StingRay Elvis, one of the US east coast’s leading Elvis Presley tribute artists, is expected to have his audience “all shook up” when he headlines the entertainment at ‘Jailhouse Rock’, the Bermuda National Gallery’s (BNG) gala fundraiser, on June 16.

Backing him will be a top New York session band, The Uptown Horns, which has played with everyone from James Brown and Ray Charles to the Rolling Stones and REM.

Bermuda’s popular Tony Bari Trio will play during pre-dinner cocktails. The gala, which will also include include dinner, dancing and gambling, will take place in The Keep at the Maritime Museum, Dockyard.

Since 2007 marks the thirtieth anniversary of Elvis Presley’s death, one of the night’s silent auction items is a trip for two to ‘Graceland’, the late king of rock ‘n’ roll’s mansion in Memphis, Tennessee, during ‘Elvis Week’ in August.

Other outstanding prizes include ‘The Sound of Music’ — a ten-day trip, including airfare from New York, to Europe, visiting Vienna, Salzburg, the Danube Valley, and Innsbruck; a seven-night Royal Caribbean Cruise; and two tickets to the exclusive trophy tent at October’s prestigious PGA Grand Slam of Golf event at the Mid Ocean Club.

“This really is going to be one of Bermuda’s best nights of the year, with great food and entertainment in an historic and beautiful setting,” organiser and BNG Trustee Kristi Grayston said. “To make it easier for people to get to, we will be providing a fast ferry leaving from Hamilton at 7 p.m. and returning at 11.50 p.m.”

StingRay has been singing Elvis Tribute shows in and around New York City for more than a decade. He has performed at the CBS Television Awards, and was chosen by CBS to help promote Elvis, the mini series. He will also be headlining the Royal Caribbean ‘Love Me Tender’ Cruise on the Explorer of the Seas voyage from Bayonne, New Jersey to Bermuda this summer.

Since forming in 1980, the legendary Uptown Horns — Arno Hecht, Crispin Cioe, Bob Funk and Paul Litteral — have amassed recording credits on more than 150 albums, including the late James Brown’s Grammy Award winning ‘Living in America’ and the Rolling Stones’ live album, ‘Flashpoint’.

The current band also includes Bermudian keyboard player Andrew Chamberlain.

TV appearances have included the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson, Late Night with David Letterman, Saturday Night Live, and The Today Show, as well as recordings for movie soundtracks, including the Oscar-winning ‘When we were Kings’.

Tickets to ‘Jailhouse Rock’ ($250 per person) are available from the BNG or by contacting www.membershi@]bng.bm