Steve Goodman - ELVIS IMITATOR -

Steve Goodman: What's his legacy? In his short time here, he demonstrated his expertise by creating memorable songs; i,e, City of New Orleans popularized by Arlo Guthrie. His traits? An admirable and persistent man in the face of death, a songwriter, an enthusiastic performer, a guitarist extraordinaire.

Goodman died of leukemia at age 36 after fighting the cancer for 16 years. His hilarious, touching and provocative music uplifted millions from the late 60s to the early 80s. His power of creativity and inspiration provided him with a will to survive.

He was once quoted as saying that "We all do whatever we do - including just walking down the streeet - with the idea that living is a gift. What happens when the gift is gone is none of my business".

"Elvis Imitator" can be found on the album, "Artistic Hair" (1983)
This song is a good example of Goodman's guitar and songwriting skills, his humor and his ability to draw in an audience.

LYRICS:

Well....
I walk up to the mike and and then I shake my hips
I take a deep breath and put a snare on my lips
See me on the street you wouldn't know my name
But imitating Elvis is my claim to fame
So when you put my imitation name in lights
There'll be imitation good rockin' tonight

Cuz I'm an an Elvis imitator and I just can't stop
Imitating Elvis from the bottom to the top
Imitate the way he talked, the way he smiled
I throw away my scarf and make the crowd go wild

This imitation Elvis may not be the King
But baby I'm the next best thing

Singing Viva Las Vegas and the G.I. Blues
Won't you Love Me Tender in my Blue Suede Shoes
Well let me be your teddy bear, if you must
Oh baby Please Surrender, 'cause I need your touch
Well if you feelin' lonely, need a place to dwell
Come on down to imitation heartbreak hotel

Chorus:
We're gonna rock (rock rock rock)
Ooooh we're gonna rock (rock rock rock)
Ooooh we're gonna rock (rock rock rock)
Ooooh we're gonna rock (rock rock rock)

In my gold lame cape and my sequined suit
Pompadou haircut and my high-heeled boots
Imitating Elvis is the only way
I can make it through my imitation day
I know this rocking music can't be denied
'Cause I was imitating him before he died

Well I'm an an Elvis imitator and I just can't stop
Imitating Elvis from the bottom to the top
I imitate the way he walked, the way he smiled
I throw away my scarf and make the crowd go wild
This imitation Elvis may not be the king
But baby I'm the next best thing

Chorus:
Yeah rock (rock rock rock)
Ooooh we're gonna rock (rock rock rock)
Ooooh we're gonna rock (rock rock rock)
Ooooh we're gonna rock (rock rock rock)

[lawrencetaylor]

Thanks I have been listening to as much Steve Goodman now since I knew of him but never got a chance to see him. And his body of work is something else. And his personality comes through in all of his songs. The little guy was a GIANT.

[karenhall-gist]

Everything Steve does is great...I miss him!

[aweecoldcanofcok]

Steve Goodman was vastly underrated. I'm
glad i got to see him in concert.

[mariutza]

Eileen para mi Elvis es y será un idolo por siempre... sin embargo no puedo dejar de ver el talento de Steve Goodman... gracias por este video, un saludo!!!

[Adamfulgence]

@jazzableful Thanks for watching. I was 11 or 12 when Elvis made the scene. I used to think he was "dancing dirty" :-)) Can you imagine?! I loved him though and still do.

[Adamfulgence]

@carmsfavtoo It's amazing how he cheered for his dear Cubs and then, after he died, they went to their first playoff it 1945?? As always, thanks for watching and for commenting. :-))

[carmsfavtoo]

I am a life long Cub fan and Steve is one of our own. Wonderful video Eileen!

[Adamfulgence]

@marc12966 Thanks for watching, Marc!! Best wishes to you as well. :-))

[Adamfulgence]

@ArtsKris I completely agree with you. Sometimes, I've had to chuckle when I see some of them - not all. Some are really good, but many strike me as pretty comical. It's really the song and Steve Goodman which I favored. He's so creative and such a good guitar "picker". Thanks for your comment!

[Adamfulgence]

@Bluematter2010 After listening to most of his music and reading about him, I don't think I could ever do justice to him with any video. What an incredible human being he addition to being a great artist! Thanks for watching, for your comment and once again, for having that song on your page the day I visited your site. :-))

[shanephillips]

Does anybody realize little Steve could bend those guitar strings with the best of them.

[Adamfulgence]

@mariutza66 Muchas gracias, Maria-Jose por su commentario!! :-))

[Adamfulgence]

@likekinds I guess we might as well use BG as long as we can, right? Thanks!

[Adamfulgence]

@zjmn58 Of course! How could I have forgotten to check him out?? Thanks for the tip! :-))

[ArtsKris]

The imitators are only the shade of their idols nevertheless they have so a lot of talent.

[Imissthepostoffice]

And so is Mike Smith from Chicago the Michael Peter Smith that we all know and love ?
I can only assume so. I have a hunch it is.

[LuckyDogDave]

This will be featured in Dave's Basement Tracks Edition 134 Pretenders

[banjovy-bm]

Elvis imitator ??...I met one once, she was in a different reality...oops this about Steve Goodman. He was goodone