Rocking with the King’s men

There are three ways to get close to the King ~ listen to his music, visit Graceland and meet a tribute artiste. Stephen Kabakos visits Kolkata to belt out the King’s greatest hits, writes Mathures Paul

‘Yes sir, I will try to answer your queries.’ Dressed in a loosely fitting suit, hair neatly combed, Stephen Kabakos made his entry into the room. He reminded one of the many youngsters who went head over heels listening to Elvis Presley, caring little for the revolution that would strike America a few years later ~ The Beatles. Instead of calling himself an impersonator, he likes to be known as a ‘tribute artiste’ and he indeed presented a great show.
Prior to the concert, we found him practising wearing a flaming orange top, belting out Don’t Be Cruel with Presley’s trademark smirk. He followed it up with Love Me Tender, his voice longing to match the King’s. “But I will never be the King. There was, is and will be only one King ~ Elvis Presley,” he told The Statesman later.
After a few songs he disappeared only to reappear dressed and followed by the “Calcutta Mafia” (remember the Memphis Mafia). “I never thought they would be here! Feels like the King.” When his cape appeared on a tray, one thought he would be performing the Aloha Hawaii routine, the concert that was aired via satellite across the globe. What he had put up took listeners on a trip down memory lane ~ starting from the Sun Studio years to Elvis in Hollywood to the King’s “comeback” leather-jacket routine and ended with Aloha Hawaii, a period that marked the gradual decline in his personal life.
The ‘tribute artiste’ was candid why he likes Presley. “I was two years old when I was made to watch the Aloha Hawaii concert. My mother is a die-hard Presley fan. Anyway, years rolled by and the King was presented in a different light between 1973 and 16 August 1977 (the day, some say, music died). In the years that followed, I grew more and more attached to his music. That’s that.”
In 1973 Elvis Presley was still in his prime. His Hollywood days were over (thank God) and his “comeback” concerts were extremely well received ~ who can forget If I Can Dream. Presley’s stint in Las Vegas was not at all bad and the same could be seen in DVDs of That’s The Way It Is. “Two incidents changed his life ~ his mother’s death and his divorce. That killed him. In 1973 I was learning who the King was and I was a bit saddened by incidents that took place till August 1977. Elvis was not the same.”
The “tribute artiste” does not have to do much to be like the King. “In the last 12 years, I just had to be true to him. My performance in Collingwood changed the future course.” This year will mark his return to Memphis the fourteenth time. “I go there as a fan and get inspired.”
When Elvis Presley Enterprise changed hands, outbursts were loud among fans. Many said: “This is the end.” But not quite. Lisa Marie Presley had plans. “In all fairness, the person who bought it, is doing a good job. And Graceland is still in Presley’s family. A new generation is becoming aware of Elvis Presley’s greatness. There are numerous films on which his tracks are being featured and they are turning out to be great hits. Presley’s music cannot be restricted to a period in time.”
And the recent uproar about Madonna and Mariah Carey chasing Presley’s record number one hits does not bother fans. “In the few years Presley recorded he has given us numerous hits. While Madonna and Mariah Carey continue to sing and have been around for more than two decades. How can anybody compare the greatness of the two teams. Let me say this again: ‘The King is the King’.”
To sing and act like Presley on stage is not easy. The “tribute artiste” spends hours studying DVDs and listening to audio CDs. “I dedicate 75 per cent of my time towards the King. I did have to take some vocal coaching and it worked out well.”
Attention to detail sets him apart from impersonators of the King and that was evident in the Kolkata concerts sponsored by Black Dog. Unlike most impersonators, he did not try to imitate the King while speaking to people around him. But like Presley, he made everybody feel comfortable. Sadly, Colonel Tom Parker appeared in the form of representatives of the Calcutta Club administration!