Desert Messenger

January 1, 2020 www.DesertMessenger.com 27 RECYCLE THIS NEWSPAPER Thank you! Michael Cullipher is back! 2019-2020 SCHEDULE Sat. Jan. 4th Burrwood RV 7-10 PM Wed. Jan. 8th Brenda RV 7-9 PM Wed. Jan. 15th Desert Gold RV 7-9 PM Sat. Jan. 25th VFW Bouse 6-9PM Sat. Feb. 1st Burrwood RV 7-10 PM Wed. Feb. 5th Desert Gold RV 7-9 PM Wed. Feb. 12th Brenda RV 7-9 PM Fri. Feb. 14th Black Rock Village 7-10 PM Sat. Feb. 15th Rock & Gem Scholarship Benefi t Fri. Feb. 21st Desert Gold RV 7-9 PM Sat. Feb. 29th Burrwood RV 7-10 PM Fri. Mar. 6th Desert Gold RV 5-9 PM Wed. Mar. 11th Brenda RV 7-9 PM Sat. Mar. 14th Burrwood RV 7-10 PM Rock't Band schedule 2019-2020 SCHEDULE Dance Time 7pm-9:30pm Fri. Jan. 3 Dance Senior Center Fri. Jan. 10 Dance Desert Gold, Brenda Sat. Jan. 11 Hi Jolly Daze 11:30-1:30 Fri. Jan. 17 Dance Senior Center Mon. Jan. 20 Dance Private Party 1-4pm Fri. Jan. 24 Dance Senior Center Fri. Jan. 31 Dance Senior Center Fri. Feb. 14 Dance Senior Center / Valentine's Day Tues. Feb. 18 Show QIA Fri. Feb. 21 Dance Senior Center Fri. Feb. 28 Dance Senior Center Wed. Mar 4 Dance Desert Gold, Brenda Fri. Mar 6 Dance Senior Center Fri. Mar 13 Dance Senior Center Skyhawk Schedule Gym equipment at Community Center Looking for a good workout while visiting Quartzsite? There is a won- derful selection of gym equipment at the Community Center at the Town Park, located at 295 Chan- dler St. The fee is only $1.00 per day. Hours are Monday-Thursday 6am-2:30pm & 5:30pm-6pm. Fri- day 6am-12:30pm & 5:30pm-6pm. There are treadmills, stationary bikes, elliptical machines, a bow fl ex, all sorts of small weights, jump ropes, stair steppers, and elastic bands. Be sure to check the calendar of classes held at the Community Center listed on the front door. For more details on all the activities, call Town Hall at 928-927-4333. Town Manager holds monthly meetings 3rd Tuesday Quartzsite Town Manager will hold meetings once a month for pub- lic input. They will be held on the THIRD TUESDAY of the month in the Library Meeting room, start- ing at 1:30 pm. New residents are welcome to share their suggestions and concerns. The public is encouraged to attend. Topics will vary, however anyone may speak on any Town issue. The Library is located at 465 N. Plymouth Ave., Quartzsite. For details, contact Town Hall at 928- 927-4333. OPEN YEAR ROUND! Come Visit Our Tropical Oasis! Crafts - Games - Potlucks Ask about our February/March Specials! 855 E. Rogers Place, Quartzsite, AZ 928-927-6605 desertedgervpark.com DESERT EDGE RV PARK Quartzsite, Arizona By Jackie Deal Michael's back! Devoted Elvis fans (and Michael fans) are eagerly awaiting this year's Elvis shows. Michael Cullipher brings all the sexy gyrations and the gorgeous voice of Elvis to the QIA stage and other venues in and around Quartzsite for about two months. He likes us! He puts on three different shows: Elvis, a "tribute" not an impersonation; Elvis's gospel; and Michael as himself. His Elvis shows are non-stop motion and song from the moment he hits the stage. Elvis gospel: did you know the only awards Elvis ever won were for his gospel songs? Michael does them justice. And without make-up or fancy costume Michael presents a range of music- rock and roll, Southern, 50s and 60s and audience requests as himself. His voice is rich and true and it's easier to appreciate it without all the Elvis background effects. He has fun presenting a range of music. Michael lives in Sallisaw, Oklahoma, about 19 miles from the Arkan- sas border. He was 4 years old when he fi rst saw an Elvis impersonator. He thought "that jumpsuit was the coolest things I'd ever seen. And I wanted to have sideburns just like Elvis." He does! He says he "grew up doing Elvis" and many hometown folks knew him as Elvis. He cau- tions, "At no time do I say I am Elvis. I just try to keep his music and his memories alive. There is only one Elvis." At age 19 he started performing professionally and that's about the time he fi rst came to Quartzsite. Watch the audience; women, and a few men, who were young in the 1960s shriek and holler and forget their gray hair and wrinkles. For a few minutes they are young-again fans of Elvis. But it's not only Elvis contemporaries that appreciate his music. We watched two little girls (scarcely teenyboppers) sit in the front row with their mother. You might have expected them to look bored and maybe sneer. They quickly got into the mood and screamed and clapped and waved their arms. Michaels's dream of making Elvis's music live for future generations is a reality. Michael's voice ranges from rafter-blasting crescendos to a sultry purr on "Love Me Tender." It's hard to describe the range and impact of his show but a good word might be "joyous." (Not what you expected, right?) Michael induces the audience to laugh and he laughs with them. Michael has fun and when he has fun the audience has fun too. Don't miss Michael's three kinds of Elvis shows; he's the greatest. But do take in his Michael shows for a new appreciation of what a great per- former he is without Elvis's help. Check the schedule on PAGE 28 of this edition for his performances for the next two weeks to see what a full schedule he has.

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