HEBER PLANS JAN. 29 ELVIS TRIBUTE SPECIAL MEDLEY ON TAP BY ILLUSIONIST.

Byline: Daily News

Moorpark High School music teacher Raymond Michael Heber will perform his 17th annual tribute to Elvis Presley on Jan. 29 at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza in a special benefit, with guests from Elvis Presley's original entourage.

Heber is a 1975 graduate of California Lutheran University, where he supports scholarships and contributes to the performing arts program with funds from his annual Elvis concerts.

``This is my favorite event,'' said Heber, who is known in the community for his high-voltage shows at the Civic Arts Plaza backed by a 24-piece band and seven-voice choir, with members who are also alumni of CLU.

He has contributed more than $100,000 to university programs through his annual Elvis concerts.

The shows and Heber's other performances in opera and musical comedy help him teach his music classes at Moorpark.

``My students know I'm in the real world of music, with the musical theater and the opera and the Elvis shows. They know I'm going to teach them real-life experiences,'' he said.

Heber also has appeared at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza as a lead in the musical ``Kiss Me Kate.''

The tribute to Elvis is also held in recognition of what would have been Presley's 70th birthday Jan. 8.

At the Jan. 29 event, Ed Bonja, Presley's staff photographer and road manager, is scheduled to display photos he took during the concert tours of the 1970s.

Heber, who goes by the name Raymond Michael in his Elvis performances, will also sing a special medley as a salute to Ben Weisman, who wrote 57 Presley songs and will be in the audience.

At past shows, other Elvis associates have turned up and even come on stage in surprise performances.

Heber said he began doing his Elvis shows after he was hypnotized and asked to sing an Elvis song when he was a student at CLU in 1972.

He hasn't had plastic surgery or made other attempts to make himself look like Presley, and prefers to call himself an Elvis illusionist rather than impersonator.

IF YOU GO:

Raymond Michael's tribute to Elvis is scheduled at 8 p.m. Jan. 29 at the Fred Kavli Theater of the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza, 2100 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd. Tickets range from $13 to $58 and are available at the Civic Arts Plaza Box Office in person, or from Ticketmaster. The box office telephone number is [phone].

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Photo:

Raymond Michael Heber of Moorpark, who appears as Elvis Presley, uses the annual concert as a fund-raiser for his alma mater.

John Lazar/Staff Photographer

Box:

IF YOU GO (see text)