Living Like The King

. Abdul Aziz Mohd Daud loves to play Sexy Elvis.

NOTE: This article was written in 2005 and is posted here in dedication to Aziz Daud who at that time was dealing with a painful hip condition who in spite of it, gave not one but many sterling performances with his group of Elvis impersonator friends. Today, Aziz can walk in comfort after an operation and we hope that he will continue to bring Elvis back to life.

AN Elvis impersonator on stage is always quite a sight. Invariably, the first thing that will catch your eye is the shiny jumpsuit à la the King's Las Vegas era. It may be tacky, but it ain't cheap, costing anywhere between RM1,000 and RM2,000.

But at the end of the day, the suit is still just a prop. As Joe Rozario, 55, an Elvis impersonator of four years says, "You have to live and breathe Elvis.

"The first thing you must have is The Voice. Then you must have the slightly Elvis look about you. No moustache, please, or you're out. Next comes the outfit, followed by the moves and shakes," he says.

But the most important thing of all is devotion to the man. In order to be like Elvis, an impersonator must be an Elvis fan.

Rozario, for example, dedicates the first piece of his birthday cake every year to Elvis. It is his way of remembering The King of Rock ‘n' Roll, who passed away on the eve of Rozario's 27th birthday.

Peter Lee (above) and his son (Alfred) are both Elvis impersonators.

"When the news of Elvis' death reached me, I was about to turn 27. My mum had arranged a party for me but I refused to join in. All I wanted to do was to listen to Elvis songs the whole day. That is why relatives would refer to Elvis as my ‘uncle', because of the way I reacted to the news," says Rozario.

Rozario, who is an executive at a local brewery, says that even off-stage and minus the suit, he can attract attention with his Elvis-styled sunshades and long sideburns. He recalls a holiday in Bombay two years ago where he overheard airport staff whispering excitedly that ‘Elvis' had arrived!

It didn't end there, either. While having drinks at a hotel bar, a staff, noticing the way Rozario looked, asked if he could entertain them with a few Elvis numbers. He obliged with a 15-minute performance.

Another Elvis impersonator Abdul Aziz Mohd Daud, 51, says he always adds a bit of humour to his routine.

"Sometimes I introduce myself as Michael Jackson's father-in-law," he says gleefully.

Joe Rozario was deeply affected when Elvis died.

A businessman by day, Aziz says he has been an Elvis fan since he was in his 20s. Like Rozario, the King's death had quite an impact on him.

"It was only after receiving news of his death that I began to study his lyrics and took up singing," Aziz confesses.

Aziz's first gig as an Elvis impersonator was at The Weld in 1980. He was also the 1st runner-up in the "Be Elvis and Win" competition organised by Discovery Travel and Adventure back in Aug 2002.

"There are many aspects to Elvis, so it is difficult to copy him 100%. I know I don't sound 100% like Elvis but I cover that up with dance movements and try to incorporate a little bit of Elvis' sexiness in my act," Aziz says.

"When I started impersonating the King, my wife said I looked like a fool. Luckily, her friends came to see me perform and gave a good review. After that, she gave me the thumbs up," reveals Aziz.

The oldest of the Elvis impersonators is Peter Lee, 60. Lee, who has been impersonating Elvis for 10 years now, recalls a gig he did for the Stroke Association last year. He played to an audience of 2,000 patients.

"The audience was in crutches, wheelchairs and lying on stretchers. Most of them could not move but during the show, I could see them raising their hands and moving to the music. Later, a friend told me that one guy who had raised his hand never could do so before," says Lee.

Lee, who plays the drums and guitar, has a four-piece band called The Malaysianaires, after Elvis' original band, The Jordanaires.

Out of their costumes, Rozario, Lee, Wong and Abdul Aziz look like regular guys.

Lee's son, Alfred, 34, is also an Elvis impersonator, and this is a fact that Lee is extremely proud of.

Apart from an appreciative audience, impersonators can command fees ranging from RM500 to RM8,000 per gig. Making money from your devotion isn't a bad deal.

If you want to catch these Elvis impersonators in action, catch their tribute performance on Jan 8 (Elvis's birthday) and Aug 16 (the anniversary of his death). Regular jam sessions are held at Dragon's Head Pub and Bistro in Kelana Jaya every Wednesday. For private or corporate functions call 019-2668446 (Aziz), 019-6441148 (Peter) or 013-3986807 (Joe)