Award-winning Elvis Tribute Artist bringing his show to Haleyville Saturday

HALEYVILLE - The Heart of Haleyville Park Committee is inviting everyone to come out to the park Saturday, May 2, at 6 p.m. to see a young man who is making quite a name for himself with his tribute to the one and only Elvis Presley.
Award-winning Elvis Tribute Artist Dawson Horn, 15, of New Albany, Miss., is bringing his TCD (Taking Care of Dawson) Band to Haleyville to take the audience on a journey through Elvis’ entire musical career, from his explosive debut in the 1950s all the way through his triumphant concerts of the 1970s.   Horn’s favorite Elvis song to perform is “Suspicious Minds”, while his favorite Elvis song in general is Elvis’ version of “Bridge Over Troubled Water.” 
The show will also be an opportunity for Horn to help support a cause very dear to his heart - St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital in Memphis, Tenn.  While there is no admission charge for the concert, donations will be taken up, with all the proceeds going to St. Jude.
Horn discovered Elvis through his grandfather, who introduced him to Elvis’ incredible catalog of music.
“My grandfather on my mom’s side introduced me to Elvis’ music.  After listening to him for awhile, I became a fan,”  Horn said.  
Horn’s admiration for St. Jude’s Hospital and the work done there is very personal.  A close friend to his family was diagnosed with childhood cancer at age 6.  She received treatment at St. Jude. 
“She fought really hard for a long time and is now cured.  They were not charged a single penny for it,”  Horn said.  
It was through he and his parents’ wish to help St. Jude’s Hospital that Horn began his journey as an Elvis tribute artist.
“My parents took me to the 2023 Tupelo Elvis Festival.  At that time, we were trying to raise money for St. Jude, for the fitness marathon they do at the end of the year.  I watched the Elvis tribute artists for the first time,”  Horn said.
“As we left, I turned to my dad and said, what if we put on a concert, charge $10 a head, get a band, and fake play and put on a concert?  We did it and wound up raising $4,500,”  Horn said, with all the money going to St. Jude.
Horn has been involved in musical theater since he was 6, so performing was not an issue for him at all.  After the success he had, Horn did the show again the next year and now has a full band backing him up for his Elvis tribute.
“There’s always footage and things to learn that you didn’t know before.  As we go, and as we meet more and more people and they share their stories with me and as I learn more about Elvis in general, there is a growth of appreciation,”  Horn said.
Horn has studied the new Elvis film “EPIC:  Elvis Presley in Concert,” which was in theaters earlier this year for even further instruction and inspiration.  The hit film includes concert and rehearsal footage of Elvis shot for his two concert documentaries in the 1970s, “Elvis:  That’s the Way It Is” and Elvis on Tour.”  Some of the footage in the Baz Luhrmann film had never been seen before and all of it was cleaned up to 4K level.
“I loved it.  It was awesome,”  Horn said.
Horn returned to the Tupelo Elvis Festival in 2025, winning the youth competition.  Horn has also played at the youth showcase at Graceland, Elvis Presley’s home in Memphis and also performs at The Tent at Elvis Week, held each year in August at Graceland.
Horn has befriended several Elvis Tribute Artists and is learning from them.
“I met Elvis Tribute Artist Louis Brown, who is from the United Kingdom,”  Horn said about the 2023 Tupelo festival.  “He was my first interaction with an Elvis Tribute Artist,”  Horn said, adding that Brown was an inspiration to him.
Horn also lists Coty Deonath, the host of the Alabama Elvis Festival in Daphne, as an inspiration to him.
“He’s like a big brother to me.  They have taken me under their wing and given me a bunch of opportunities,”  Horn said.   
Saturday night’s concert will be the first time Horn has performed in Alabama outside of the Alabama Elvis Festival.  Horn and his parents have been working with Jim and Amy Farris, of Haleyville, to make the show happen.  The Farrises have seen Horn in concert several times.
“We have become really close with them.  They kind of pitched the idea and we said we were in for it,”  Horn said.
Horn, who plays H-back on his high school football team, has a lot of support from his friends, who find his side gig unique.
“No one else really does this around here, especially (people) my age,”  Horn said.  “They support it, come to the shows.  They love the St. Jude’s part of it, too.  They think it’s cool.”
Horn hopes to continue his tribute to Elvis while helping St. Jude, which was a cause also very close to Elvis’ heart. Horn believes that his work as a tribute artist is helping him grow an even deeper appreciation for Elvis.
  “I like this because you’re not only paying tribute to the performer, but also to the man Elvis was,”  Horn said.
On-site seating will be limited for the show, so attendees are asked to bring chairs.