Kamloops Elvis impersonator Kaedon Chadwick (right) with Elvis tribute artist Johnny Elvis at Penticton Elvis Festival, 2023.

Image Credit: SUBMITTED/ Amanda Chadwick

A Kamloops teenager who fell in love with Elvis Presley at the age of six, has been dressing like the 1950s version of the King of Rock n Roll every day for years.

The costume has become 15-year-old Kaedon Chadwick’s everyday “look”, which is not a very common one, especially for young people. The teenager said he gets mixed reactions from the public.

“I’ve not met anyone else my age who is really into Elvis," he said. “People my age and younger point and laugh or chuckle at me, but older people love it and ask to get pictures taken with me and sign stuff."

Kaedon’s infatuation with The King began a decade ago when his grandmother passed on some Elvis records. A close friend handed down some more and the young boy was hooked. He started researching and learning about Elvis, practising the songs and signature dance moves. He’s aspiring to compete as an Elvis impersonator in the next year or two.

“I like his style and his music, it’s a unique style of music to listen to, you can automatically tell it’s him,” he said. “I practice in my room to be able to sing like him and talk like him and I’ve read up on the history around him.”

Though he likes all eras of Elvis, Kaedon’s focus is on the 1950s version.

“The 1950s clothes are basic, button up shirts, blazers and wingtip shoes,” he said. “The 1970s jumpsuits are so expensive. He had different hair looks in that era, sometimes shorter or wavier, sometimes pretty greasy. I do longer sides and longer top with the sides pushed back.”

When he's old enough, he plans to grow out some Elvis sideburns.

Kaedon’s mom Amanda finds clothing pieces that fit her son’s “look” from Amazon.

“It’s pretty easy to find stuff and I’ve got nice wingtip shoes off there,” she said. “It isn’t a costume, it’s just his (Kaedon’s) style now, the way he likes to dress. He wears old cowboy looking shirts and dress pants and doesn’t care what others think.”

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Kaedon has attended Elvis festivals in Penticton and Merritt for the past couple of years and wants to start entering competitions. 

Last year in Merritt he was spotted by an Elvis Tribute Artist and brought onto the stage.

“They brought him up to dance and one guy had him up there to sing a song,” Amanda said. “We’re going back this year and organizers asked us if he’s coming, he gets a lot of attention. He’s going to get up on stage again and there are people waiting for him to get into it, it’s really cool.”

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Kaedon said his Elvis impersonation is getting better every year as he continues practising with hopes of winning some competition awards that include money and flights to Elvis conventions.

Kamloops Elvis impersonator Kaedon Chadwick.

Image Credit: SUBMITTED/ Amanda Chadwick

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