The Rev. Ken Culbertson, a lifelong fan of the late Elvis Presley, will sing in "An Elvis Tribute" to raise money for food banks in Oconee County. The event will be Friday evening at Seneca High School auditorium.
Ken and Sandra Culbertson of Seneca will join other local musical artists Friday evening at the Seneca High School auditorium for "An Elvis Tribute" to raise money for Oconee County food banks.
SENECA — Ken Culbertson, like many born in the late ’50s, grew up listening to the music of Elvis Presley, secretly dreaming of becoming a singing star himself one day.
Instead, the Columbia native became a disc jockey, a deputy sheriff in two states, and finally a minister. He also is a professional barber and has owned Ken’s Barber Shop in Westminster since 2001.
Several years ago, his wife, Sandra, persuaded him to perform his rendition of Elvis in a missions fundraising program at his church in Westminster.
“He was a huge hit and I knew he would be,” she said. “He has sung to me for many years as we both love the music of Elvis, especially the gospel songs.”
Sandra is a singer who was named Miss Congeniality in the 1967 Miss South Carolina Pageant as she competed as Miss Seneca. She is retired from teaching at Westminster Elementary School.
Last year, the Culbertsons were encouraged by local artists Carol Glass and Mike Cooper to help with a fundraising program for area food banks. The program was called “Walking with Patsy” and featured Glass, who had won a national Patsy Cline sing-a-like contest, portraying the late country singer. The Culbertsons’ rendition of Johnny and June Cash in the production thrilled the audience, which contributed over $3,500 in food and cash for the food banks.
“During the rehearsals for that program, members of the Legacy Band who provided music for the production learned that Ken could sing Elvis music and they encouraged him to sing more,” Sandra said.
“So, this year, it was agreed that Ken would perform a tribute to Elvis for the food bank fundraiser with Carol, Mike, and others also singing in a pre-show production as Patsy Cline, George Jones, and Jim Reeves,” she said.
Sandra Culberston will also sing in the production as Loretta Lynn. She sang Lynn’s “Blue Kentucky Girl” as a 16-year-old student at Oakway High School and won the radio station WESC Songfest competition in 1965.
She surprised her husband two months ago with a large guitar and Elvis display designed by Mike Maness of Roadhouse Music in West Union. Maness also designed a set of “Jailhouse Rock,” which will be performed by Mrs. Culbertson and Glass in the pre-show variety production.
So, what’s a Wesleyan pastor doing singing the music of Elvis Presley?
“I have always appreciated the fact that Elvis sang with such passion and dedication,” Ken Culbertson said. “He was also a tremendous giver and gave for more than he ever received and his music continues to touch millions.”
Culbertson favors the gospel music of Elvis. He recalls the documentaries that depict the late rock-and-roll singer as a devout Christian who would follow his concerts with an all-night gospel music jam, particularly with his backup singers, J.D. Sumner and the Stamps Quartet.
“J.D. Sumner and so many have said that Elvis’ calling was to perform gospel music as evidenced by the fact that his only Grammy award was for his gospel project, which has outsold just about every other gospel album ever recorded,” Culbertson said.
Culbertson said a former backup singer with Elvis stated in a documentary that the pop singer was on the verge of signing a major contract with a top gospel quartet just days before his first pop song hit No. 1 nationally.
“My favorite song he does is “How Great Thou Art,” the minister said.
Culbertson will perform 25 songs during the Friday production and will close with a five-song gospel tribute.
“Elvis always included at least one or two gospel songs in his productions and I have always admired that,” he said.
Culbertson’s father traveled in his work and he lived in various areas of the country, including Alabama, where he was working as a disc jockey the day Elvis died.
“At first, I thought it was a joke as the teletype bells sounded and ran the story of his death,” Culbertson recalled. “After verification, I began an on-air tribute with a very heavy heart.”
Culbertson later entered law enforcement and served as a deputy sheriff in Selma, Ala., and then in Greenwood, S.C.
Later, Culbertson answered a ministry call, attended Southern Wesleyan University, and pastored churches for a total of 13 years in Burlington and Greensboro, N.C.
In 2001, the Culbertsons returned to South Carolina, where he became pastor of the Westminster Wesleyan Church.
During Friday’s performance, the Culbertsons will have with them in the audience their year-old granddaughter who was born with Down syndrome last year in Arizona.
“My daughter Natalie will have our little miracle, oxygen, feeding tube, and all, in the audience to hear us sing and we are both thrilled!” Sandra Culbertson said.
The program begins at 8 p.m. and will be held at the Harry Hamilton Auditorium of Seneca High School, Wells Highway, Seneca. Doors will open at 7 p.m.
All proceeds will benefit the Golden Corner Food Pantry and Bethesda Food Ministries.
© 2011 Anderson Independent Mail. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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