More News

‘‘I can’t say I’m a big fan of his but I began learning everything about him and what he did,” Ernst said. ‘‘You’d have to be from another planet not to recognize the legend that he was and is.”

The first time Ernst, whose stage name is Elvis E, put on an Elvis suit was in 1996. He rented the outfit as a way to entertain his colleagues at a work convention in New Orleans.

One night, Ernst and his colleagues went to a karaoke club. Still in costume, Ernst walked into the club and the emcee said: ‘‘Elvis has entered the building.” Ernst got up, sang to the audience and was hooked.

‘‘It was a trip,” he said. ‘‘I became known as the Elvis impersonator in the office.”

He sang at a couple office Christmas parties and before long he was buying his own jumpsuits, entering Elvis contests and watching his amateur career as an Elvis Tribute Artist, as those in the business call it, take off.

Ernst took up emulating Elvis because of his love for the spotlight. He had to learn everything he possibly could about the late singer, from his mannerisms, to his music, to his speaking voice, to the way he danced.

Besides taking singing lessons on and off for about one year, Ernst taught himself a nearly 90-song repertoire by practicing in his car on his way to work in Washington, D.C., and having his wife critique him. His song selections include well-known songs such as ‘‘Fools Rush In,” ‘‘Hound Dog” and ‘‘Viva Las Vegas” and lesser-known songs including ‘‘The Wonder of You” and ‘‘Angel.”

‘‘I was never a big fan but I’ve now become a really big expert on all the songs he ever sang, how he sang them,” Ernst said. ‘‘If you’re in a contest you have to sell yourself as Elvis.”

To complete the persona, Ernst has three jumpsuits modeled after what Elvis actually wore on stage, which cost more than $800 each, plus gold rings, two black wigs and a pair of sunglasses.

He has participated and placed in several Elvis contests including, fifth place in Pigeon Forge, Tenn., and fourth in Dewey Beach, Del. He also performs in the Night of 100 Elvises charity event in Baltimore and hosts Elvis’s Birthday Bash at Dr. Dremo’s Tap House in Arlington, Va.

‘‘Richard has always been sort of an entertainer,” said his wife, Inez. ‘‘He’s always had that interest and not being intimidated; it never bothers him to get up in front of people.”

The original Elvis began his career as a teenager in 1954 in Memphis, Tenn., and by 1956 he was an international superstar. He took musical influences from pop, country and gospel music, which attracted fans from all walks of life.

Over his lifetime he starred in 33 movies, received 14 Grammy nominations, served in the U.S. Army and sold more than 1 billion records worldwide, more than any other artist.

His whirlwind life led to a sudden death in 1977 from heart failure, which is suspected to be prescription drug induced.

People began impersonating Elvis when he was still alive, but soon after his death the number of Elvis impersonators escalated and became popular in the mainstream.

Ethnicity or gender doesn’t stop many people; there’s a Mexican Elvis called El Vez and a woman called Elvis Herselvis. A number of Asian, black and even child Elvis impersonators exist across the world.

‘‘Elvis was a preposterous figure because of the jumpsuits and that Liberace-type affect. He just drew attention to himself by the way he dressed and the way he sang and the fact that he died so young adds to the appeal,” Ernst said. ‘‘It’s just something that’s very appealing for a lot of guys to do.”

Most people hire Elvis E for 30-minute performances for birthday, anniversary and retirement parties, although he also gets asked to do singing telegrams, casino night at retirement homes and company presentations.

‘‘It’s mostly older people who grew up listening to his music; it’s a performance by someone who’s trying to emulate him and it’s fun,” Inez Ernst said. ‘‘Most people are very, very respectful. I think it’s just remembering the talent and the impact he had on music.”

Potomac resident Anne Solarz wanted to have Elvis E at her recent birthday party to shake things up a bit and ensure that no one got bored.

‘‘It was actually the first time in 20 years I played an Elvis song,” she said. ‘‘I liked Elvis years and years ago when I was 16. It’s a party piece. Even if you don’t like Elvis, it’s entertainment. Everyone told me what a great idea it was.”

Elvis E

For more information on Elvis E or to hire him for an event visit his Web site at www.ElvisE.net.