Jim Anderson doesn’t wear the jumpsuit or the fake sideburns or the spray tan you’d expect to find from a Las Vegas impersonator.
But his smooth vocal ability and his dynamic stage presence have made the former lawman and his band one of the hottest throwback tickets around for those who appreciate the music of The King.
On Saturday, Jim Anderson and Rebels – a band that touts itself on being an “Authentic Elvis Experience” – will play the main stage at the San Joaquin County Fair in Stockton and bring to the masses a sound reminiscent of the voice and the music that changed the trajectory for popular music forever and introduced the world to a Rock-and-Roll sound.
And for Anderson – a former law enforcement officer and Manteca Unified School Board candidate and the current junior varsity head football coach at Sierra High School – every time he steps out on the stage it’s all about the people who form a relationship to the music that he brings them.
“It’s all about the sheer fact that everybody is out there having a good time,” Anderson said of why he has made music his biggest passion amidst all of his other endeavors. “It’s one of those things where it doesn’t matter if you have a lot of money or you don’t have any money – you can relate to it. And it when there are 1,000 people who are standing out there in the crowd and you get take their minds off of whatever hardships they may be facing for that period of time, you know you’re doing something great.
“It’s an absolutely amazing feeling when you sing a song and it brings back a memory to somebody and it touches them in their heart and in a way and they get really involved. That’s what you hope for when you get out there on stage.”
And Anderson has poured not only his heart and soul into his music, but his body as well.
After his career in law enforcement left him with bad knees, it took everything that Anderson had to make it through the highly-physical sets that an Elvis tribute singer is required to exert – often leaving him laid up for several days to ice his knees before he went back out and did it all over again.
Surgery has changed that, but Anderson still gives every performance his all – something that has caught the attention of booking agents throughout Northern California – including an appearance later this year at the Concert in the Pines at Twain Harte and an appearance in Tuolumne. They’re booked solid through November, and were recently signed as a featured act at the Atlantis Casino and Resort in Reno for Hot August Nights, and will be performing multiple shows a night for the entire week.
“We’ve got one of the greatest bands in Northern California on stage and the guys have worked incredibly hard to get here,” Anderson said. “That’s what you’re working towards is getting out there on stage and we’re going to be doing that every month from now and November. It’s all about putting on a good show.”
For additional information about Jim Anderson and the Rebels or for a complete list of upcoming shows visit www.jimandersonandtherebels.com.