The King Returns to Help Vets

The King is back.

Keith “King” Gipson is donning the rhinestone jumpsuit and cape in order to help veterans through a fundraiser put on  the South Jersey Chapter of the Nam Knights in Woodbury Saturday night.

You can expect over two hours of '50s, '60s and '70s music with lots of special effects lighting if you head up to the American Legion Post 133 at 7 p.m., said Bob Henderson, the Nam Knights' vice president. This motorcycle riding group of Vietnam veterans has put on quite a few charity shows before, and this time has enlisted Gipson's help.

And this isn’t Gipson’s first time stepping out as the King.

Gipson started moonlighting as Elvis over 20 years ago by singing at local parties and soon grew to love it. He has a “genuine love for Elvis,” and despite the fact that there may be a few funny moments in the show, this will not be a tongue-in-cheek parody of the man from Graceland, but an honest tribute.

“I take pride in what I do, but not to the point where we can’t have a few laughs,” said an enthusiastic Gipson.

Saturday’s performance will feature songs from Elvis along with a host of other American standard tunes and a few purposely patriotic numbers.

“Each show is a little different,” said Gipson. He often lets the crowd request songs to “give the people want they want.”

Gipson originally met the Nam Knights while getting a wheelchair for his veteran father through a group called the Veteran’s Association for Wheelchairs.

And more recently, while working at an American Legion show in Williamstown, he met Mystic Effect DJ and Nam Knights Quartermaster Al Barry.

“The better job you do, the more people come out. The more people come out, the more money you make,” said Barry. He will be adding special effects lighting and music to the show, along with an array of other effects–some of which he thought left best to reveal at the event.

The veteran DJ has been involved in charity shows throughout New Jersey, and now is donating his talents to a cause he knows well: South Jersey Veterans. For this show Barry has already configured thousands of dollars worth of lighting, effects and sound equipment.

“Any time you add special effects it enhances the show,” said Gipson.

According to the flier, the evening will also feature “good food, cold beer, door prizes and 50/50.” Admission is $25 per person, $45 per couple and all proceeds go to benefit South Jersey Veterans.