"Born and raised in Daytona Beach, FL, I decided to become a disc jockey after I saw a young skinny kid named Elvis Presley perform at the Peabody Auditorium in 1955, when I was just a baby. When I emcee concerts and shows now, I tell the audience 'it was like Elvis reached off the stage, put his hand in my chest, took out my heart and has carried it around with him ever since'.

At the time, my 6th grade vocal teacher, Miss Romano, wanted me to cut a record for some crazy reason, and reserved the studios at WMFJ radio. I recorded 'He' and 'I Believe' that night, and while standing around, watched the DJ at work in the studio. He seemed to be having a great time, so I decided I had to get on the radio so I could play the music of the incredible performer I had seen a few months earlier. After H.S. and while in college (studying broadcasting), I  started as part-time DJ there at WMFJ, and then went to full time at WORT (yep, we called it the big "wort") in New Smyrna Beach, then on to other Florida markets such as West Palm Beach, Jacksonville, the Tampa Bay area and Port Charlotte. From Florida my career took me to the mountains of North Carolina and low country of South Carolina, and during my 25 years as a DJ, I always included lots of Elvis' music on my show. Every January 8th, the show was nothing but Elvis. Then sadly, August 16th also became a day of 'all Elvis all the time'.

Even though I’m not on the radio full time any longer, I continue to DJ for dances, wedding receptions, reunions or any other excuse to play music. Emcee work is also a big part of my life, especially during the EP Continentals Fan Club's big Elvis weekend party every February in Orlando, FL. I am still a devoted fan of Elvis' and wish everyone could have met him and spent time with him like I did.

In 1968, when I worked at WAPE radio (the Big Ape) in Jacksonville, I traveled to Graceland in Memphis, TN and met Elvis himself, as well as Charlie Hodge, Jerry Schilling, Uncle Vester, Vernon and many others. I spent four wonderful days getting to know them, especially Elvis and Charlie. What wonderful people!

Of all the celebrities I met during my radio career, none could hold a candle to Elvis. He was everything I had hoped he would be. Funny, personable, polite and just a pleasure to be around. If you and me every run into each other, please feel free to ask anything you want to know about Elvis. I consider myself to be a historian on his life and I love to talk about him. I just wish I had thanked him for all the entertainment he’s given me through the years with his music, movies and TV appearances. In fact, I have a DVD called 'the King and I' (clever huh?), describing my 4 days at Graceland. If you want a copy, it's only $10 and has a lot of good Elvis stories on it. Click here to contact me about how to get one.

Even today, when I’m down in the dumps, I put on some Elvis music and am back on top of the world again in just a few minutes. People used to call James Brown the hardest working man in show business. I put Elvis in that same category. He always gave 100%, and being on stage singing for people like me satisfied Elvis more than anything.

I'm very gratified that younger people are now getting caught up in Elvis so there's a new crop of fans on the horizon. Elvis always wondered if people would remember him after he was gone. I think he would be amazed that he is now more popular than ever. He was a good man with a big heart and I miss him terribly. May he rest in peace.