Teenage Elvis impersonator helps audiences unlock memories from days gone by

Residents at a Pennsylvania senior center enjoyed a special guest whose visit helped them to unlock memories from days gone by.Derek Reed won't turn 19 until later this summer, but he's already gained a loyal following by turning into Elvis Presley.Reed started singing in fourth grade."Then, in eighth grade, I decided to do Elvis because my voice was getting a little too deep to do Frankie Valli," he said.Most of his gigs – like the one on Tuesday at the Gardens at Gettysburg – are in front of audiences who enjoyed Elvis in his prime.Reed's own grandmothers inspired his love of The King. He embraces the role, jumpsuit and all."I also do try to go into that southern accent, and I try to become Elvis," he said.It's his voice that audience members can't help falling in love with."I get down on my knees and hold their hands and some of them cry. Some of them, you know, just can't believe it," Reed said.The music is like a time machine."I love being able to take people back to the past through song. It can change their whole day, change their whole attitude and whatnot, just with a song. It's amazing what music can do for people," Reed said.Reed also does performances as classic country artists, as well as famous crooners from the 50s and 60s like Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin.