Tribute band Black Jacket Symphony to perform Elton John hits at Paramount Theatre in Cedar Rapids

Elton John is no longer touring but the iconic singer-songwriter’s tunes are still performed live courtesy of The Black Jacket Symphony.

The popular tribute act, which will perform Nov. 13 at the Paramount Theatre in Cedar Rapids, hits the road while focusing on a recording artist and a particular album from their canon that is played in its entirety.

The choice is usually obvious. When Black Jacket was on its Eagles tour, the group played cuts from “Hotel California.” The Journey jaunt featured “Escape.” The bestselling albums typically are covered.

“Goodbye Yellowbrick Road” would seem to be the choice for John. However, Black Jacket Symphony is running with “Madman Across the Water.”

“The reason we went in that direction is because of ‘Goodbye Yellowbrick Road’ is a double album,” Black Jacket Symphony producer Jason Rogoff explained while calling from San Diego. ”If we did ‘Yellowbrick Road,’ it would be hard for us to do a full set of Elton John hits. But with ‘Madman Across the Water,’ which is a great album, we can do over an hour of Elton John’s greatest hits.”

Unlike some Rock and Roll Hall of Famers, such as the Sex Pistols or Guns N’ Roses, who had one or perhaps two very successful albums, John has had hits throughout his unparalleled career, which spans over a half-century.

“Tiny Dancer” and “Levon” are huge hits from 1972’s “Madman Across the Water.” There’s 1975’s “Someone Saved My Life Tonight,” 1977’s “Philadelphia Freedom,” 1983’s “I’m Still Standing” and 1990’s “Sacrifice.” The list of hits goes on and on. “We try to play as many hits as possible,” Rogoff said.

The focal point of the show is vocalist Steve Dodd, who sounds like a young Elton John. “I love doing this show,“ Dodd said. “I love singing 'Rocket Man’ and ‘Goodbye Yellowbrick Road.’ Those songs describe my life. With ‘Rocket Man,’ I sing about being away from my wife and being on the road. It really is like being part of a traveling circus. Like Elton sings during ‘Rocket Man,’ it’s my job five-days a week.”

What sets John apart is that he stayed relevant for 50-years. “Not many other recording artists can say that,” Rogoff said. “He did his songs and remixes with Britney Spears and Dua Lipa so younger fans are aware of how great he is and they can come out and see the show.”

Dodd, 55, is a lifelong Elton John fan. “I think I learned to sing Elton John songs as I was learning to speak,” Dodd said. “My mother was a music teacher and she played Elton John all the time. So I would sing along to the records as a kid and I got Elton’s cadence down early on and I just love his music.”

Dodd only experienced Elton John live once. “It was in 2018 during his farewell tour,” Dodd recalled. “There was no opening act and Elton played for three hours.”

Dodd, who works in music production, was inspired to perform after catching the concert and Black Jacket is his first gig as a singer. “After seeing Elton I was moved to do this professionally,” Dodd said.

Rogoff received an audition tape featuring Dodd and he knew that was his guy. “He is tremendous,” Rogoff said.

Elton John is finished touring but Rogoff realizes that the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer might come back and play select dates. “I can see Elton doing a residency in Las Vegas but so far he isn’t,” Rogoff said. “If you want to experience Elton John's music live in 2024, maybe you can come out and see our show.”

The Black Jacket concept was born in 2009 and 15-years later it’s still going strong for Rogoff, who is a music industry management veteran, who has worked with such recording artists as John Legend, Counting Crows and Lenny Kravitz.

“It’s been great and so much fun,” Rogoff said. “It’s always a different tour. It’s good to have tours focusing on different artists. People enjoy this concept. I have no complaints.”