Video: The Danny Gans of Des Moines shows he's ready for the Las Vegas Strip

We've had great response to our posts about the All-American musical impressionist Rick Ludwig, the Danny Gans of Des Moines, Iowa, who's out there most every night with his "i-man show" when he's not delivering singing telegrams, playing deejay and host at karaoke events or belting out his Two Men And A Tune duet show with Big Al Lauderdale.

The video above shows Rick in performance last month at the Prairie Meadows Casino in Altoona, highlighting his impressions of a Toby Keith & Willie Nelson duet, Elvis Presley, Elton John, Johnny Cash and John Denver. The show also included Rick as Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Roy Orbison, Buddy Holly, Neil Diamond, Billy Joel, Garth Brooks, Joe Cocker, George Jones, Billy Idol and Ozzy Osbourne.

The video proves the man is a powerhouse performer: a strong singer, excellent impressionist, and family entertainer who should be trading off nights with Frank Caliendo on the Las Vegas Strip. Rick Ludwig is the Terry Fator in waiting!

Rick adds a note: "The camera adds an extra 5-10 pounds to this video. I did a good job of adding an extra 50 over the past 10 years myself!"

UPDATE: Rick Ludwig will be performing his i-man show-- and breaking out new impressions of Joe Cocker and Tiny Tim-- at Trophy's Sports Bar & Grill in Des Moines, from 8 to 10 pm this Wednesday, March 17th (St Patrick's Day!)

The Danny Gans of Des Moines hogs spotlight with Star-Spangled Bacon

Musical impressionist Rick Ludwig, the Danny Gans of Des Moines, Iowa, is not sitting by his phone, waiting for the call from Las Vegas to take the mantle of the fallen Strip superstar. He's out there working his "i-man show," with little of the Sin City production values but a hundred and ten percent of the talent and gumption it takes to get out there and conquer another crowd with a trunk of quick-change costumes, a sound system and an incredible voice as well as knack for mimicry.

This weekend it was the 3rd annual Blue Ribbon National Bacon Festival, where Rick, in his "Big Elvis" persona, brought home the bacon with The National Anthem.


Now, sure it's funny, with the guy in the pig suit standing behind the big Elvis. But take time and listen to Rick's voice (and hang in to the very end to watch the pig and hear Rick bring home the bacon at 1:30!). The man's got the goods-- and dozens of other voices. This is wholesome, family, Gansian entertainment.

Sez Rick: "It was a rush! The bacon-covered caramel donuts were awesome! Elvis really enjoyed it!"

Chip Lightman, make that call!

From Rick Ludwig's website:

What is the i-Man Show?

What does the "i" stand for? Good question. The "i" stands for Impressionist, which is defined one way by Merriam-Webster as "an entertainer who does impressions." And an Impression is defined as "an imitation or representation of salient features in an artistic or theatrical medium; especially : an imitation in caricature of a noted personality as a form of theatrical entertainment.

That's what Rick Ludwig does when he sings and does impressions of some of the biggest artists of yesterday and today, which include... Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra, Roy Orbison, Buddy Holly, Neil Diamond, Elton John, Billy Joel, Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, John Denver, Toby Keith, Billy Idol, Ozzy Osbourne and Joe Cocker just to name a few.

Rick's resourceful and comedic use of costumes and props for these artists brings life to his characters and accompanies his vocal talents to make for an "impressive" and unforgettable evening of entertainment.

Who is Rick Ludwig?

Rick Ludwig is one of the Midwest's best kept secrets when it comes to variety style vocal performance and impersonations of the greatest singers since the 1950s until the present. Rick sings over 100 different songs from over 30 different artists spanning over 50 years and he also impersonates many of these artists with costumes or hilarious props. Rick's incredible 4 octave range (from bass to falsetto) allows him to do almost any song made for a man (and them some).

Rick has performed (sang) at over 3,500 shows from 1990-present, including, but not limited to wedding ceremonies, wedding receptions, corporate parties, karaoke shows, singing telegrams, senior citizen centers, nightclubs, casino shows and even funerals.

Rick began singing in public at a very young age of four in church, performing special numbers. The love for singing has always been in his blood! He is a natural when it comes to singing like the original artists and impersonating their famous moves! Rick has even been compared to the late, great Vegas entertainer/singer/impersonator Danny Gans, by some big fans of Danny's that saw his show several times.

Rick performs the oldies, classic country, new country (including hits on the radio today), classic pop and rock & roll songs and even contemporary Christian and gospel songs. He also likes to throw in a few Patriotic songs every now and then.

Rick Ludwig: The Danny Gans of Des Moines is ready to take his act to Las Vegas

Attention, Las Vegas! Rick Ludwig is prepared to step up to fill a big pair of red socks and black-and-white spectator shoes.

We told you about musical impressionist Rick Ludwig and his "i-man show" as part of our series on artists across America who plow on, inspired by the work, life and example of Danny Gans.

Some rely on a tux, a microphone and a band. Rick Ludwig does it all, with costumes, props, and his own musical accompaniment, and as a result he is the one-man musical impressionism star of greater Des Moines, Iowa, and definitely qualifies as one of the hardest-working men in show business. Definitely a homegrown Heartland talent, he's dedicated to his family and community, while working overtime at entertaining with everything from DJing to karaoke parties to singing telegrams to his locally legendary i-man shows wherever he can pull out his trunk and set up.


