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Band Q&A: Hehr today, someone else tomorrow

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With his unusual blend of singing, impressions, and stand-up comedy, entertainer Harley Hehr isn’t quite like anyone else on the Rock.

A native of Indiana, Hehr relocated to Florida when he wanted to take his act to a more tourist-based town. His “beach girl” wife, Cindy, vetoed Las Vegas, and the two wound up in Southwest Florida.

Hehr’s more “entertainer” than musician, with his heavy backing tracks and a bag of tricks that includes costumes and props for his many impressions. But he’s still a fine vocalist, with an impressive range and a pleasing solidity of tone. And you get more bang for your buck with a Harley Hehr show, since he’ll not only sing your favorites, from oldies to Motown to current hits, but usually he’ll sing them in the “voice” of the original artist.

He’s versatile and talented, funny and entertaining. But one of Hehr’s best onstage qualities is the sheer enjoyment he takes in his silly antics. He took a few moments recently to talk about how he started bringing his shtick to his sets, what he’s really like under all the disguises, and why Elvis is still the king.

Q: So who are some of the impressions you can do?

A: Louis Armstrong, Roy Orbison, Kermit the Frog, Elvis, Frankie Valli, Johnny Cash, Edith and Archie [Bunker], Neil Diamond, the Tokens, Jimmy Durante, the Temptations, Del Shannon, Pee Wee Herman, Willie Nelson, the Stylistics, and Rod Stewart, for the short list of my favorites. I always do these in my show since they are my best impressions.

Q: Which came first, the singing or the impressions? And how did each come about?

A: Impressions came first. It all started in school when I would impersonate the teachers in class. I would also do cartoons and animal sounds as well. Since junior high school I was always given the title Class Clown. I started singing around age 16, in a garage band. It was rough in the beginning, but eventually I learned how to carry a tune.

Q: When did you start incorporating both skills together into your act?

A: Well it started when I found out that the audience could care less about my own voice when I sang; however, when I did an impression of a singer, that seemed to be more entertaining to my audiences. Bingo! I was hooked.

Q: Do you play any instruments?

A: I played bass guitar for 15 years in several bands in the Chicagoland area. That was always my main instrument, I also play guitar, but not near as well.

Q: Who are your favorite artists to cover?

A: That’s easy: Elvis. Why? Because everyone loves Elvis. I also like to sing Louis Armstrong — that one’s rough on the voice, though. I like to put a funny twist to a lot of my songs to give them more entertainment value.

Q: Ever get asked for impressions you just can’t do?

A: All the time. I try to accommodate by singing something similar. For example. I can’t do Sinatra, but I’ll sing Bobby Darin instead.

Q: What’s the most bizarre/embarrassing/unusual thing that’s happened to you on a gig?

A: Had a broken zipper onstage, and didn’t know it. I sensed something was wrong by all of the snickers from the crowd. Finally a guy yells out, “Hey, Harley, I always knew you were crazy, but now I can see your nuts!” The crowd went crazy in laughter. After the initial embarrassment, I smiled, untucked my shirt, and went on with the show.

Q: What were you before you were a performer? And what would you have become if singing hadn’t happened for you?

A: I used to work as a school security officer for 10 years — exciting, huh? My wife Cindy and I were also in real estate for a while. I would probably be in sales. Everyone tells me all the time that I would be a good salesman.

Q: Are you a different guy offstage, or is that larger-than-life personality you do onstage your own?

A: Way different! I’m actually kinda shy. I just love entertaining and making people happy. That’s where the energy comes from. It’s the greatest job in the world! That’s why I don’t take breaks. One thing I’ve learned in showbiz: if you love your audience, they will love you back.

Hehr plays Blú Fusion every Wednesday and some Sundays (call ahead to confirm). Saturday nights he plays at Bimini’s, and a Web site is currently in the making for other appearance information.

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