Kerri Bilben, the School District 166 music and band teacher, is known to be an Elvis fan. Her interest in all things Elvis lead her to Memphis, Tenn. where she participated in the Sirius/XM Elvis Quiz Show. As a winner of the contest, she got to be a guest DJ, playing her favorite Elvis tunes with show host Jim Sykes.
Kerri Bilben, the music and band teacher at ISD 166 in Grand Marais, recently spent some time on a nationwide radio program.
In Memphis, Tenn. during MEA weekend, Bilben was a participant on the Elvis Quiz Show live on Elvis Radio Sirius/XM Ch. 19. The Elvis Quiz Show is a weekly radio game show for Elvis fans. There’s no major money in it, but the winner does get to spend time in the Elvis Radio booth as a guest DJ spinning his/her favorite Elvis songs.
“I was invited to play by Elvis Radio DJs Argo Memphis and Jim Sykes, both of whom I follow on Facebook and Elvis Radio,” said Bilben. “I spent two days driving to Memphis so I could play along with two other contestants. One was from California and the other from Missouri.”
The show format has three rounds featuring questions about Elvis music, movies, Graceland, and of course a “Name That Elvis Tune” round.
“As an avid Elvis fan who listens to the EQS regularly, I knew that the questions range from quite easy: When was Elvis born (Jan. 8, 1935) to quite difficult. What Elvis song held the number 1 spot the longest on the British Billboard charts? It’s Now or Never,” recalled Bilben.
“It was a beautiful sunny day in Memphis and the other contestants were quite fun to be around. The lady from California told stories of how she met Elvis, kissed Elvis, and hung out with him and his friends in his Las Vegas hotel suite after a show. I thought for sure I was going to lose to her! I did miss my second round question, but so did the other contestants,” Bilben said.
After a spectacular lightning round (five questions in 30 seconds), Bilben was able to secure the win with 60 points and won a three-CD collection of Elvis at Stax as well as the chance to be a guest DJ along with Elvis Radio DJ Jim Sykes.
What songs did Bilben choose during her half-hour time slot? “I was able to choose six songs – Little Sister, Big Boss Man, You’re So Square, Baby I Don’t Care, Viva Elvis-Burning Love, Suspicious Minds, and How Great Thou Art,” said Bilben, adding that she was able to have some good conversations about Elvis and his music with Jim Sykes.
“It was a great experience and a really fun time!” she said.
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