What’s life really like for Wales’ best Elvis?
BY day he’s a mild-mannered supermarket butcher – but by night John David Thomas becomes sequined god Johnny Elvis!
The 48-year-old has served customers at Tesco Extra for the past 30 years – and for half that time has been moonlighting as The King – performing at charity events, international competitions and everything in between.
His son Jac, 13, even has the middle name Presley.
But what is life on the road really like for the man voted “Best Welsh Elvis” at this year’s legendary Porthcawl Elvis Festival.
Will Hayward took a look behind the curtain to learn the secrets and sacrifices of being Elvis.
Early days and getting shook up John was introduced to Elvis impersonation by fellow Presley tribute Rockin Dave Riely.
“I started out doing small things like charity performances where I would just do one or two songs,” he said.
“I then had to look at buying the jumpsuits.”
“You can do it two ways” said John.
“You can either buy a fancy dress for about £30 or you can get a professional one that starts at about £400. You can get stupid prices where you could pay £4,000.
“Once you have the suit you get promoted when you reach a certain level.
“My wife is managing director at Cylch Meithrin and they agreed to sponsor my suit if I perform for free at their events and put their name on my flyers.” If you thought there was one way to impersonate Elvis you would be wrong.
Some performers try and stay as true as possible to Elvis whereas some, like John, are more focused on entertainment.
Johnny Elvis said: “I am quite loopy and I throw in impressions, dances and accents.
“After a while you learn to read people.
“If people are switching off or are not big Elvis fans I will do an impression of someone like Julian Clary or I will change the lyrics slightly to get their attention.
“You always get people who will come up to you and say that you got a particular lyric wrong but they don’t realise there are 498 songs you have to learn.
“Sometimes I cheat a little bit and have some of the lyrics on an I-Pad.
“Even top performers do that. I have seen John Barrowman use screens when he is performing.”
What makes a great Elvis? John, whose favourite song is Long Black Limousine, is a real student of the game when it comes to the King of Rock and Roll.
Apparently you can’t just grow sideburns and shake your hips to be a true Elvis.
“The first thing I do is close my eyes and listen to the voice when seeing someone for the first time,” said the Llantrisant based performer.
“It needs to have Elvis in there, it needs that depth. It is then about the look.
“A lot of people wear the glasses but Elvis never wore them on stage, he put them on after he performed.
“The suits have also got to match the he songs. For example youu couldn’t sing ng That’s the Way It Is while wearingg the Blue Hawaiiii suit because they y were from differrent times.
“Finally theyy also have to bee able to build a rapport with the e audience. I always say if you don’t have an audience you are nothing. You get a lot of the bigger Elvis’s who forget that.” Every Elvis worth his salt needs to make a pilgrimage to the Graceland mansion in Memphis, Tennessee at least once in their life.
Unfortunately Johnny Elvis still hasn’t managed to get there.
John said: “I haven’t been to Graceland but I am going there next year for the 40th anniversary of his death.
“I was going to go this year but my son was too young to go and I promised to take him when I go.
“Jac singsgs on stage with h me and cann play the guiitar. I haveve said to him m I will takeke him off if he e keeps takingg my limeelight!
“My wife didn’t want to include Presley in his name but she got to name my daughter Megan.” For people who aren’t fans of Elvis it can be hard to understand such obsession. To John it isn’t just about the music. He said: “I have always been a fan of him. His whole way of life was about charity.
“When he started he was doing it for his mother. He was an all round good guy, anybody could go up to him, he had time for anybody.
“I just wish I was around to see one of his shows.”