Elvis fans flock to festival

LOS FRESNOS — A dedicated group of Elvis Presley fans commemorated the 30th anniversary of his death Saturday to hear hits like “Love Me Tender” and “Hound Dog” at Little Graceland.

Presley, a former truck driver from a poor family in Memphis, Tenn., became a worldwide megastar in the 1950s, riding the crest of the first rock ‘n’ roll wave, shaking up high schools and families with his ducktail haircut and swiveling hips.

Rene Davis, whose day job is flying a photo airplane for the Department of Agriculture, was one of four featured Elvis imitators singing and posturing for the crowd.

“These are the real hard-core fans,” he said, watching the group of mostly aging baby boomers carry their folding lawn chairs in the near-100-degree August heat.

“I was in high school,” at the peak of Elvis’ career, Davis said.

“His music was real popular when I was a teenager.”

Davis’ favorite tune is, “Are You Lonesome Tonight?” he said.

“That came out around Christmas time, I think in 1960. I was in high school. I had just started to get interested in girls.”

“I was 32 when he passed away,” Davis said solemnly.

The most photogenic of the Elvis impersonators was Chad Roy, who brought a 1950s pink Cadillac like the kind Elvis used to drive, and sometimes give to people as gifts. He also brought a Italian sports car customized to honor Elvis.

Middle-aged women, gathered around with point-and-shoot cameras as Roy posed with the cars in his customized Elvis costume.

Edward Chapa of La Joya said he and his family bring a convoy of vehicles to all Elvis Fests in Los Fresnos. “We all caravan out here. We have 15 people this time,” he said.

Chapa is proud that Elvis was still alive and performing when he was a boy.

“I was born in 1973,” he said. “We grew up with his music with my mom and dad.”

Cameron County Precinct 3 Commissioner David Garza of San Benito recalls attending an Elvis movie at a theater in Edinburg when he was a boy.

“My cousin had a ‘57 Chevy with spinner hubcaps,” he said. “He was big into fast cars.”

The larger ElvisFest is held at the rodeo grounds in January because so many Winter Texans attend, Davis said.

Doyle and Regina Shipp of Harlingen recall their high school days when they attend ElvisFests, they said.

“When I was a teenager, I had real long sideburns,” Doyle Shipp said.

Chuck and Dianne Hurman of San Benito also were re-living their youth as they listened to Elvis impersonators warm up for the show.

“She’s the Elvis fan,” Chuck Hurman said. “I’m a Bill Haley man. But I saw him in Memphis. A Navy buddy of mine and I were stationed at Millington/Memphis Naval Air Station. We saw Elvis in town. My buddy knew him. Elvis was just getting started then.”

Both the Shipps and the Hurmans have visited the real Graceland, he said.

Joe Marquez, another Elvis impersonator, said he has been performing “officially for 10 years, but unofficially for 20 years, as ‘The King.’ ”

A Pace High School world geography teacher, he said he performs “when I get a call.”

But Davis, who performed for years at the Bar-B-Q Warehouse in Weslaco, now has a regular gig at The Wharf in Arroyo City on Friday nights, he said.