LOCAL HAPPENINGS: Brooks takes new Elvis form in Christmas event

Rick Brooks is bringing Elvis back to Asheboro’s Sunset Theatre, this time featuring the King’s leather-jacketed 1968 TV special.

He calls this year’s show the Rock-N-Roll Elvis Christmas, with The Steam Roller Band, The Sweet Neapolitans Plus One as backup vocalists and Carol Rousseau a special guest portraying Patsy Cline. The concert will be held Saturday, Nov. 8, at 7 p.m. with doors opening at 6 p.m.

“This year the difference is it’s rock ’n’ roll so I’ll be doing leather 68 special, and the second half will be jumpsuit into Christmas attire for a Christmas finale close,” Brooks texted.

The “68 special”  he’s referring to is the Dec. 3, 1968, Elvis TV special on NBC that’s been called his “comeback special.” It’s credited with relaunching his singing career after years of concentrating on movies.

Brooks, 66, has been an Elvis fan, and impersonator, since listening to his mother’s albums at the age of 8 or 9. He was so infatuated with the King of Rock ’n’ Roll that he sang the songs, dressed like Elvis, talked like him and combed his hair the same way.

Later, when he went to Lee University in Tennessee, there was a Sadie Hawkins Day in which students dressed up as characters and put on skits. “A friend squealed on me and said, ‘This man can do Elvis.’ So I got together with some musicians and did three songs — ‘That’s Alright Mama,’ ‘Hound Dog’ and ‘Love Me Tender.’ Everybody went wild. They loved it.”

When Brooks graduated, he left Elvis in the background, went into the ministry and started his own construction business. Then in 2015 he reprised his Elvis act at the Midway Music Hall near Winston-Salem.

The Sophia resident performed at the Sunset last year as a Las Vegas Elvis. This year he’ll trade his jumpsuit and cape for the black leather jacket during the first half before focusing on Christmas after intermission.

Tickets are available at Brightside Gallery, 170 Worth St., Asheboro. Or they can be purchased online at brightsidegallery@ gmail.com or by calling 336-736-8714.

THIS WEEK

RhinoLeap holds party on North Street Sunday, Nov. 9

ASHEBORO — RhinoLeap Productions, in continuing its 10th anniversary year of celebrations, will close off North Street in downtown Asheboro and hold an appreciation event for those who have supported its first decade of existence in Randolph County.

It will be held from 2 to 6 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 9, with cocktails, food from downtown businesses and an auction.

Admission is free.

UPCOMING

Band takes audience back to the ’80s on Nov. 13

ASHEBORO — A group called SPANKthe80s is setting up a time machine at the Sunset Theatre on Nov. 13 when it reintroduces the audience to 1980s music, lights and fashion. Get tickets for this ’80s tribute band show online at sunsettheatre.org or in person at Brightside Gallery, 170 Worth St. Asheboro.

Southern Gospel group plays concert for charity

ASHEBORO — The Southern Gospel group Glory Road Gospel Band will play for free on Nov. 16 at Sunset Theatre in downtown Asheboro. The reason? An effort to raise food for local food banks and funds for The Rady Lady Foundation, Inc., a local nonprofit that helps people in need. The canned food entry concert will be from 3 to 5 p.m. with a love offering taken at intermission.

MFC wraps up at Seagrove, Zoo

This is the last week of the Mayor’s Fitness Challenge. Last day to log steps is Nov. 9. Be sure to convert your activities to steps and log your steps on the Healthy Communities website www. healthycommunitiesA3.com by midnight on Nov. 9. 

The Awards Ceremony is Dec. 10 at 5:30 p.m. at the County Office Building at 725 McDowell Rd.

Saturday

Mayor’s Walk: Seagrove

Clay Presnell Park

Date: Saturday, Nov. 8

Where: Clay Presnell Park, 5129 Seagrove Plank Rd., Seagrove

Time: 9 a.m.

Walk Length: 2 to 3 miles Dogs: Welcome on a leash.

Mayor David Fernandez of the Town of Seagrove will be leading the walk. In the event of bad weather, the walk will be canceled. 

Sunday

Hike: Purgatory Mountain at the NC Zoo

Date: Sunday, Nov. 9

Where: Purgatory Mountain Trailhead at the NC Zoo located next to Parking Lot A (“Alligator Lot”) near the entrance to North America. 

Time: 1:30 p.m. at the Farmer’s Market in Downtown Asheboro at 134 Church St. or 2 p.m. at the trailhead at the NC Zoo.

Length: About 2 miles. Optional: Moonshine Run Loop (1.3 mi)

Degree of Difficulty: Moderate with gradual uphill to the top of Purgatory Mtn

Dogs: Welcome on a leash.

Wear comfortable closed toe shoes. Bring water and a backpack. May want walking sticks due to loose stones on part of the trail. If it is raining at the time of the hike, it will be canceled.