No Time Like the Present to Discover Manchester, VT
robe misfires.“ When I would do different eras, I didn’ t have the longer hair and the bigger sideburns for the’ 70s. I would just have the pompadour hairstyle of the’ 50s with everything so that it was recognizable as Elvis. Those were the things I had to work on.” DuCharme then began researching tailors and reproduction houses. The first authentic piece came from Lansky Bros. in Memphis, where Elvis once shopped.“ I got a shirt there, and that was my first real experience buying something that Elvis actually had,” says DuCharme. During an August 2022 trip to Graceland— Elvis’ s home— he bought a pink-and-black short-sleeve shirt that was a replica of what Elvis wore for his somewhat controversial performance of“ Hound Dog” in June 1956 on the Milton Berle Show.“ Being in the house was a surreal experience,” says DuCharme.“ It’ s the closest that I’ ve felt to Elvis.” He added pieces from B & K Enterprises in Indiana and ProElvisJumpsuits. com in Canada, as well as from Thailand-based
AJM Elvis Costumes. Today, DuCharme’ s closet is stage-ready, with three Las Vegas-era jumpsuits and a fourth one soon. His wardrobe also includes several 1950s and’ 60s-era suit jackets, boots like Elvis wore with his jumpsuits in the’ 70s, and loafers in the style of what Elvis wore in the’ 50s.“ I’ m just really focusing on having stuff that fits correctly, looks good, and will last,” he says.
The Berkshires and Beyond
In the wake of his competition victories, local bookings multiplied: birthday parties, veterans events, a performance at Lanesborough Town Hall( his first solo one-hour show), and a PCTV holiday special with a pianist from the Happy Together Band. He has learned to balance appearances with school.“ Really, it was mostly only accepting shows on weeknights or weekends,” DuCharme says.“ It’ s hard to balance, but occasionally I have been able to leave early to go perform.”
In 2024, he won Turning Stone’ s youth division again but started getting invites to professional all-ages ETA contests, like the Cape Cod Tribute Festival in Hyannis, where only 20 people were invited. Then 14 years old, he placed fifth alongside adults who had spent decades performing in the ETA scene. In November 2024, he performed at Wahconah High School in Dalton for the Oldies but Goodies show. In 2025, DuCharme returned to the Empire State Tribute Festival at the professional level and placed fifth again.
Several breakthrough milestones happened this past September, beginning with the sold-out, self-produced show at Wahconah Country Club. He was in charge of it all— posters, organizing ticket sales, and hiring a sound person. Producing his own shows has been a new education.“ I’ m still figuring things out, figuring out what I can improve,” he says.“ It seems like from the show and how people enjoyed it and how it was sold out, that it made it all worth it.”
No Time Like the Present to Discover Manchester, VT
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70 // BERKSHIRE MAGAZINE Holiday 2023 2025