— Paul Richards
Seeing an Elvis Impersonator as a youngster sparked his passion for performing.
A young, likeable and very polite Drake Milligan was just finding his way as an entertainer, singer, song writer, when he attended the Collingwood Elvis Festival in 2011 and again in 2012.
So how did a young teenager from Arlington, Texas hear about what was going on in Collingwood, Ontario?
“Well, word spread. I’m not really sure how. I’d been to the Lake George Elvis Fest and that’s when we got the idea to come to Collingwood.”
Milligan told me as a youngster while out for dinner with his parents he had seen an Elvis Tribute Artist and he knew right then and there that he wanted to sing and perform. He started listening to Elvis songs and said he really got into it, dancing on the coffee table lip syncing to Elvis, and it just kept growing. At a young age he had already been to Vegas, New York and on stage at many venues close to his Texas home town. Even more interesting is the fact that the young Elvis Tribute Artist was focused on the older Elvis music from the 50’s.
“There’s not much that people see of Elvis in the 50’s. I like to explore and see how he was in the 50’s and all of his music.”
Drake Milligan Exploded On The Stage of America’s Got Talent
Today, Drake Milligan is an established country music star, touring the world performing his original songs to sold out audiences. With his time performing at various festivals in the rear view mirror (yes he is old enough to drive now) he stepped up and delivered a standout audition on the stage of America’s Got Talent, shocking the judges and bringing the sold out audience to its feet when he performed an original song “Sounds Like Something I’d Do” with his band.
Safe to say it has been full speed ahead for Milligan from that point forward.
Along with his song writing and outstanding on stage performances his world changed in a big way when he auditioned for and landed the role of Elvis in the CMT series Sun Records in 2017. And there he was, moving from Texas to Memphis to star in a television production as Elvis before graduating from high school.
YouTube video courtesy Talent Replay and America’s Got Talent
Drake Milligan hasn’t even come close to enjoying the success that is clearly coming his way
The Collingwood Elvis Festival was many things to many people. It was a fun summertime party. It featured performers that sang just for the fun of it. The sold out indoor shows featured top international talent performing the music of Elvis, and as is the case with Drake Milligan, it helped launch the music careers of many talented young performers. Drake Milligan hasn’t even come close to enjoying the success that is clearly coming his way.
Let’s hope he has fond memories of visiting and performing on stage in Collingwood.
It sounds like something he’d do!