All shook up: 25 years after the King’s death, Elvis impressionists wax rhapsodic

Thursday, Aug. 15, 2002 | 8:28 a.m.

The King is dead. Long live Elvis.

Even 25 years after his untimely death, the man who set the standard for rock 'n' roll in the '50s is still movin' and shakin'.

According to Forbes magazine, in 2000 Elvis earned $35 million. John Lennon, his closest deceased competitor, earned $20 million.

Each year around Aug. 16, the day in 1977 that Elvis died of a heart attack, many of his impersonators experience an increase in media interest. This is especially true this year.

Johnny Thompson is both an impersonator and head of the Las Vegas-based Professional Elvis Impersonator's Association, which has about 50 members. He has received calls from NBC news anchor Tom Brokaw, from NBC's "Today" show and from USA Today, among others.

"I've heard there are anywhere from 35,000 to 75,000 Elvis professional impersonators worldwide," Thompson said. "Personally, I think there might be 3,000, and probably only 100 make a substantial part of their living at it. Probably there are only 50 or so who do it full time."

Thompson, 37, is a native of the Dallas area. He spent 15 years in Chicago, 10 as an Elvis impersonator. He began by singing Elvis songs at a karaoke bar, graduated to singing telegrams, then to private parties and finally nightclubs.

"I used to own the world's largest Elvis agency in Chicago, but I wanted to get away," he said.

He landed in a city that may have the highest concentration of Elvis tribute artists in the world. The Las Vegas Sun recently caught up with a few of them.

Pete "Big Elvis" Vallee

Age: 37.

Hometown: Born in Canada. Grew up in Tacoma, Wash.

Years as an Elvis tribute artist: 23.

Inspiration: "The pastor in my church said I sounded a lot like Elvis."

First Elvis job: "I just got a couple of gigs playing with local bands in Seattle back in '79."

Favorite Elvis movie: " 'King Creole.' That was his favorite, too."

Favorite Elvis food: "Cheeseburgers. I love cheeseburgers."

Craig Newell

Age: 35.

Home state: New Jersey.

Years as an Elvis tribute artist: 9 1/2 years, full time.

Inspiration: "I've loved Elvis since I was a little boy. I found out I had knack for doing Elvis."

First Elvis job: "My first Elvis gig was at a private party in New Jersey for somebody's birthday. I was 26. Shortly after that I got a job on the Jersey Shore doing shows on weekends at an amusement park. I won a few major competitons. Thanks to Elvis I've been able to avoid a real job for nine years. God bless you Elvis ... I've performed as Elvis at every venue from biker bars to the Waldorf Astoria."

First Vegas performance: "It was in 2000. I got a casting call to be part of the '3000 Miles to Graceland' movie filmed at the Riviera. A plane ticket was bought for me and I shipped out here. I spent about a week at the Riviera doing the movie. After the filming was over I flew home, drove home from the airport, put a 'For Sale' sign in front of my house and came back to Vegas. All sideburns lead to Vegas.

"I was fortunate to get into Vegas and start working right away. I was a stand-in Elvis at the New Frontier. Then Fitzergalds had a contest for an Elvis late last year. I won and started the day after Christmas. We have the largest attended Elvis show in Las Vegas."

Favorite Elvis story: "Elvis accumulated lots of law enforce- ment badges, and they were not honorary. He was a real cop. A guy at the Hilton stole a bunch of jewelry and some nude photos of Priscilla and headed for the airport. Elvis got wind of this and he and his boys all went running through McCarran. Elvis went onto the runway, pulled out his badge, stood right in front of the airplane and stopped it. He pulled the guy out of the plane, frisked him, found the jewelry, found the photos and said to him, 'Alright. You have the right to remain silent and all the rest of that (expletive deleted).' Then he let him go and said don't ever come back." (Editor's note: This story, as is the case with many Elvis tales, could not be confirmed.)

Why is Elvis still popular? "Because he impacted the world so strongly and left us way too soon."

Favorite Elvis song: "It changes from day to day. 'If I Can Dream,' is pretty much one of my all-time favorites."

Favorite Elvis movie: "The documentary, 'Elvis on Tour.' "

Favorite Elvis food: "I do make peanut butter and banana sandwiches."

Sam Newell, son of Craig

Age: 9.

Home state: New Jersey.

Years as an Elvis tribute artist: Seven.

Inspiration: "My dad."

First Elvis job: "With my dad." Craig said, "I had a Friday night gig and I brought him onstage for the first time when he was two. I paid him a couple of bucks."

Arrived in Vegas: "Two years ago, with my dad."

Favorite Elvis story or anecdote: "The one where Elvis ripped his pants onstage."

Favorite Elvis song: "My Happiness."

Favorite Elvis movie: "Loving You."

Favorite Elvis food: "Fried peanut butter and banana sandwiches."

Harry Shahoian

Age: 30.

Hometown: Arcadia, Calif.

Years as an Elvis tribute artist: Nine.

Inspiration: "I was about 15 when I heard an Elvis tune, 'Blue Suede Shoes.' I liked it."

First Elvis job: "A party. I had a flat top, no wardrobe and no sideburns. I drew on sideburns with mascara that melted down my face. I forgot the words to some of the songs, but I got paid and I got a tip. I was 21. I decided if I worked at it, I could get pretty good. So I started working on costumes, the hair and songs."

First Vegas performance: "I moved to Vegas 2 1/2 years ago. I had to know if I was good enough to make it. My goal was to get on a Las Vegas stage within six months. One week after moving here I was working out in the gym in my apartment complex and I ran into a Jim Morrison imitator. We struck up a conversation and he told me about the MGM Grand and its 'Heroes of Rock 'n' Roll' (show). I tried out and got the part. I fulfilled my goal within three weeks."

