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 Steve
is in his mid 30's - the same age as Elvis at the very height of
his powers. His father was in the Canadian Air force and he travelled
the world and took in no less than five live Elvis concerts. Steve
made the same journey as a child, visiting all of the Elvis landmarks
from Memphis to Hawaii. He returned to the UK from Canada where
he lived for 15 years and studied at the E15 Theatre School. He
went on to appear in productions of 'Grease', 'The Kids Are All
Right' and 'Tommy' until he established his Elvis show almost ten
years ago. Since then he has appeared all over the world as Elvis
Presley and is in demand for a whole variety of projects including
Concert and Television Appearances, Commercials and Music Videos
for names as diverse as Volvo and Bon Jovi. During 2002 Steve appeared
in two concerts at 'The 25th Anniversary Elvis Convention' in Memphis
(where he met members of Elvis's original band) and also appeared
in a special video production made by the BBC for the release of
'A Little Less Conversation'. Steve is also a keen athlete and football
fan.
 The
first half of 'Elvis -That's The Way It Was' is a representation
of the 1968 show 'Elvis', recorded in June of that year and first
aired the following December on NBC-TV. This is now referred to
as The '68 Special' or 'The '68 Comeback' and stands as one of the
great television moments in rock music history and a stunningly
brilliant milestone in Elvis Presley's career which had been at
an all-time low. This was the combined effect of the mid-60s British
invasion led by the Beatles and the Rolling Stones, the new wave
of American pop including The Beach Boys, The Byrds and Bob Dylan,
his military service and his string of low grade movies which had
not given him many opportunities to prove himself as a serious actor
and to fulfil the real potential he had shown in the past. It had
been more than seven years since Elvis had appeared on stage in
front of a live audience. In this television special, Elvis played
his greatest role - simply being himself, performing his classic
rock and pop hits, introducing what was then new material and as
the finale, giving his passionate performance of 'If I Can Dream'.
After this triumph, Elvis returned full-time to the concert stage,
beginning a new and exciting era of his career.
 The
second part of Steve Ballard's 'Elvis - That's the Way it Was'
is based on what is regarded as the second landmark TV special in
Presley's many achievements - 'That's the Way It Is' - a concert
film of 1970 performances at the Hotel International. It documents
the beginning of the Vegas period that lasted up until Elvis's death.
Simultaneously celebrating and poking good-natured fun at this era
of his career, The King knocked them dead in a white jumpsuit, shivered
and shook in front of his superb musicians and vocal group and generally
gave the performances of a lifetime. The energy. The moves. The
look. The charisma. The attitude. To many, this show represents
Elvis Presley at his peak. - The definitive Elvis performing classics
like 'Suspicious Minds' and 'Just Can't Help Believing' and incorporating
some less well known covers of songs by other artists like Neil
Diamond and The Righteous Brothers but which Presley made all his
own.
This format allows
Steve to cover classic hits from every phase of The Kings' career
from the fifties onwards and encapsulates all that was, and is,
the very best of Elvis Presley.
  Sit
back and enjoy this show - you will truly believe you were there
- The Way it REALLY Was!
'I can't remember a better evening's
entertainment. - This has to be the Elvis tribute to measure the
others by!' - TM - Weston-Super-Mare 29/11/02
'I wish to thank you so much for
the two tickets I won in a recent competition to see Elvis That's
The Way It Was'. The show was absolutely superb from beginning to
end, and from where we were seated in the circle we had a perfect
view. Again many thanks' Mrs Wendy Tucker.
Steve Ballard E-mails from
'That's the way it Was'
Dear Steve,
Great show, what can
we say but great show. Girls sang like angels, band brilliant. Hope
you come to Swindon again. 1 have never heard a voice as good as
Elvis' until today, it made my wife and I's night
John Mabbott, Swindon, 17/2/03
Dear Steve,
Just wanted to say thank-you for a brilliant night out at the
Cambridge Corn Exchange on Saturday. 1 was there with my sister
in the front row and we were really impressed with you and the band
and backing singers. You have an amazing voice and are far the best
impersonator we have ever seen (and we have seen quite a few in
our time!)
Kathy Stantord, Cambridge, 24/3/03
Dear Steve,
Just wanted to say thank-you for a wonderful time and as well
as in Letchworth, you were brilliant as Elvis. See you soon.
Nalgosia, 25/3/03 Cambridge
Dear Steve,
We felt we had to write
to show our appreciation. We came and watched your show at Manchester
on Friday 18 April and it was an experience. We never got to see
Elvis live but we now feel we know what it must have been like.
Colin and Marina Williams,
Manchester, 20/4/03
Dear Steve,
I saw your show last week in Hastings, East Sussex and you are
the best I've seen. Bloody superb, when are you coming back?
Gary Dobbs, Hastings, 22/5/03
REVIEW:
Elvis on Tour at The White Rock Theatre
 It
is quite extraordinary that a Rock N Roll singer still has the power
to command such an astonishing level of adoration nearly 26 years
after his death. But then Elvis Aaron Presley was no ordinary Rock
N Roller. On Saturday evening at the White Rock Theatre, Steve Ballard
his orchestra and singers gave us Elvis on Tour - The Way It Was
and succeeded in capturing some of that spine-chilling excitement
which Elvis generated on stage. Steve's tribute began in 1968 when
the King appeared in a black leather suit, sang many of his old
hits and successfully launched his comeback after the completion
of US army service and numerous lacklustre movies.
Elvis WAS most definitely back
and as he gyrated across The White Rock Stage, Steve Ballard oozed
that Elvis x-factor in truckloads. The audience loved it, cheering
and screaming from the start. Steve Ballard belted out a whole range
of Presley classics - everything from Jailhouse Rock to A little
less Conversation, Elvis' most recent million seller and No, 1 hit.
Steve is blessed with the ability to re-create that unique Presley
vocal command, bending and holding notes as skilfully as any baritone.
Steve Ballard does not profess to be an exact look-a-like but those
famous Elvis body movements are all there and perfectly timed.
 Ably
assisted by his orchestra which included two horn players and harmonising
female vocalists, Steve held the audience in the palm of his hand
as he delivered the emotionally charged civil war anthem American
Trilogy., Those who had been dancing in the aisles sat in silence
as 'the closest thing to Elvis you'll ever see', created instant
goose-pimples with his uncannily accurate rendition. Yes it did
feel as though Elvis, who never came to the UK was truly in the
White Rock, leather-clad and then flamboyantly displayed in those
familiar red and white rhinestone-studded jump-suits. It was great
and the Hastings audience loved every minute of Steve Ballard's
performance.
RICHARD STEVENS
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