Eddie Clendening Is...

New Years Eve at Roxy & Dukes in Dunellen New Jersey!

2011-12-27T18:00:00.001-05:00

Don't Miss It!!

Elvis May Leave The Building - Laura Hedli Wall Street Journal August 11 2011

2011-08-11T12:22:00.001-04:00

Eddie Clendening was taken with the sound and soul of the '50s from a young age. Growing up in Colorado in the 1980s, he began combing his hair into a pompadour when he was in middle school. In 1999, at 16, he started his own rockabilly band, Eddie and the Blue Ribbon Boys, after listening to artists like Ritchie Valens and Eddie Cochran.

"What I like about it most is that there's no bull—," he said of the '50s rock sound. "There's no effects, no autotune or voice correct. It's just a real, raw American art form."

In 2008, his passion for the roots of rock 'n' roll was tapped in a way he could not have predicted. That fall he moved to Chicago to star as Elvis Presley in "Million Dollar Quartet," the jukebox musical loosely based on the 1956 gathering of rock legends Carl Perkins, Jerry Lee Lewis, Johnny Cash and Elvis in Memphis. He had virtually no acting experience on his résumé.

Almost 1,500 performances later, Mr. Clendening's role in the show remains the same, though the venue has consistently changed. Last spring, "Million Dollar Quartet" transferred to the Nederlander Theatre on West 41st Street, where it played 523 times (including previews). Two weeks ago, it reopened 10 blocks north at New World Stages, joining "Avenue Q" and "Rent" as onetime Broadway shows now getting a second life off-Broadway.

The change of scenery comes with a new six-month off-Broadway Equity contract, but this could be Mr. Clendening's final chapter as the King. He does hold the rights to first refusal once his current deal expires, meaning he could stay at New World Stages indefinitely. But, he said, "it's always nice to go out on top. And the top was on the Broadway stage at the Nederlander."

Mr. Clendening, 28 years old, has expressed regret over not being cast in a touring production of "Million Dollar Quartet" that will go on the road in the fall, saying he's always felt most at home when not tied down—he didn't stick with formal music lessons, though he does still perform with the Blue Ribbon Boys.

While the official casting announcement has yet to be released, the show's press representative, Aaron Meier, confirmed that the touring Elvis will also be played by someone with a music background. But he may be an Elvis impersonator—something Mr. Clendening has told producers he has no desire to be. In fact, he was initially against playing Elvis in "Quartet."

"I thought it was something I was going to hate," he said. "It's a musical. It's kind of fruity. I'm a rock 'n' roll singer. I just wanted to be as vocal as possible about trying to make it a bit more true to the spirit that I like about all that stuff, as opposed to the sock-hoppy cartoon that the 1950s has kind of become."

Growing up, teachers sometimes called Mr. Clendening "Fonzie," which only contributed to his distaste for caricatures of that time period. When he became a performer, his resemblance to Elvis led him to worry that he'd be accused of mimicry.

"I don't know if he liked the association with Elvis," said his mother, Marci Gehl. "I don't think it was a horrible thing, but as a young and up-and-coming rockabilly lover, the genre was about so much more than just Elvis." Then there was his distaste for choreographed theatrical performances. Broadway was never a dream for him. But the jukebox nature of "Quartet," which is in part a rock concert, turned out to be a perfect fit for Mr. Clendening, as well as for cast mates Lance Guest (Johnny Cash) and Robert Britton Lyons (Carl Perkins), who were also part of the original Broadway cast.

"What I like is that, I think for the guys, it got less gimmicky," Mr. Clendening said. "They're more comfortable now wearing the skin [of these rock icons]." Performing the same material eight times a week for more than three years helped him grow onstage as an actor as well as a musician.

The change of venue has helped, too. New World Stages seats 360, as compared to 1,214 at the Nederlander, making for a closer relationship between the cast and the audience, getting back to what it was like in Chicago. "I think my performances have been better than they were in a while," Mr. Clendening said. "The potential for things to go wrong is back, and the danger is there again because it's more focused."

On Broadway, Mr. Clendening, accustomed to engaging the crowd during sets with his band, often felt detached while playing for the Nederlander audience. It became only more apparent at the end of the show's Broadway run, when "Quartet" was playing to an average of 45% capacity in its final five weeks.

Mr. Clendening believes the musical is better suited to the space at New World Stages, but even with the transfer, his comfort with the direction of the "Quartet" enterprise—four separate productions will be operating in the fall—has begun to wane. The concerns of the industry, as they did with the man he portrays, are taking a toll. "It's gone from a sort of underdog family project to now being run more like a business than it was before," he said, adding that there are so many people involved that it has come to feel more like a corporation where he clocks in and out. "It just doesn't seem as personal as it used to be."