Last night, it was the Prairie Meadows Racetrack & Casino in Altoona. Tonight, Trophy’s Sports Bar & Grill in Des Moines. Soon, Caesars Palace on the Las Vegas Strip? In an exclusive online interview, Rick Ludwig tells us he’s prepared to bring his act to Las Vegas and, just maybe, fill the void left by the passing of the great Danny Gans. And like Garth Brooks, who took over the showroom Danny Gans left vacant, he’s willing to fly in on weekends so he can have the rest of the week with his wife and kids.

Tabloid Baby’s Sam Peters put up the questions .

So, you’re obviously a big talent. What shows have you got lined up?

All local Des Moines shows for now. Haven't pursued too much nationwide yet, but I wouldn't rule that out for future. Still fine-tuning the show here locally.

How long have you been doing your show?

My very first i-Man show was New Year's Eve 2007, which was the low-quality (I apologize) video that you have seen on YouTube. However, I have been singing since I was 4 in my mom's former church in front of 100 or so (so that would be 1970 roughly).

In 1985, I began as a part-time DJ while attending Central College in Pella, Iowa (Harry Smith's college). In 1991, I purchased my first karaoke system, began doing it at private parties and weddings and then expanded into the clubs in 1993.

In 1994 I left my day job as a computer programmer and in 1995 when full-time into the DJ & Karaoke business.

I began singing in clubs as a performer in about 1996-1997. Began doing Singing Telegrams around 2001.

So you’re a show biz vet. Are you a native of Des Moines?

I’m from Ottumwa, Iowa. That’s the hometown of Tom Arnold and, fictionally, Radar from M*A*S*H. I moved to Des Moines in 1989 to begin a day job at the Principal Financial Group downtown.

Say you get the call from Sin City. Would you be willing to relocate?

If the right opportunity came along, I might be willing to relocate in a few years, once my kids are a bit older. I have four (three girls aged 14, 7 and 6, with one boy, 13). However, I think it would be fun to maybe perform in a Las Vegas casino one or two nights a week-- say a Monday or Tuesday-- and then fly back home to Iowa. Airfare is cheap from DSM to Vegas.

A talent like you was bound to get noticed. Have you ever applied for a show like America's Got Talent?

As for American Idol, was always too old. They need Geezers Got Talent or Old Farts Got Talent and I'd be all over that. Just kidding. I haven't done the America's Got Talent because I'm way too busy with my DJ, Karaoke and Singing Telegram business. I don't know when I'd get time off! I guess it wouldn't hurt to pursue some day and give them a taste of i-Man or something.

I did win $2,500 in a karaoke contest at Prairie Meadows in Altoona back in 2007. I got second place, dressed as my Big Elvis and Disco Dude characters (kind of a pre-cursor to i-Man, I think). I used some of that money to buy additional costume stuff. (See pictures on RickLudwigShow.com.

Of course, it all gets back to Danny Gans. How did The Man of Many Voices inspire you?

A couple visited one of my karaoke shows back in 2006 while I was singing a few Elvis and Johnny Cash songs. I wasn’t in costume, just imitating their voices, and they told me I reminded them of Danny Gans from Las Vegas, who they went to see at least once a year. I said, “Danny who?”

I basically lived under a rock at that time, because I had only been to Vegas twice before that for DJ conventions and still didn't know who Danny Gans was. A few weeks later, this couple returned to the show with a videotape of Danny Gans and loaned it to me to watch. “Wow! That's what I wanna do” I said.

Maybe not Vegas right away, but I loved the idea of imitating voices and also dressing the part.

So that's how I got hooked. I went to see Danny in February 2007 during a DJ convention and I was like a little kid in a candy store. He was awesome!!!

Okay. You run the gamut. But what are your favorite impressions?

Elvis, Johnny Cash, Elton John and I do a split-personality character of half Toby Keith, half Willie Nelson. I sing the duet Beer For My Horses, doing both parts back and forth. lol. People go crazy over that one. It's unique for Iowa.

I also just added Ozzy costume and am still working that one out.

See Rick Ludwig live tonight at Trophy’s Sports Bar & Grill iN Des Moines tonight from 7 to 10, and next Saturday, February 20th at Rookie's Sports Bar & Grill 9-1 in Clive, Iowa.

Rick Ludwig is the Des Moines Danny Gans

Will Las Vegas ever see another Danny Gans? That's like asking of Las Vegas will ever see another Elvis, Louis Prima or Cook E. Jarr. The likes of the musical impressionist, with his special mainstream gifts, unique background and mysterious life, will never be seen again-- not that there aren't many who would assume his mantle if given the chance.

There are the obvious Gansabees, like Frank Caliendo toiling at the Monte Carlo, or Larry G. Jones, working just off the Strip with Gans' old drummer and pal Raphael Erardy, but one man who just may be working his way toward Gansstyle greatest is plugging away in Des Moines, Iowa, chasing his dream through Singing Telegrams, Phonegrams and karaoke in the voices and personnae of Elvis, Frank Sinatra, Willie Nelson, Elton John, Billy Joel, John Denver, Johnny Cash and-- well, you name it.


Rick Ludwig is his name. Remember that name. We were led to the YouTube video again through a "Danny Gans" Google alert. The video description says:

"Similar to show like late, great Danny Gans in Las Vegas. Visit www.imanshow.com. Demo lasts about 6 min. with costume changes for 11 different artists in this order... Elvis Presley, Buddy Holly, Roy Orbison, Frankie Valli, Frank Sinatra, Elton John, Billy Joel, Johnny Cash, John Denver, Willie Nelson and Toby Keith. For hire 515-208-1782 or visit imanshow.com."

Who cares that it's an "i-man" show? Look past the production values and see a true artist with quite a set of pipes. America's Got Talent, look no further...