Singing impressionist Mike Walker will perform next month at Isle Casino Cape Girardeau

People who enjoy impressionists might want to snag a ticket to the Mike Walker Dinner Show coming up Aug. 1 at Isle Casino Cape Girardeau.

Walker performs using a collage of voices in his comedy show, but instead of doing stand-up, he sings, imitating popular musicians, past and present.

Walker has a long history in the music industry.

At one time in his career, he was on the road with country stars Brooks and Dunn, while living in Nashville, Tennessee, and performing his own music, and was close to several country music greats.

"I used to hang out with Carl Perkins," Walker said.

He also was "the voice of Elvis" and even played the role of the musical icon in the movie "Sons of the Sacred South."

Walker said he got into doing vocal impressions because he sometimes used them to fill in time at the end of an act.

But 10 years ago, Walker moved to Branson, Missouri, and started doing a full show of impressions, "Mike Walker and Friends," after his act garnered the attention of singer Mickey Gilley, owner of the famed bar "Gilley's," where the movie "Urban Cowboy" was filmed. Gilley also owns a club in Branson.

"I started singing Conway (Twitty), and [Gilley] started crying like a baby," Walker said, because Gilley considered Twitty to a close friend and mentor.

"I fell in love with it," Walker said of doing the singing impressions.

The show will appeal to people ranging in age from 2 to 92, he said.

"I've got everything from Conway Twitty to Justin Bieber," the Jackson, Tennessee, native said. Other artists he replicates include Journey, Otis Redding and Garth Brooks.

One number that's always a consistent audience favorite, Walker said, is "Seven Spanish Angels," which he performs as a duet between Ray Charles and Willie Nelson. And, yes, he sings both parts.

"When I created the show, I wanted to please everybody in the audience," he said. "Both grandmothers and grandkids can have a good time."

Walker said he realized years ago when he emulated the voices of others, it created more excitement.

Other artists whose music is included in the show are Led Zeppelin, Boston, Kansas and Queen.

Walker said famed impersonator Rich Little has said one in 7,000 people could imitate the voices of others, but only one in every 14,000 people could sing like other people.

Walker played Isle Casino in 2014 and said the venue and audience were terrific.

"The people were very receptive," he said. "It's a great place to do a show."

Tickets to the show may be purchased online at cape-girardeau.isleofcapricasinos.com/entertainment-events.html and picked up after 4 p.m. the day of the show. Tickets are general admission and sell for $20. The show starts at 7 p.m., and doors open at 6 p.m.

"My show is like a box of chocolates," Walker said, mimicking the famous quote from "Forrest Gump." "You never know what you're going to get."

Pertinent address:

777 Main St., Cape Girardeau, Mo.