Elvis impersonator in Graceland

CEBU, Philippines - It's been  nine years since I started impersonating Elvis Presely. Although I've  been a vocalist in our band way back 1964 in Bacolod City, I never imagined myself to be the main act of a concert. Let's go back farther  along memory lane. During my third year in high school, I began to idolize Elvis as many teens did.  I had my hair greased with pomade (no gel at that time) and wore tight-fitting jeans and memorized the lyrics of "Jailhouse Rock". You may wonder why until now  I'm still impersonating Elvis  who will turn 79 on January 8, if he were alive. There are over 20,000 impersonators all over the world. They come in all sizes , shapes and nationalities. One reason probably why I continue to impersonate Elvis is to make people happy by reliving the magic they once experienced hearing and watching Elvis himself sing. TV host Johnny Carson once said "if life was fair, Elvis would be alive and impersonators would be all dead.  Speaking of impersonators, eight Elvis clones will be perfprming at Bistro RJ in Dusit Thani Hotel, Makati City, on January 16 to mark the 79th death anniversary of Elvis. 

Some of the  mini-concerts  or gigs where I performed as Elvis include Fathers’ Day at Marco Polo Hotel in 2009; Elvis Serenades the Grandparents 2012, SM City Consolacion; Elvis Seranades the Moms 2013,Robinson's Fuente; Icons  of the 60's and 70's at  SM City 2013; Christmas with Elvis and Friends at Robinsons Fuente; and the most recent  Elvisaya at Queens, New York City, USA.

Here's a few tidbits about Elvis. He was born in grinding poverty (two bedroom shack with the toilet outside the house) on January 8,  1935 in Tupelo, Mississippi. Elvis had a  twin brother named Jesse Garon who was born dead. Elvis was so poor he walked to school until he was a teenager. Elvis asked for a bicycle on his eleventh birthday, but her mother , fearing he'd fall and  hurt himself , bought him a guitar instead . Elvis was a "Mama's boy"; her death in 1958 completely devastated him.  In 1953, Elvis walked into  Sun  Recording  Studio in Memphis to make a record for his mother. Since then, he  sold over a billion copies around the world. He earned 84 gold records, 45 platinum records, and 21 multi-platinum records.  He starred in 31 movies.  He died on August 16, 1977, in his bathroom at Graceland at age 42.  Cause of death was listed as cardiac arrhythmia but there were vast quantities  of prescription drugs found in his body. Before his death, he balooned to 250 pounds and his face was swollen and pastry while his eyes were puffy.

Elvis and Graceland

Next to the White House in Washington D.C, Graceland Mansion in Memphis Tennessee is the second most-visited house in the United States. More than 750,000 visitors tour Elvis Presley's home every year.  The Southern-inspired mansion was built in 1939 by a Memphis doctor who named it Graceland in honor of the builders' aunt, Grace.  In 1957, Elvis bought the house for $100,000. Although the house is not as huge as it seemed to be, it has a big ground and could even be considered a ranch, since the total area is 14 acres. Elvis decorated  Graceland's  eighteen  rooms in lavish style.The grounds included a swimming pool , firing range, riding stable , racquet ball room (which eventually became a display room of his gold and platinum awards), shooting gallery, gym and entertainment area, the Jungle Room (Elvis music room) and the Meditation Garden that has the grave of Elvis, together with that of his father Vernon, mother Gladys, aunt Minnie and his twin brother Jesse.  Yours truly was in a guided  tour of  Graceland recently and enjoyed the other attractions like the automobile museum. Elvis owned over 30 vehicles including the famous Pink Cadillac, Stutz Blackhawks, 3 Rolls Royce sedans, Mercedes Benz limousine, Bel Air convertible, a red MG (from " Blue Hawaii"),Cadillac El Dorado convertible  and a 1975 Dino Ferrari, among others. I also  boarded Elvis' customized jets.  The Lisa Marie (named after his daughter) includes a living room, sitting room and private bedroom, as well as gold-plated-seatbelts, suede chairs and a 24 karat gold-flecked sink.  The smaller  jet is a Lockhead Jetstar called Hound Dog II.  There are three restaurants at Graceland Plaza and these are  Chrome, Rockabillys' and  Shake Split and Dip.  For souvenirs, there are 12 specialty stores with everything Elvis including CDs, DVDs, books, apparel, jewelry pieces, collectibles and more.  Also nearby is Heartbreak Hotel, located across Graceland. Rooms  are accented with framed black and white Elvis photographs.  One may stay at four themed suites: Hollywood, Burning Love, and Gold and Platinum. (FREEMAN)