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Former Region Players Stars Rising in Dixie
By Lars Van Heineken
illianamusic on the road

Former northwest Indiana residents Travis James and Kenny James, (no relation) are knocking audiences dead at Memories Theatre, in Pigeon Forge Tennessee. Travis James has been playing live since his early teens. The Calumet High School Grad shook his head and laughed when reminded he has been playing live for nearly 30 years.
The High School Band ‘The Little Youngers’ soon turned to a hard rockin Country band, ‘Silver Wings’. Along the way becoming a top Elvis Presley impersonator, the very much demand for his performances was evident in the shows he was playing. As well touring Japan as the king. Playing bars at night and going to school in the daytime was how it was back then; his popularity skyrocketed at Calumet, when his band played in the Theatre for the student body. I am personally grateful to James for letting me cut my teeth on stage back in the day, letting my band sit in and do full sets at his shows. Travis would say “play as long as you want I’m getting paid”. Fast forward many years, Travis visited Kenny, an established Buddy Holly tribute performer at Memories Theatre. It was then he was told he looked like a young Conway Twitty. A few months later Travis sent a tape down, He has been playing Twitty for the last 4 years in the thousand seat theatre. I’m proud of my old friend.

Up next Kenny James, the former Morton High School student’s story is similar to Travis in the beginning. “I worked a day job from 8AM-4:30PM, then played bar gigs at night until 2AM - came home, showered, slept (a bit), and was back up for work at 7:30AM. When I had a gig elsewhere, I'd use my vacation days. I also worked for many years at Wachala's Music Store in Indiana. When I opened my own music store in Oregon, I got invaluable pointers from the people there and was able to draw on the experience. I remember the time spent there fondly”.
Kenny is known in the region for the band ‘Rave On’ formed with his brother Chris. “I had played in a country-rock band with Leroy Hartman called 'Lost and Found' for several years. We also worked together as an Elvis band. With his brother Chris, Ron Riddell, and Leroy Hartman on board (who are "three of the best people and best players I've ever known!"), Kenny James and 'Rave On' were ready to rock and roll”!
The well traveled James has played all over nationally, worked in Branson, getting to know Roy Clark, before being a regular as Buddy Holly and a very funny Barney Fife, at Memories Theatre in the Smokies. He likes to spend time off riding his Harley Davidson Road King, and loves golf. I’m bringing my bike down this summer brother.

If you ever visit the Smokey Mountains, Memories Theatre offers the Ultimate Legends show. I was fortunate to catch the Christmas show. The headliner Lou Vuto as Elvis, Todd Sullivan as Tim McGraw, the show is packed with talent. Hank Miles and ‘The Memories Show Band’ are top-shelf tight. The late great Charlie Hodge from Elvis’s Band worked the Theatre for many years. Kenny and Travis got to know Charlie very well. His guitar from the Elvis 1968 comeback special sits in a case at the Theatre.
As usual Lars Van Heineken will steer you right on where to go when you cruise through Dixie. My favorite place for a cold one is at ‘Hogs and Honeys’, on the strip of Gatlinburg, where babes regularly dance on the bar. Grab a barley pop while watching a girl up top, nice. Chad will take care of you there, 4 to 7 happy hour. ‘Puckers’ is cool as well; The Hard Rock Cafe is always a good visit. But be careful, I like to just drive through the mountains of Gatlinburg where the locals live. So I run into a little pub called Skeeters, hell I was thirsty. So I sit down at the bar and order a Heineken, the barkeep says ‘ we don’t sell to many of them there Heinekens in here, where ya from? I think the fitted Chicago Bears hat was a dead giveaway, he said “oh yur up from round Chicargo. I said yes sir, after my brief stay there I figured out they weren’t big fans of Yankees, and I’m not talking baseball. As always if your band doesn’t suck, or even if they do e-mail illianamusic@sbcglobal.net. Seasons Beatings and Happy New Year. Lars Van Heineken