From Elections to Elvis: The Multifaceted Life of Lee Dean

Lee Dean is my guests today on the Kanawha Valley Hustlers. Lee shares that his day job is being the senior field representative for the West Virginia Secretary of State’s office. His main responsibility is traveling across the state, working with county clerks to oversee elections. This includes ensuring voter rolls are accurate, election machines function properly, and conducting voter registration drives at high schools. He also trains poll workers to ensure smooth elections. Lee mentions that West Virginia has a reputation for smooth elections, with many other states looking to West Virginia as a model. Even Secretary of State Mike Warner has testified before Congress about West Virginia’s election integrity.

I note that you never hear about West Virginia having trouble with elections, and that’s not just by accident. Lee agrees and emphasizes that other states consider West Virginia a model for election integrity.

I then ask Lee about his side hustle, and he reveals that he has been singing all his life, performing tribute shows for Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra, and Johnny Cash. He dresses, talks, and sings like them, performing at various venues including West Virginia state parks, the Greenbrier, Stonewall Resort, festivals, senior centers, and nursing homes. Lee shares that Elvis is the most popular, though Johnny Cash is gaining popularity.

I ask if there is a regional preference for these tribute shows. Lee says that while Elvis remains the most popular, Johnny Cash is becoming equally popular with audiences. He performs iconic songs like “Folsom Prison Blues” and “I Walk the Line.”

Lee reflects on the legacies of Elvis, Sinatra, and Cash, noting that their songs are well-known and loved by many. He enjoys performing at nursing homes where residents often come alive and remember the lyrics, even if they sometimes forget other details of their lives. This connection through music is very rewarding for him.

Aside from his tribute shows, Lee is also a minister, helping churches with music and sharing God’s word. He jokes that if you duct tape his mouth, he’s useless, as communication is his main tool.

I ask Lee about balancing his technical day job with his creative side. He credits his personality and lifelong involvement in singing and theater for allowing him to express his creativity. Lee has been part of community theater in West Virginia and Kentucky and finds these activities fulfilling.

For those interested in starting a tribute act, Lee advises knowing the impersonation well, understanding the songs, and learning how to engage the crowd. He suggests starting with senior centers and nursing homes to gain experience. His tribute act has grown significantly, performing around 20 shows a month, with December being particularly busy due to Christmas songs. He manages this by taking time off work and planning his schedule carefully.

I thank Lee for sharing his story and ask how people can reach him. Lee shares his Facebook page, Lee Dean Sings , and his website, https://leedeansings.com/