I used to belong to a fairly progressive Lutheran Church in Minneapolis. The church had its own rock band called “Jake and the Phocylls”. They played mostly 50’s and 60’s music with a few early 70’s hits. The band formed when the Church wanted to throw an authentic 50’s sock hop.

Jake Mattson was the leader of a local rock band that specialized in classic rock. He took the initiative to form “Jake and the Phocylls” and after the first sock hop, it became an annual event. The band had 3 guitarists, 1 Drummer, 1 keyboardist, a 5 piece horn section, 1 bass player, and a girl group called “the Phocyllettes”.

One Sunday morning after church service, Jake came up to me.

“Hey, heard you play guitar?” said this short middle aged man with handlebar mustache and long red hair.

“Well,” I said nervously. “I know a few chords.”

“Good! Bunch of us old guys get together Saturday mornings to jam, would you be interested in jammin’ with us?”

“I guess so?”

Saturday morning came and in a large circle stood the members of “Jake and the Phocylls”. They all took turns leading into a song from their songlist. Then they came around to me.

“You know any of those songs?” Jake asked.

“Not really. The only songs I know are a few Elvis Presley songs.” I answered wishing I didn’t.

So I began with an A chord and belted out “That’s Allright, Mama.” I even got up and shook around like the King. The group joined in with me and there was such a harmonious euphoria that I just cannot describe with words.

When I finished, everyone fell silent looking at Jake.

“I think we found our Elvis.” He said with a smile.

His wife made me a white jump suit with rhinestone eagle on the back and exaggerated butterfly collar and bell bottoms.

We ended up dividing up the show into different skits. We had ‘Buddy Holly’, ‘the Blues Brothers’, ‘the Phocyllettes’ and ‘Elvis’ was the headliner.

Word got out about the band and we ended up playing for charity functions for Big Brother/Big Sisters, Hennipen County Food Shelf, and we also played for the statewide “alternative lifestyle” prom.

Eventually, Jake was transferred through his work to Michigan and I moved to southern Minnesota and the band faded out. We’ve done 3 reunions since, but the last one I had put on weight since the last time I donned the white jump suit and I popped the zipper in the middle of “Return to Sender”, my closing words on stage were, “Ah betta run, baby, this has ceased to be uh family show”; and with that, Jake announced “Elvis has left the building.”