James Dicus

James Harold "Butch" Dicus, Jr., 60, of Newark, Arkansas, passed away May 24, 2020. He was a retired United States Air Force veteran, author, and an Elvis impersonator for many years.

He is survived by his wife, Debbie Coleman Dicus of Newark; children, Leslie Bell, Lindsey Sallinger (Thomas) and Leeanna Wooten (Daniel), all of Cabot; mother, Janice Smith Dicus and sister, Jennifer Krisell, both of Little Rock; stepchildren, A. J. Coleman (Clarissa) of Newark and Crystal Scuddler (Steven) of Newport; grandchildren, Luke, Gracelynn, Ava, Lily, Annabelle, and Kennedy; and a host of friends and fans. He was preceded in death by his father, James Harold Dicus, Sr. and his sister, Jana Spellman.

There will be no services. Memorials may be made to the American Heart Association, 909 W. 2nd St., Little Rock, AR 72201 and to Alzheimer's Arkansas, 201 Markham Center Drive, Little Rock, AR 72205.

Arrangements by Little Rock Funeral Home, (501)224-2200. Butch's online guestbook may be signed at www.littlerockfuneralhome.com.

The following is Butch's life story as found on his website at butchdicus.net.

Elvis Presley returned to the American music scene in 1960 after an enlistment with the United States Army. Shortly after returning home, Elvis returned to the studio in April 1960 to record new music which included "It's Now or Never" on April 3,1960 and "Are You Lonesome Tonight" on April 4, 1960. Six days later Elvis celebrated his father's birthday, April 10, 1960. Who knew, at the same time a couple of hundred miles away, another celebration was taking place.

Born on Vernon Presley's birthday, Butch Dicus grew up to the sound of Hank Williams, Johnny Cash, Conway Twitty and many other country music legends of the time. Butch's first experience to listening to Elvis was from a 45 rpm record of "Poor Boy" he found on a record player in his grandmother's spare bedroom. Though Butch watched many of the Elvis movies that played at local theaters or drive-ins his parents took him too, Elvis never touched Butch's life until 1973. After seeing a boy at his local elementary school perform a lip-sync version of "It's Not Unusual" by Tom Jones, Butch started doing the same act in the late 60's for family and friends. It wasn't until the now famous "Aloha From Hawaii" did Butch take notice of Elvis' performance. Since then, Butch has continued to perfect his craft of impersonating the "the Greatest Entertainer" of all times.

Many individuals in the business consider themselves "Elvis Tribute Artists", other call themselves "Elvis Stylists" or whatever due to the pressure of having to sound or even look
like Elvis but Butch considers his act as an "Elvis Impersonator". Butch's performances are "audience-centered", bringing the audience into the show. Some of Butch's audiences never had the chance to experience the excitement and charisma of the "original" King of Music and during many of Butch's record-breaking appearances audience learn who Elvis was.

Though Butch prefers to perform the "Concert Years" Elvis to include jumpsuits and scarves, Butch has also performed the famous "68 Comeback" in black leather, the "GI Blues/Blue Hawaii" movie songs, the "Early Years" songs and of course, the "Gospel Elvis" some grew up with. As Butch has said many times during his shows, "Elvis is Universal" and there is a season throughout the year for "Elvis".

Butch has already accomplished in 30 years what current tribute artists or impersonators are trying to accomplish now. Butch has performed for casinos to include 17 in Oklahoma and Mississippi, sporting arenas to include the Arkansas Twister/Rimrocker games, corporate events to include Wal-Mart, charity functions to include the Midsouth United Way of Memphis, "Getting Down on Downs Syndrome" and Relay for Life Cancer walks. Butch also performed for the cast and crew of the Oscar Award winning "Walk The Line" when the movie was being filmed in Memphis. Butch has also participated in impersonator contests to include becoming a finalist in Memphis in 2004 and the winner of the Elvis Extravaganza Contest. To top off Butch's outstanding accomplishments in the business, Butch was asked to perform on December 6, 2008 for a class reunion for a little high school over in Memphis; Humes High School - the high school Elvis graduated from. Butch returned to Memphis on September 19, 2009 and performed again for Humes High which included many of Elvis' fellow classmates.

Butch always stresses to audiences around the world that "there was only one Elvis Presley" but it is always great to rekindle an old familiar feeling a certain song brings back to mind. To remember where you were when you first heard an Elvis song; at a malt shop, a sock hop, a drive-in, a first love, a first born or even the final rest, there is always an Elvis song that brings back a memory and in today's economic strain, memories are still "free".

When asked how long he will continue to perform his "Butch Dicus - The King of Hearts" show, Butch only says "When the memory of Elvis fades from the last mind on this earth and luckily for me and others, that will never happen."