years, he has evolved from a musically curious kid singing Elvis songs at home to a two-time youth division champion at regional ETA competitions and a rising professional on the national ETA scene. His shows across the Berkshires, ranging from intimate senior center performances to a sold-out evening at Wahconah Country Club, blend reverence to Elvis with distinct individuality, capturing both the technical nuance and emotional electricity that made the King of Rock and Roll a legend.
The name“ Elvis” is a household name for people of all ages. The music legend is widely regarded as one of the most culturally significant figures of the 20th century. Born in 1935 in Tupelo, Mississippi, and later rising out of the Memphis music scene, Elvis fused gospel, rhythm and blues, and country in his music. In doing so, he created a sound and a stage presence that rewired popular culture. From the Sun Records sessions and the hip-shaking early national TV appearances, to the widescreen spectacle of the 1968 Comeback Special and his high-voltage Las Vegas residency years, Elvis reshaped the possibilities of a live show. His catalog is equally influential, from rock songs like“ Hound Dog” and“ Jailhouse Rock,” and luminous ballads like“ Can’ t Help Falling in Love,” and the bustling energy of“ A Little Less Conversation.” Elvis didn’ t just top charts; he arguably created the template for modern pop and rock stardom.
A landmark anniversary this year adds a different layer of resonance to DuCharme’ s performances, which hold the potential to bring the spirit of Elvis to new, younger audiences as his career progresses. Elvis would have turned 90 on January 8, 2025.( His life was cut short when he died of heart failure at the age of 42.) The birthday milestone has sparked renewed listening and fresh appreciation for how his music still moves across generations— families sharing records; theaters hosting tribute nights; and young artists discovering the phrasing, charisma, and craft that made Elvis singular.
It’ s in that cultural moment that DuCharme’ s work lands: not as nostalgia for nostalgia’ s sake, but as a living conversation with a repertoire that continues to inspire new audiences here in the Berkshires and beyond. He channels Elvis’ s magnetism with a musician’ s discipline and a fan’ s sincerity, giving each note its due weight and every audience member a reason to smile.“ I love seeing the reactions on people’ s faces and talking to them after the show,” DuCharme says.“ It’ s all about bringing people joy.”
Early Years: Family, First Chords, and Finding Elvis
Long before he donned his first jumpsuit or crooned the King’ s most beloved songs, music has always played a major role in DuCharme’ s life. Born in Pittsfield and raised in Lanesborough, he grew up with classic rock, country, and early rock and roll spinning around the house.
“ My grandfather was a musician and a singer, and I grew up taking guitar lessons and playing guitar,” says DuCharme.“ That is really how I got started in music. It was because of him. He mostly played pretty similar stuff to me— not just Elvis, but a lot of rock and roll that was popular in the’ 60s,’ 70s, and’ 80s— and he played guitar and sang as well.”
At a very young age, Jackson would watch Robert DuCharme hold and play the guitar.“ When I used to visit, he would let me use his guitar before I could even play,” he says of his grandfather.“ I wanted to look at it and hold it, and that’ s how I ended up getting my first guitar and wanting to pursue that.”
DuCharme’ s first guitar was modest— an inexpensive acoustic that was most likely purchased from Walmart. He took lessons for about a year at when he was eight years old. The instruction covered the basics— how to read notes, how to hold the guitar properly, and how to play. Most of it he already knew.“ I stopped taking lessons before I had gotten into anything really advanced,” he says. From there, curiosity became the teacher.“ I would look things up in music books or play by ear, or listen to songs over and over again until I could play them.”
DuCharme’ s tastes took shape alongside his technique.“ It was really the similar stuff that my grandfather played because that’ s what I heard him play, and I took a liking to that music,” he says.“ Elvis, Johnny Cash, Chuck Berry— those were people that I really liked to listen to. It really just would later become focusing on Elvis because he was who I was really fascinated with.” What drew him to that music era?“ A lot of it when I was younger was the simplicity of it— the way it was catchy; how it really changed what people were listening to. A lot of music at that time became more relatable for young people, and I just really liked that. It was very different than anything that came before it.”
The keystone moment arrived with a song.“ The first era that I had heard of Elvis was obviously the 1950s because that’ s the other music that I had really liked a lot— the 1950s rock and roll pioneers. And the first song that I heard of Elvis was‘ Hound Dog,’” says DuCharme.“ I know that’ s not one of the most complex songs, but as a young child, I took a liking to how he moved on stage, and I saw the clothes he wore.”
Even before he performed, DuCharme was listening like a musician— attuned to phrasing, tone, and presence. He began hearing how Elvis’ s voice changed with each phase.“ The ballad crooner Elvis doesn’ t sound the same as the Elvis that sang‘ Hound Dog’ and‘ Jailhouse Rock,’ or the Elvis that sang powerful songs in the’ 70s like‘ American Trilogy’ or‘ My Way,’” says DuCharme. His childhood fascination was fast becoming the foundation of an artist’ s craft.
First Steps Onstage: Pittsfield Debut to First Win
DuCharme’ s ETA( Elvis Tribute Artist) performance story began in the quiet isolation of the pandemic, at home. That’ s when he really started enjoying singing with Elvis’ s music. DuCharme started to channel his voice when he sang and was captivated by Elvis’ s vocal stylings.
“ He had a very recognizable voice right away, and the way that it changed with every genre that he sang really resonated with me— and it still does,” says DuCharme. Soon after he began singing Elvis tunes, his parents noticed something was happening and encouraged him, de-
Holiday 2025 BERKSHIRE MAGAZINE // 67