaires - How Great Thou Art

Ray Walker of the legendary Jordainaires is one of the most generous men I know. He gives of his time whenever I've called him about Elvis trivia for my movie and enjoys setting the record straight about his good friend Elvis.

He is also a straight shooter and will tell you like it is. I think that is one of the reason Elvis liked Ray so much. Elvis was first introduced to the gospel group, The Jordainaires, when he was playing a show with Eddy Arnold in Memphis in 1955. 

After they sang "Peace In The Valley", a very young and unknown Elvis came backstage to meet them.  Elvis had just signed a deal with Sun Records at the time. His admiration for the group was so great because of listening to them for years on the Grand Ole Opry that he said, "If I ever get a recording contract with a major company, I want you guys to back me up."


True to his word, in 1956 when Elvis began recording with RCA he asked Chet Atkins to use the Jordainaires. He was the first artist to insist listing the backup singers on the labels of his records. This gave the Jordainaires a lot of notoriety.

They went on to record with Elvis for 15 years on his long string of hit records. They also appeared in some of Elvis's movies, and on many of his television appearances.

Ray Walker later joined the group in 1958. When Ray first met Elvis he put his hand out and said, "I'm Elvis Presley." Ray said, "I know who you are. I'm Ray Walker". To which Elvis replied, "And I know who you are."

The Original Dancing With the Stars

My late Uncle Jack Kenner was the original dancing with the stars professional dancer. In the 1960's when Elvis was busy in Hollywood filming movies, Priscilla Presley found herself with a lot of free time on her hands.

To help combat her boredom, she sought out my Uncle Jack to teach her how to ball room dance. Jack was very well know in the Memphis area as a terrific dance coach. Because of her natural talent and previous ballet experience as a young girl, Priscilla became a terrific dancer.

That is why when I saw her on ABC's "Dancing with the Stars", I knew she would be great. I was so proud how she overcame her nerves and showed the world that beautiful dance does not see age.

It is a personal expression in each one of us. Elvis became famous for his dance moves too. Elvis' Jailhouse Rock dance segment from the movie is legendary and considered by most to be the first music video. That was more than 20 years before anyone ever heard of MTV.

But to the Christian community, he was vulgar and a dangerous influence to teenagers. The Catholic weekly paper, "America", published "Beware Elvis Presley," an article calling his hip-shaking, "nauseating stuff ... not only suggestive, but downright obscene."

She's a Little Bit Country & I'm a Little Bit Rock-n-Roll

My big first crush after my 5th grade teacher was when I was 15 years old. Her family name was synonymous with all that was good to me. Her stage name was Marie Osmond. I say stage because her full name was Olive Marie Osmond named after her incredible mother.

Growing up just outside Detroit in Warren, Michigan I remember spending my Friday nights with Marie. That is I watched Marie religiously along with her brother Donny on the "Donny & Marie" show.


I was attracted to her sweet spirit and her sense of humor. And she met all my physical characteristics of beauty - brown hair and brown eyes. Plus she could sing! She was truly America's sweetheart at that time.

I'd spend hours in front of my bedroom mirror with a hairbrush singing "Puppy Love" or "Go Away Little Girl" as I dreamt of being Donny Osmond. Actually, I grew so in love with Marie that I wanted to marry her. So I couldn't exactly be her brother when you think about it.

As the years went by, my love for Marie continued. After I graduated from high school and went on to Michigan Christian College, I felt I strong desire to let Marie in on my plans.
In my young mind, I thought if I only could get to Utah and profess my love for her, she would want to marry me. So that is what I did, I packed up everything and moved to Provo, Utah.

Find Your Inner Elvis!

It was a frigid New Year’s Eve 1975 at the Pontiac Silverdome in Detroit. My destiny changed that night at the young age of 15. There on the stage was the legendary King of Rock-N-Roll – Elvis Presley. When one is in the presence of greatness, the moment is surreal.

I had been to many concerts growing up in Motown, but no one affected me the way Elvis did that night. As the 2001 Space Odyssey started playing and he entered the stage, my knees began to shake. I became just like ever other person in the audience, spellbound by his magnetism.

What kind of magic did he possess that caused this kind of reaction from people? Elvis was cool to men, and irresistible to women. No other man could pull off both.

It was that very night that I too decided to become an entertainer. I wanted to affect people like him. I had been singing since I was seven – mostly Donny Osmond songs. But it was Elvis that transformed me from singer to entertainer.

About Nashville Elvis Impersonator Chuck Baril

I am originally from Motown - a native of Detroit, Michigan, and it was there on New Year’s Eve in 1975 when my destiny was set. At the Pontiac Silverdome, Elvis performed an amazing concert to an audience of 60,000 screaming fans along with one young impressionable young man who decided that night that he too would become a singer.

I began singing as a young child and has sung and recorded many styles of music over the years. Three of the songs I have written and recorded have been played on 90 radio stations in 11 states. But I came back to his first love, Elvis’ recordings, because that is what I most and do best.

Me and my beautiful wife Buffie.

Having performed over 300 shows, I have great love and respect for Elvis along with the R&B influences of growing up in Motown. As a boy, I began singing spiritual hymns in church and has continued those early influences as a faithful Christian and member of the church where Ray Walker of the Jordanaires once served as song leader.

I truly want to bring honor to the legacy of the King. My great uncle, the late Jack Kenner, was a ballroom dance instructor in Memphis and used to give Priscilla Presley dance lessons.