It was a sad day in August 1977 for Elvis Presley fans. The iconic singer died too soon. With nothing left but his legacy, fans held on to his memory.

Jim Jinelli, a Chicago native, strives to re-create the music and concert experience of "The King," with powerful vocals and a presence as close as possible to that of the late singer.

Jinelli's production, "Elvis: A Concert Experience," is said to be so real and liberating that it will leave you in disbelief. He performs to many sold-out crowds, from cultural and performing arts centers to the 31st Annual Elvis Presley Fan Club Convention in Orlando, Florida. He kicked off his current tour on Feb. 8 in Gulfport, Florida.

On Sunday, he is scheduled to perform at the Averitt Center for the Arts — his only stop in Georgia. The show is scheduled to begin at 3 p.m.

The production consists of covers from the touring concert years of 1971-1977. Jinelli seeks to capture the hearts of loyal fans by displaying the exact charm and charisma of the "King of Rock 'n' Roll."

At age 13, Jinelli saw Presley in concert for the first time at Chicago Stadium and, from that point on, he knew the kind of performer he wanted to be. But little did he know that he would later on perform tributes to the late King.

With a dedicated following, Jinelli has become a seasoned professional with a rare career track record. He has collaborated with many people who knew and worked alongside Presley, including Jerry Schilling, Joe Esposito, Sonny West, Dick Grob, D.J. Fontana and Scotty Moore.

Besides entertaining, Jinelli works diligently to raise money for various charities such as the Wounded Warrior Project. He has also performed at fundraisers for children's charities, homeless missions, hurricane and tornado victims, cancer research benefits, volunteer fire departments, and senior and veterans' organizations.

Jinelli, a professional musician, has created a mesmerizing tribute concert memorializing Presley. With his powerful, commanding voice, extensive vocal range and natural vibrato, Jinelli strives to capture Presley's unique Elvis sound. Seizing the passion of every song, Jinelli seeks to evoke the magic of the phenomenon known as the "King of Rock 'n' Roll."

For more information on "Elvis: A Concert Experience," visit http://www.elvisconcert.com. Tickets are $15 each. To purchase tickets, visit the Averitt Center website at www.averittcenterforthearts.org, call the Averitt Center box office at (912) 212-2787 or stop by the box office at 33 E. Main St. Box office hours are noon to 5:30 p.m. Tuesday through Friday.