Know many local entertainers who have their own groupies? Steve Floyd from Clarkston not only has loyal fans, but his groupies go so far as to don sunglasses when he performs his Roy Orbison numbers.
“It is different to impersonate — I try to get Orbison nuances when I impersonate, as opposed to during a regular performance where I do my own interpretation of the songs,” Floyd said. “Adding the sunglasses steps me into the character.”
Performing legends-type material, of course, is not his only talent. Floyd is a gifted singer who sings material ranging from Broadway musicals to 40s standards to Josh Groban hits in restaurants, casinos and for private parties.
“Versatility is the key for me,” he said. “I do show tunes, country line dancing, classic rock, all the way to sing-a-longs.”
Since his voice has a four-octave range he is able to cover all the notes from “low register to a Frankie Vallee falsetto.”
Locals know him from his regular gigs at Clarkston’s Deer Lake Racquet Club on Wednesdays and at Billy’s Tip ‘n’ Inn in White Lake Township on Thursday nights. Billy’s owner, Tim White, said Floyd, who has performed there for seven years, is a “first-class entertainer” who does a Vegas-type review.
“We love him here,” White said. “His vocals are second-to-none. He can sing any request. I get nothing but compliments on him.”
White reports some of Floyd’s fans reserve tables from week to week for his show.
When Floyd’s father told him Roy Orbison was big he decided to try impersonating.
“The only songs I knew were his more popular ones like ‘Pretty Woman,’” Floyd said. “I began listening to his albums and realized he had a lot of unique songs and a voice that appealed to me.”
Floyd started doing actual Legends performances after a manager of those shows heard him singing.
“I took it to the next level, adding the wig, Maltese cross and black clothing,” he said.
Floyd recently performed his Orbison interpretation at the Clarkston Eagles’ Legends show in August.
The singer enjoys pleasing his audience. On the challenging side is the set-up and tear-down necessary when you are a one-man band. The equipment he uses allows the audience to feel he is surrounded by a full band.
Although he regrets not always being at home with his family — two sons, Luke and Matthew, and wife Lisa – in the evenings. Floyd feels lucky to be able to earn a living at “something he loves.”
Floyd said one of his most memorable performances came early in his career in California when he entertained on a boat for a company’s annual meeting.
“The whole place was rocking and dancing — everyone was into the event,” he said.
Floyd introduction to singing came early in life. His mother was a trained opera singer who sometimes would entertain the neighborhood through the family’s open windows. He grew up harmonizing with his sisters, sang in high school choir, then a doo-wop group and later on with another tenor as the Two Tenors. Since his mother was a big fan of singers Mario Lanza, Perry Como and Frank Sinatra, Floyd listened to their music while growing up. More recent influences include Elvis and Michael Crawford. He can sing all their songs, too.
Floyd dons a Phantom mask when performing selections from “The Phantom of the Opera,”
“The fun part about impersonating is that it is an out-of-body experience. You step away from yourself and become the character,” he said.