Favorite Elvis story: "I once talked to a guy who was a dancer in 'Kissin' Cousins.' Elvis had two different roles in the movie. For one he had to wear a blonde wig, and he looked really uncomfortable. He was sweating his tail off. He hated the wig. This dancer said he didn't know how he could stand it, and Elvis said 'For a million dollars a movie, they can put a pile of (expletive deleted) on my head.' "

Why is Elvis still popular? "It's hard not to be a fan. You can't listen to Elvis and not be a fan."

Favorite Elvis song: "It changes every week. They're all my favorites."

Favorite Elvis movie: "Jailhouse Rock."

Favorite Elvis food: Fried peanut butter and banana sandwiches.

Darren Lee

Age: "No comment."

Hometown: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

Years as an Elvis tribute artist? 14.

Inspiration: "Hearing his music when I was a kid."

First Elvis job: "I came in second in an Elvis contest in Edmonton in 1988. That resulted in a job with 'Elvis, Elvis, Elvis,' in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. The show started in 1979. It toured the world. But by the time I got into it, it was on its last legs."

First Vegas performance: "In March of 2000. After winning a 1997 world Elvis contest in Memphis, I was rated No. 1 in world. I went to work for Donnie Moore's 'American Superstars' at the Stratosphere."

Favorite Elvis story: "I don't really have a favorite. Everything about Elvis fascinates me. I'm more into his music than his personal life. He's the most popular figure in American history."

Why is Elvis still popular? "He became an icon. He appealed to everybody. His fans have kids, and the kids will have kids."

Favorite Elvis song?: "Don't."

Favorite Elvis movie?: "Loving You."

Favorite Elvis food? "Pizza. I have tried peanut butter and banana sandwiches, and they are awesome. Elvis fried them in a stick of butter. But my favorite food is pizza."

Pete Willcox

Age: "No comment."

Hometown: "Originally I'm from Connecticut."

Years as an Elvis tribute artist: "Since the mid-'70s."

Inspiration: "I'm blessed with a magpie gift. I can impersonate a lot of people. I was like every kid growing up, trying to do Elvis."

First Elvis job: "I was singing at the Baked Potato, a nightclub in Universal City. Everybody knew I could do him. A friend of mine brought in a guy contracting voices for the 'Laverne & Shirley' show. I sang as Elvis and the place went nuts. I ended up doing his voice on 'Laverne & Shirley.' On 'Happy Days,' when Fonzie hits the juke box and you hear Elvis, that's me.

"After Elvis died in '77, a lot of doors opened. I did a lot of sitcoms -- 'Cheers,' 'Murphy Brown' and a lot of others. I was like the TV Elvis. It was such a fun thing to do."

First Vegas performance: "In the early '80s. I performed at the Silverbird and the Frontier. I also was part of John Stewart's 'Legends in Concert' and Donnie Moore's 'American Superstars.' For the last four or five years I've done a tribute to a lot of different stars. Right now I'm Dean Martin in 'The Tribute to Frank, Sammy, Joey and Dean' at the Greek Isles."

Favorite Elvis story: "I met a girl that dated him once. She told me everybody who knew him backstage had a crush on him. He was so outgoing and delivered such an amazing smile. He had so much love to give to everybody. He was so happy to be here. He had a wonderful voice, and he was happy to share it with us."

Why is Elvis still popular? "His generation adored him so much and they are passing him on to their children. He will be remembered forever as an innovative and engaging stylist."

Favorite Elvis song: "I don't really have a favorite. 'Kentucky Rain' is an amazing visual. It's too bad Elvis wasn't allowed to participate in the video market. It would have made a great video."

Favorite Elvis movie? " 'Jailhouse Rock' is a classic rock 'n' roll movie. 'Loving You' tells a good story. He was at his acting best in 'King Creole.' "

Favorite Elvis food: "I was down in the South visiting this girl, and her mom brought out a bunch of sandwiches. Among them were some peanut butter and banana sandwiches. I thought the family must really be poor but my girlfriend said, 'Oh, no. They're really good.' So I tried one and, hey, it was really good. It's almost like a Southern desert. I don't eat them. They're not a diet food."

Sonny Boline

Age: "No comment."

Hometown: Minneapolis.

Years as an Elvis tribute artist: 11.

Inspiration: "I've always been a big Elvis fan, since I was like 6 years old. I had no notion that I could sing till one night, I was invited to a karaoke show. Halfway through the night, though, the other singers were terrible and I decided no one there was going to see me again, so I started an Elvis song. The place went crazy. Then they had a talent contest and I won it, but I won it for singing Roy Orbison, and I became obsessed with karaoke. I would go out six and seven nights a week, hoping to get discovered. I did mostly Elvis songs, because that's what people seemed to respond to."

First Elvis job: "It was in a tiny bar back in Minneapolis. I did the '50s Elvis. I didn't have a band backing me up. I was using karaoke tracks for the music. People in the audience thought I was lip-syncing Elvis. The manager came up to me after the first set and said I had to do something in the second set to prove I wasn't lip-syncing. So in the middle of an Elvis song I broke into 'Sherry,' by the Four Seasons."

First Vegas performance: "I came to Vegas the first week of April, '94. Nobody knew me. I drove a limo for about a year and then I got a call from the Elvis-A-Rama museum to sing here."

Favorite Elvis story: "I got to see the man in person five times. I stood in line 14 hours once to get tickets. I stood 12 feet from him. He was much more charismatic in person than people could believe. It was just amazing."

Why is Elvis still popular? "His charisma. His looks. He was a very handsome man. His voice."

Favorite Elvis song: "The American Trilogy."

Favorite Elvis movie: "Roustabout."

Favorite Elvis food: "I don't really have one."

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