He’s paid his dues in blue suede shoes.
The title of Darren Lee’s autobiography has practically written itself. But the Edmonton-born Elvis tribute artist who now calls Langley home, has a few more chapters to live before he finally sits down to pen the story of his life.
So far, it is one that’s taken him from chilly northern Alberta to the scorching Nevada desert. And, if all goes as planned, it will carry him to the end of his days in a tropical island paradise.
Before coming to Langley two years ago, Lee spent 11 exhausting years appearing on stage as Elvis in a Las Vegas showroom and performing 50 weddings a month in one of the City’s famous little wedding chapels.
And prior to that (in 1997 — on the 20th anniversary of Elvis’ death, in fact) he earned the title of world’s best Elvis tribute artist from among 397 competitors at Images of Elvis contest in Memphis, Tenn.
“It’s now called Ultimate Elvis and it’s a bigger thing. It was cool to win it,” said Lee, sitting down to chat about his plans for a unique new stage show and an upcoming performance at Surrey’s Bell Centre.
“I was lucky,” said Lee. “I had a certain body type.”
While it’s great to have a convincing look, to Lee a good Elvis impression is, first and foremost, about the sound.
But before he’d even fully developed his voice, he was already working on the signature hip swivel.
“Thankfully, I had a good looking dad. I concentrated on making the moves — I wanted to make them the best you’ve ever seen,” said Lee.
“For me, everything was a step.
“In my 30s, my voice came in. It kept me in Vegas all those years.”
From 2000 to 2011 Lee performed as part of the American Superstars show at the Stratosphere on the Vegas strip.
In fact, his was the longest continuously running Elvis act in Sin City until his record was recently surpassed.
Running from lounge show to wedding ceremony and back again, Lee’s wallet was thick with cash and he was spending it as fast as he earned it.
A Vegas wedding, said Lee, is “the best, most fun you’ll ever have.”
He actually preferred doing the vow renewals to the actual marriages because he didn’t have to follow a script.
“I’d ask ‘Do you take (this person) to be your hunka hunka burnin’ love, to love her tender? Say uh huh.’
“I’d be singing A Little Less Conversation and the whole chapel would be shaking,” he recalled with a smile.
Then the economy collapsed.
The wedding business dried up, salaries were slashed as the lounge act began to struggle and Lee lost his house. He stuck it out for a few more years before moving home to Canada in 2011.
It was Lee’s wife who suggested they come to Langley.
Here, the couple has been raising their twin daughters, who are nearly two years old, while Lee has performed in Lower Mainland casinos.
“Langley has been great — I’ve played the Cascades. I would love to do the car show (Langley Good Times Cruise In) but they have their Elvis,” he said.
Now, Lee is ready to give the U.S. another shot.
This time, he’s headed back to Memphis to open an Elvis tribute show on the famed Beale Street.
The idea is to run it for a few months and then pass it off to his brother, who also just happens to be an Elvis impersonator.
After that, Lee will move to Maui to open his own Elvis-themed luau.
The Rockin’ Hawaiian Luau will forgo the traditional roast pig in favour of a few of the King’s preferred foods — barbecued Memphis ribs and peanut butter and banana sandwich appetizers.
“Instead of leis, we’ll give out scarves.”
On any given night, the stage show will feature selections from the three movies Elvis shot in Hawaii and from his Aloha from Hawaii performance.
For his grand finale, Lee plans to sing Burnin’ Love while fire dancers spin flames behind him.
The best part for Lee, though, is that this show will belong to him.
“In Vegas, I was the typical Canadian — eager to please, no sick days in 11 years,” he said.
“Pink eye? Get on stage. Broken tooth? Get on stage.”
“In Hawaii, it will be our show. If it fails, it will be because we didn’t promote it properly.”
In what will likely be his last show in Canada for the foreseeable future, Lee and his band, The Memphis Flash, will hit the Bell Centre stage in Surrey on Friday, April 26.
The first part of the show will feature Lee performing songs from Elvis’ early years — Heartbreak Hotel, Love Me Tender and Don’t Be Cruel.
“I’ll come out in a red lamé jacket and tear up the floor,” he said.
The second act will recreate the King’s ’68 comeback tour.
Dressed head to toe in black leather, Lee will sing (among others) One Night With You and take a few requests before getting into the jumpsuit — something he once swore he’d never do — and performing hits from the 1970s — Elvis’ Vegas years.
“In 2009 I gave in,” Lee said of his decision to don the white satin suit.
And, no, he has no regrets over his sartorial surrender.
“I put it on and it looked damn good,” he laughed.
“Whoever’s in the suit, it’s how he acts. A guy who’s not a joke can pull it off.”
Darren Lee and the Memphis Flash will perform at the Bell Centre in Surrey on Friday, April 26. Show begins at 8 p.m.
Tickets are available from the box office at 6250 144 St., by phone at 604-507-6355 or info@bellperformingartscentre.ca.
