It was probably inevitable that Robert Keefer would grow up to be an Elvis Presley tribute artist. The Martinsburg, West Virginia native grew up with a mother who was a big fan of Presley’s music, particularly the gospel songs. As a result, the soulful sounds of The King often filled the family home and took root in young Robert.

Like Elvis, Robert picked up a guitar at an early age (8, to be exact) and began the transformation from music listener to music performer. By the time he was 15, he was singing gospel music in church, which led to regular appearances on a weekly gospel radio and television program in Winchester, Virginia—an engagement that lasted for more than a year.

Meanwhile, Robert’s interest in all things Elvis continued unabated. He added Presley’s music to his repertoire and was also collecting Elvis memorabilia and going to watch Elvis Presley tribute shows.

 In 1989, Robert’s career branched out when began playing lead guitar in an oldies showband called The Cruisers. For the next decade plus, he traveled with the band throughout the Southeast and Midwest, opening for such acts as Faron Young, the Sweethearts of the Rodeo, Billy “Crash” Craddock and Chubby Checker.

As a part of The Cruisers’ oldies format, Robert also got the opportunity to perform Elvis Presley music, and when he wasn’t working with the band, he was honing his own Elvis tribute show, which he has been performing live in concert (including opening for Alabama’s Randy Owen in 2010) for the past 20 years.