Monday, 03 June 2002 | Elvis

A Filipino Elvis impersonator performed Saturday night in downtown Raleigh, decked out in a yellow beaded pantsuit, white leather shoes, flashy jewelry, purple-tinted shades, and a headset. Between each song he would retreat to the back of the stage, fumble with his mp3 player, turn back around with a big smile on his face, and begin to croon. Beads of sweat formed on his brow as he jerked back and forth, tassels swaying this way and that, and he'd point his index finger at the end of his outstretched arm as he hit a lasting high note. He looked like he was enjoying himself.

The word is that his daughter is disabled, and he performs in order to help pay the bills. In any case, he is not the only Elvis impersonator in the family; on Saturday, he sang a duet with his similarly employed cousin via speakerphone, via the Philippines. I took some pictures.