The King and I: Argeanas is the Sun’s own Elvis

Thursday, Aug. 15, 2002 | 8:30 a.m.

By day Tom Argeanas is a courier for the Las Vegas Sun. By night he often dons an Elvis cape, Elvis glasses and a sequined Elvis jumpsuit to pursue his passion for impersonating the King.

"I started when I was 3," the 43-year-old Argeanas said in a recent interview. "My father used to bring home all these 45-rpm records, all different kinds. One time he brought home an Elvis 45, 'All Shook Up.' I played it 100 times in a week. I wore it out."

And Argeanas' obsession with Elvis grew.

"All the way through high school, I dressed like Elvis," said the Albuquerque native.

And he sang Elvis songs.

"I performed at show-and-tell and at school assemblies," Argeanas said. "I was in a lot of talent shows, and I won all but one. I was beaten by a juggler."

After graduating from high school he continued with his Elvis persona, performing at benefit concerts and other venues when he wasn't driving delivery trucks.

In 1987 Argeanas decided he was ready for the big time. He packed his white suit and guitar and headed for Vegas.

When Argeanas arrived he didn't have any trouble finding work as an Elvis tribute artist. The field had not reached the saturation level of today's glut of Elvi.

"There were just a handful in the late '80s," Argeanas said. "As long as you were good, you could get jobs fairly easy."

He earned as much as $1,500 a week performing in lounges in such venues as Las Vegas Hilton, the Sahara and Arizona Charlie's. He got bit parts in TV series such as "The Fall Guy" and "Fantasy Island" when they were filmed in Las Vegas.

But the Elvis phenomenon began to pick up speed in the early '90s as more impersonators came to town. It became harder to find jobs, and the pay scale began to drop.

Argeanas burned out. He became a bellman at Westward Ho, a job he held for almost nine years while occasionally performing as Elvis.

Five years ago he became a courier for the Sun. Weekends he often goes to Los Angeles to perform his Elvis routine. Sometimes he performs in other states, such as Arizona and Colorado.

In December he competed against more than 190 Elvis impersonators in a nationwide contest. The top five contestants would perform at Graceland in Memphis on Friday, the anniversary of Elvis' death.

Argeanas made the cut and performed in the national finals Jan. 8 at the Las Vegas Hilton.

Argeanas and a second impersonator were running neck-and-neck for first place when Argeanas was blessed with a bit of good luck.

"Most of us went to the bar during a break, but the guy who was tied with me went to the buffet," Argeanas said.

After the break, his competitor performed a routine -- wearing a white suit -- and at the end turned his back to the audience with both arms extended into the air. The room roared with laughter.

The contestant had soiled his pants.

"He cursed and ran offstage," Argeanas said. "He didn't even stick around to pick up his fifth-place check."

Argeanas won the contest. His prizes included a 55-inch TV, two round-trip airline tickets anywhere in the United States, and an all-expenses paid trip to Memphis. He will perform during a candlelight service at Graceland tonight and again at the mansion Friday.

After years performing as Elvis, Argeanas says he has learned one valuable lesson.

"Stay away from the buffet."