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| Love him tender: Even the poster is pure Elvis, as Rick Virga channels The King — backed up by the 10-piece band All the King's Men — for a tribute show Saturday at the Vail-Leavitt Music Hall. Courtesy photo |
RIVERHEAD—Thank him. Thank him very much.
For some, Elvis lives. Consider the case of Rick Virga, who once again becomes The King at 8 p.m. Saturday, when he takes the stage at the Vail-Leavitt Music Hall, backed up by the 10-piece band All the King's Men.
Actually, Mr. Virga, 43, doesn't so much become Elvis Presley as channel him. "A Tribute to Elvis" will center on the "Aloha Show," The King's famed Hawaiian concert of 1973, but Mr. Virga said he plans on weaving in some Vegas, some early 1970s and even a hunka-hunka "Burning Love."
Mr. Virga said he started performing like Presley when a friend convinced him to try karaoke. Although he had stage fright, he won a local contest on his very first night, he said.
"I didn't think I'd be good enough," Mr. Virga said, but when someone asked if he did private parties, he said "yes" and rented a few costumes.
Mr. Virga moved from Long Island to Las Vegas and started out working at a place called Elvis-A-Rama. He said he was able to try on Elvis' famous peacock jumpsuit and several of The King's rings, and actually sat in some of Elvis' cars.
He starred as Elvis in a legends concert, "Rock-N-Roll Idols," at the Frontier Hotel in Las Vegas — the first hotel Elvis ever played, back in 1956, according to Mr. Virga. The singer has since returned to Long Island and lives in Patchogue.
There are benefits to being The King, Mr. Virga noted. After receiving a parking ticket in Blue Point, he appeared before a judge who was an Elvis fan. The judge told him if he sang for her, he would not have to pay the ticket.
Mr. Virga said he cranked out "Wonder of You" in front of a packed courtroom — and beat the rap.
Tickets for "A Tribute to Elvis" are $15 in advance and $20 at the door. For more information, call the Vail-Leavitt Music hall at (631) 727-5782.
— Ashley Macomb