But with his strong ties to Elvis and his friendships with his cast mates, Mr. Clendening is struggling with how to follow up what is essentially the only role he's ever played. He plans to approach the producers about going on tour with "Quartet," or he may stay in New York. Whatever happens, he won't be so quick to dismiss opportunities, Elvis impersonation included.

"The fact that I've enjoyed this job so much has shown me that it's in my best interest to not immediately judge things," he said. "I'll take it as it comes."

NEW YORK CITY!

2011-07-09T09:54:00.002-04:00

After a busy afternoon shooting scenes for the new Caspa Narkz video "Fitted" I will be joining the guys at the Rodeo Bar for a night if Rock and/or Roll. Stop by and say hello, its FREE!

And if youre down in Brooklyn tomorrow afternoon we will be at Lady Jays for some pickin, singin, and BBQ'in!!

2011-03-04T13:07:00.000-05:00

Eddie's Birthday!!!!

2011-02-26T12:22:00.002-05:00

Looking to book Eddie Clendening and the Blue Ribbon Boys?

2010-11-11T10:10:00.001-05:00

Check out our appearance schedule, more shows being added every day!

Eddie Clendening That's Alright With Me - In London

2010-10-12T07:22:00.000-04:00

Eddie Clendening Suzie Q @ Redwood 10 10 2010

2010-10-12T07:21:00.003-04:00

Big Sandy - Tequila Calling, Ruby Ann - I Want A Lover, Amber Foxx @ Red...

2010-10-12T07:21:00.002-04:00

Ruby Ann - Hoy hoy hoy @ Redwood 10 10 2010

2010-10-12T07:21:00.001-04:00

Eddie Clendening & The Blue Ribbon Boys at the Arcadia Blues Club 10/10/10

2010-10-12T07:21:00.000-04:00

Me and Jerry Lee Lewis

2010-09-19T13:41:00.002-04:00

I have been a very lazy poster, but alot has been happening lately. Here's a really cool picture from a great night I had at work with the Killer himself. Got to sit at the piano with him and talk, he might be a bigger Gunsmoke and Bonanza fan then me, and of course Andy Griffith. And he called me "Killer".

Eddie Clendening Is...: Jerry Lee Lewis with MDQ! 9-10-10

2010-09-19T13:40:00.000-04:00

Eddie Clendening Is...: Jerry Lee Lewis with MDQ! 9-10-10: "Jerry Lee Lewis!"

Million Dollar Quartet [HD] - The Late Show with David Letterman

2010-09-07T16:40:00.000-04:00

Eddie Clendening & The Modern Sounds - You're Not Mine - The Rockin' E Jamboree

2010-08-31T17:20:00.000-04:00

Eddie Clendening & The Modern Sounds- Turnip Greens

2010-08-31T17:19:00.001-04:00

Monday August 16th I'll be at the L.I.C. Bar in Long Island City

2010-08-09T22:51:00.002-04:00

I've got a great new bunch of guys playing with me, a great new set of music, and we're playing at a great bar in Long Island City, Close to the 7 train, and the E train, 5-10 minutes from the city. Did I mention no cover! I've been doing 8 shows a week for so long with Million Dollar Quartet I figured the only thing to do was book some gigs on my 1 day off, so come on and help us celebrate the death, and more importantly the life of Elvis Presley 1-8-35/8-16-77!

Eddie Clendening - Baby Brother

2010-07-28T18:21:00.001-04:00

Late Night with Jimmy Fallon - Thursday, July 15, 2010 - Video - NBC.com

2010-07-16T15:44:00.000-04:00

Late Night with Jimmy Fallon - Thursday, July 15, 2010 - Video - NBC.com

Searching (I'm Always Looking) - Home demonstration

2010-07-09T21:49:00.000-04:00

Sirius XM Elvis Radio to feature 2 hours with me and Elvis!

2010-06-25T16:11:00.002-04:00

I went in and with the help of the folks at Elvis Radio put together 2 hours worth of rare Elvis alternate takes, live and radio recordings, as well as some original versions of Elvis favorites. I even threw in the Fairly Holden song that Elvis sang at his High School talent show, Keep Them Cold Icy Fingers Off Of Me... Elvis Radio was kind enough to let me spin a couple of tunes from my new record as well, Mean Ol' Frisco and Hey Little One. (which by the way you can purchase "Eddie Clendening Is... Knockin' At Your Heart" by clicking the cover of the album at the upper part of the page) Anyway, I had a great time and I hope the Elvis fans out there dig hearing some of this rare stuff!

