Decades after his death, Elvis is more popular than ever. He sells more records, generates more revenue, and has more fans worldwide than he did when he was alive. If you need proof, look to these Elvis impersonators.
LATINO ELVIS (Robert Lopez, a.k.a. “El Vez,” Mexico)
Claim to Fame: First Mexican Elvis to think he was the second Mexican Elvis
Taking Care of Business: Lopez, who is famous all over Mexico and has appeared on MTV and The Tonight Show, grew up absolutely convinced that Elvis Presley was Mexican. “When I was a kid in the ’60s, I had uncles with continental slacks and pompadours in that Elvis style,” he says. “I thought Elvis looked like my uncles.”
Lopez got a rude awakening when he realized that the King wasn’t in Mexico even when he was supposed to be: “The first movie I ever saw him in was Fun in Acapulco. I found out later that it wasn’t even filmed in Mexico, but on a sound stage.” No matter—El Vez is still dedicated to emulating the King. “I don't think that you can do this unless you love and admire Elvis,” he says. “This isn’t just some fat-man-on-pills parody.”
REFUSNIK ELVIS (Vassil Angelov, Bulgaria)
Claim to Fame: Put his life on the line by impersonating the King
Taking Care of Business: When he was a young man in the 1960s, Angelov had to hide his admiration of Elvis because sideburns and rock music were illegal in communist Bulgaria. But the communist era ended in 1990 and today Angelov runs Bulgaria’s only Elvis fan club and openly tours the country imitating his idol. Someday he hopes to travel the world. “I want to look for people and places,” he says, “where I can show off my God-given talent.”
TOKYO ELVIS (Mori Yasumasa, Japan)
Claim to Fame: Became the first non-American to win an Elvis impersonator contest in Memphis, Tennessee, the Elvis capital of the world
It’s worth it: After a three-week vacation, your IQ can drop by as much as 20%.
Taking Care of Business: Yasumasa didn’t even hear his first Elvis song until he was 18, but quickly made up for lost time. It wasn’t long before he had perfected an Elvis imitation and was performing on U.S. Army bases all over Japan. In 1992 he made the trip of a lifetime when he traveled to Memphis, entered the International Elvis Impersonator Contest…and won. The victory has only deepened his appreciation of the King. “Although he didn’t compose or write his songs and leave any deep messages, I believe that he himself is the message,” Yasumasa says. “He was using his own body and soul to convey the message of freedom to the world. This to me is really incredible.”
KIWI ELVIS (Brian Childs, New Zealand)
Claim to Fame: He’s living the life of Elvis…in reverse
Taking Care of Business: Elvis was a singer who collected police badges and always wanted to be in law enforcement—and Brian Childs was a New Zealand police constable who always wanted to be the King. He started out impersonating Elvis in his spare time, but his chief didn’t like it and in January 2002, told him he’d have to quit his hobby. Constable Childs quit his job instead. Today he is the reigning champion Elvis Presley impersonator in neighboring Australia and is considering suing the force for wrongful dismissal.
FILIPINO ELVIS (Rene Escharcha, a.k.a. “Renelvis”, Philippines)
Claim to Fame: He takes care of business—by telephone
Taking Care of Business: It’s not easy to stand out from the crowd when you’re an Elvis impersonator—even if you’re a Filipino Elvis living in North Carolina. One of the ways Escharcha makes his mark is by whipping out his long-distance phone card in the middle of a performance and calling his cousin in the Philippines (also an Elvis impersonator) so that they can belt out Elvis tunes together, a cappella, over a speakerphone. Escharcha also keeps the King’s legacy fresh by writing his own songs. In “Elvis on Terrorism,” Escharcha sings, “I wonder if Elvis were here today, what would he do? I can assure you, he would do something.”
Why is he so dedicated to being the King? “If you want to be somebody, you have to work at it,” Renelvis explains.
43% of single American men say they didn’t go on a date in 2001.