Newmarket’s famed Elvis tribute artist, Rev. Dorian Baxter, can remember how he met close friend Harold WIlliam “Billy” Cann.
On an impulse at the behest of his young daughters, Baxter decided to enter the Collingwood Elvis Festival in 1996. Using a cheap wig and jumpsuit, Baxter would enter the concert along with more than 100 other Elvis impersonators; he described himself as looking like something “the cat dragged in.”
Baxter, who has worked on his Elvis impersonation since he was a kid would end up winning the Canadian Showstopper Award. It was then that Cann, who organized the festival, approached him.
“Billy took pity on me, says ‘you know, reverend, you sing good,’” Baxter recalled. “‘Promise me you’ll never wear that jumpsuit again, and I’ll give you five of my jumpsuits.’ We became very close friends.”
Baxter and the Elvis impersonator world is mourning as Cann passed away at the age of 77 on July 11. Cann was known for his passion for the King of Rock 'n' Roll, Elvis Presley, and kickstarted the largest Elvis convention in the world in 1995. Alongside Baxter in the years going forward, they would keep the convention going up until the pandemic hit after 2019.
The two kept a close connection over their faith and love of Elvis, Baxter said.
“I never met a kinder, a more considerate, or a more Christian gentleman in the truest sense,” Baxter said of Cann. “Anyone he ever dealt with, he was always earnest, always fair. I’m already missing him. It’s hard to believe he’s gone.”
Baxter and Cann were in the works to revive their festival as the World Tribute Artist’s Convention and Championships in York Region in Markham, but the pandemic has kept those plans from coming to fruition so far. But Baxter said he still intends to make that happen with various partners and they were targeting to launch it next summer, featuring different tribute artists from around the world.
“I’m going to dedicate this to him,” Baxter said.
The community has not necessarily heard much of Cann’s passing yet, Baxter said. As a celebration of life happens next month, Baxter said he hopes to get the news out to more people in the Elvis-loving world.
“He was so loved by so many Elvis tribute artists,” Baxter said.
As Cann helped Baxter continue as an Elvis personality into his later years, the priest credits his friend for making his Newmarket church possible. Baxter started the Federation of Independent Anglican Churches of North America in 2003, after which he established Christ the King Graceland, of which he is archbishop. That happened after he was banned from every Anglican Church pulpit over his Elvis-loving ways, and his moniker of Elvis Priestley, Baxter said.
That never could have happened without Cann, Baxter said.
“Billy became like a pillar to me,” Baxter said. “If it wasn’t for Billy, I don’t think I ever would have done the Elvis thing.”
Although Baxter said he missed his longtime friend, he takes some solace in his faith.
“What’s really helped me to cope is knowing — not hoping, but knowing — that he is with the Lord,” he said. “I miss him terribly, but I know I will see him again.”
A celebration of life will take place at the Garden River Community Centre Aug. 23 at 1 p.m., at 7 Shingwaulk St. in Garden River.
You can visit www.osullivanfuneralhome.com to leave memories or condolences for the family. Arrangements entrusted to O’Sullivan Funeral Home (215 St. James St., Sault Ste. Marie, ON, P6A 1P7, 705-759-8456).