God I loved this band! The Imperials- Today's Teardrops @ the Horseshoe (Chicago) July 2009

2010-06-20T04:43:00.000-04:00

Ready Teddy (Eddie, Luke, John)

2010-06-20T03:50:00.000-04:00

Million Dollar Quartet Performs 'Blue Suede Shoes'

2010-06-20T03:40:00.000-04:00

Million Dollar Quartet Performs 'Blue Suede Shoes'

The Million Dollar Quartet Performs 'Matchbox,' 'Hound Dog'

2010-06-20T03:34:00.000-04:00

The Million Dollar Quartet Performs 'Matchbox,' 'Hound Dog'

Million Dollar Quartet Performs 'Down By the Riverside,' 'Daddy Sang Bass'

2010-06-20T03:32:00.000-04:00

Million Dollar Quartet Performs 'Down By the Riverside,' 'Daddy Sang Bass'

My gripe with the TONYs this year...

2010-06-20T03:16:00.002-04:00

I have a different gripe for the TONY's, but in conversations with people on the Facebook board I was encouraged to post it... So last year the show I am in was running in Chicago, we were invited out to entertain in between commercial breaks. We were treated extremely well, walked the red carpet, I met Liza Minelli and all that. Anyway it resulted in the show being picked up and brought to Broadway.

So along comes TONY time this year, and boy was I thrilled we were up for 3 awards. I was so proud and excited that this year with all our hard work we had earned the right to be there among the rest of Broadway, and part of the real show. I couldn't wait to walk my wife down the red carpet as my date to the TONYs, she wasn't able to be there the previous year, and this was my chance to show her a special evening for all her sacrifice following me across the country and putting her life on hold and putting up with all sorts of shit, while I followed this dream.

New dress, nails, skin, hair done and a bunch of other girl crap I don't even know about, well... Cant describe the disappointment when I found out not only could I not walk the red carpet with her, but couldn't walk it at all... nor could I even escort her to her seat. I had to arrange for her to go with some of the other wives and girlfriends who were left on their own as well, and was lucky to even get her a ticket. I guess I was mistaken when I assumed the TONYs existed to celebrate those who work on Broadway, but I guess we just exist to serve the TONYs.

I got to perform which was great, all the folks back home got to see me and my castmates on TV and for that I am thankful. But I will never forgive the TONYs for denying me the simple act of escorting my wife down the red carpet and into the front of the building and to her seat (I would've gladly retreated and done my performances after, and stayed out of sight). Instead I felt more like I was back in my days of catering, entering thru the back to do my work and otherwise stay out of sight. Going back to the beginning, we were treated better when we were just there as "help" to perform for the commercial breaks. Maybe that seems like a stupid thing to be upset about, but to hell with that, I've earned at least that level of respect, and so has every other performer on Broadway busting ass 8 shows a week.

The Hollywood debate is tricky, and the only thing I can really say about that, although I know its a naive statement, we can only hope that regardless of who is in attendance (or working in a Broadway show), awards are given based on the work itself and not the box office earning power of the person doing the work. Maybe changing that lies in finding a different approach to how/who is doing the voting? Man this is long, sorry to those who have read this far...

The 64th Annual Tony Awards 2010 Part 3 HD 1080p

2010-06-14T16:27:00.001-04:00

Our performance is about halfway thru this video clip...

The 64th Annual Tony Awards 2010 Part 1 HD 1080p

2010-06-14T16:12:00.000-04:00

Denver Musician Plays Elvis on Broadway

2010-06-03T13:34:00.000-04:00

Denver Musician Plays Elvis on Broadway: "Rockabilly singer Eddie Clendening stars in Million Dollar Quartet, which is up for three Tony Awards. Photo by Joan Marcus."

MDQ Tuesday June 2nd on The Today Show with Hoda and Kathie Lee

2010-06-02T16:29:00.000-04:00

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Our 2 appearances on The View...5/21and 5/24

2010-05-21T01:18:00.005-04:00

Heres the original episode...

http://abc.go.com/watch/the-view/167365/261865/the-view-521

And heres the behind the scenes version that aired later that week

http://abc.go.com/watch/the-view/167365/262039/the-view-524

An old photo from a great photographer!

2010-05-19T00:33:00.001-04:00

My friend Alexander Thompson just sent me this, he took it at the Viva Las Vegas weekender in 2005, I had long since forgot that it existed, check him out he does some pretty amazing stuff!

Check out our ReverbNation profile!

2010-05-19T00:21:00.002-04:00

New album, out of print stuff, and recordings exclusive to ReverbNation!

MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET is a "Dazzling Spectacle"

2010-05-16T15:18:00.000-04:00

CBS Evening News Featurette on Million Dollar Quartet

2010-05-16T15:09:00.002-04:00

Complete with a Jerry Lee Lewis interview about that night.
www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=6487498n

2010-05-12T23:59:00.001-04:00

Heres a video I didn't know existed - Go Cat Go - Crazy Date - VLV 2004

2010-05-12T12:25:00.000-04:00

The Go Cat Go reunion show at Viva Las Vegas 2004, I was standing in for the late GREAT Darren Lee Spears

A Performance By The Broadway Cast Of Million Dollar Quartet on David Le...

2010-05-11T17:07:00.001-04:00

2010-05-10T19:04:00.002-04:00

We just finished taping the Letterman show, heres a photo. Hopefully folks tune in. I think it went well... and I got the impression Dave liked it alot. Tomorrow The View... early, too early! Hopefully Ill have some video of both appearances to post soon!

Rachel Ray Appearance Cancelled Till Fall Season

2010-05-03T20:12:00.001-04:00

We were slotted to appear on the last taped episode of this season, but due to this that and the other we wont be able to make that appearance and have been rescheduled for sometime in August at the front of the fall season.

Got some Television appearances coming up...

2010-05-02T02:32:00.002-04:00

Ok so as it goes MDQ has 3 spots coming up, Friday May 7th on the Rachel Ray program (not sure of the air date however), Monday May 10th on the Late Show with David Letterman, then Tuesday May 11th we are taping the View, as far as I know this episode will air May 21st, and also a special behind the scenes version of the episode will air on May 24th, that should be fun, they will be filming our rehearsal, etc... Im glad that folks back home and everywhere else for that matter will get a chance to see what I've been doing for the last 2 years, hope ya'll tune in and dig it! Oh yeah and while Im writing, scroll up the page and buy the new record!

MDQ Nominated for 3 Drama League Awards!

2010-04-20T16:23:00.002-04:00

Congrats to the whole team, especially castmates Lance Guest and Levi Kreis

and by the way according to Variety - "Also bucking the general downward trend was "Million Dollar Quartet" ($448,146), rising a whopping 54% on the back of positive notices"

so as my friend Bob pointed out, we are now not only a critical, but also a box office smash... Great work fellas.

CD Review from the Rockabilly Duke-Box

2010-04-08T23:28:00.000-04:00

Wednesday, March 31, 2010
EDDIE CLENDENING
Hi Everybody

I was amazed on two fronts when the postman called this morning. I was waiting for my copy of little Kim & the Alley Apple 3’s new ‘Ridin’ the Rails’ CD, and when I opened the package and saw Eddie Clendening’s new CD I could not curtail my enthusiasm. A great looking gatefold CD cover design, but the best was yet to come. As I played the CD on my way to work I realised why Eddie waited this long to get another CD out. The backing band the’ Modern Sounds’ were worth waiting to record with, and to tell you the truth it’s the first time I’d heard them, but I’ll be keeping tags on them in the future they sure are an amazing band.

The choice of songs is of a very high calibre. Which ones are the original tunes? I remember hearing Eddie sing ‘Knockin’ at Your Heart’ at the Leo’s Hillbilly Hop in north London a couple of years back. It sure is a top tune (one of an album full of real great songs). I am finding it hard to pick out a stand out track, to me they all are. The afore mentioned ‘Knockin’, along with ‘My Baby’s Gone Away’ and ‘Mean Ol’ Frisco’ totally float my boat. I love the arrangement on ‘It’ll Be Me’ with excellent vocals (jumps shouts and hiccups galore) to boot!

I just listened to it again at home, must be the fourth time this evening (and it gets better with each listen). ‘Respectfully Miss Brooks’ (is that a Marty Robbins tune?) and Rusty York’s ‘Sugaree’ are great versions. I could go on but I’ll just be repeating myself. This CD has an amazing 17 tracks of top rock ‘n’ roll and rockabilly (play ‘My Baby’s Gone Away’ and ‘It’ll Be Me’ with the volume turned up full) and well worth pounds, dollars or euros you spend on it.

‘Eddie Clendening is…Knockin’ at Your Heart’, is one of those recordings that makes me believe our music is in very safe hands, and now and in years to come, it will be an album not too far from my music player.

A million dollar, excuse the pun (Eddie plays Elvis in ‘The Million Dollar Quartet’ show in New York) collection of songs from an excellent rock and roll singer supported by an amazingly on the ball (the Modern Sounds) rock and roll band.

Duke

Some cool Youtube clips to check out!

2010-04-07T17:44:00.000-04:00

Brand new Blogspot up and running!

2010-04-07T01:41:00.000-04:00

I've been having some issues selling the new CD on Facebook and Myspace, and so I've created this new Blog to help make it a little easier and also to keep folks updated about whats happening with Me, the band, as well as the Broadway production of The Million Dollar Quartet show that I'm working on out here in New York City!