King lives on
Wade Czank establishes Elvis Presley Association of P.E.I., says singer provided him with inspiration
On the 40th anniversary of death of Elvis Presley, we present some of the feelings of his biggest fans in the region
Today marks 40 years since Elvis Presley’s death, and fans the world over still remember and miss the King of Rock and Roll.
One avid fan, Island resident Wade Czank, said he remembers where he was the day he heard the news Elvis had died.
“I was just outside of Princeton, B.C., we were on vacation and we heard the news when we were at the motel,” said the founder and president of the Elvis Presley Association of P.E.I.
Czank, who owns “tons” of Elvis memorabilia, said the singer’s music was inspirational to him, so when his now 12-year-old son, Leo, was born premature, he turned to his inspiration to help him through the ordeal.
“I’ve always thought Elvis was very spiritually strong to me and meant a lot to me over my life,” he said, adding his music brought him strength and he hoped it would also help his son.
“When he was born, the first thing I did when I was in the IWK was to get a picture of an old Elvis and a young Elvis and put it on the incubator. Before all the family pictures were there, those were there,” he said. “He still has the pictures.”
Czank said he knows the words to many of Presley’s songs and will sometimes get up and sing them in public, but admits he’s not a professional impersonator.
“I have a jumpsuit and a wig and glasses. I can sing a few songs but I’m not really a good singer, but I try. I’m a quasi-impersonator,” he said with a laugh.
As far as conspiracy theories surrounding Presley’s death go, Czank isn’t ruling anything out.
“They are out there, they could be true. He could be around still, you never know. I still say he could be around,” he said, adding Presley would be 82 years old today and could “be retired somewhere in a home in Tennessee, just hanging out with all his buddies.”
Whatever the case, Czank will always remember Presley fondly.
“He’s the King and he’ll always be remembered as the King.”