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Elvis is engaged.
Well, not the Elvis, but the James Clark of Brentwood, to his fiancé, not Priscilla, but the Savanna Kimball, of Fremont.
They met through an online dating site and the two just couldn’t help “Falling in Love.”
“He sings to me sometimes or jokes around in different voices,” said Kimball, 47. “I smile, laugh and sometimes give him an eye roll or two — depending on the voice!”
By day, Clark is CEO of James Clark Construction, but by night and during tours, he is arguably the top Elvis tribute artist in California.
He looks and sounds like the real King of Rock ‘n’ Roll.
“I studied and developed the sound, looks and moves of Elvis and I love the pleasure it brings to others in keeping his music and memory alive,” said Clark, 55, performing since 1996.
Kimball didn’t fall in love with his Elvis side, instead she’s “All Shook Up” over the man without the microphone.
“I see James as James. When he’s performing, I see him as James performing those characters dead on,” said Kimball. “I’m not marrying ‘Elvis,’ I’m marrying James Clark, but I love the many dimensions of James Clark.”
Clark’s vast repertoire of impersonations includes Elton John, Alan Jackson, Daryl Hall from Hall & Oats, James Ingram, Don Henley from the Eagles, Garth Brooks, Kenny Rogers, Lionel Ritchie and Rod Stewart.
“I developed the art of vocal mimicking and enjoy the thrill of seeing the crowd’s reaction when they realize I sound like the original artist,” he said.
Their “Now or Never” is slated for 2019, when the couple plans to have an intimate wedding at a winery, since Clark popped the question at their timeshare resort hotel in Palm Springs over wine.
“He handed me a black box and asked me to open it – my beautiful engagement ring – then he asked me to marry him,” said Kimball, mom of Chance Dylan Kinsey, 17, a junior at Washington High School in Fremont, and the late Destinee Caroline Kinsey, who passed away at five months old.
With past relationships leaving Savannah singing “Return to Sender,” she’s happy she’s finally found the love of her life.
“I love his honesty, courage, strength, compassion and tenderness,” Kimball said. “Consistency between someone’s words and actions are very important to me and I can really count on this in James. He’s also very playful and quirky, which is awesome for me, because as he’ll tell you, I’m kind of nutty.”
Throughout his career, Clark, an award-winning performer, has worked with some exceptional entertainers along the way.
“I’ve had the pleasure of performing with Elvis’ legendary The Jordanaires, his backup quartet singers,” Clark said. “I’ve opened shows for Juice Newton, Steppenwolf, The Drifters, Mark Lindsay of Paul Revere & the Raiders and Jerry Lee Lewis.”
However, off stage, he’s singing “Always on My Mind” to Kimball.
“I love her beauty, loving and thoughtful ways, sharp wit and sense of humor,” said Clark. “Never felt so loved.”
Visit www.jgcproductions.com for Clark’s upcoming shows.