It’s good to be the King

Young Chang

Elvis impersonator Scot Bruce doesn’t deny the stereotypes:

They’re usually bloated and wear a white jumpsuit. Few actually

resemble Elvis. They’re often mocked.

But in his own defense, Bruce says he’s an Elvis impersonator out of

respect for how the legendary King changed music history.

And, for one other reason:

“It’s amazing how creative you can get when you’re starving,” Bruce

said with a laugh.

The Playa Del Rey resident, who started impersonating Elvis 11 years

ago partly because he needed work, will perform a tribute concert Sunday

at Muldoon’s Dublin pub in Newport Beach in memory of Elvis’ death 24

years ago.

‘I’m a really big fan of that period of music,” said Bruce, who added

that he is first a rock ‘n’ roll songwriter and performer. “But when

Elvis came onto the scene, he was different. He was dangerous, he had

fire, and I really admire the spirit that he had.”

With sultry eyes, the same creamy skin and a mastered portfolio of

signature Elvis moves, Bruce broke into his Elvis shell while a

rockabilly band member and a struggling actor.

After being marveled at by audiences around the country for his

startling physical resemblance to Elvis, and after researching the late

artist’s life story and music, Bruce started his livelihood as being

Elvis.

His career took off when he showed up one morning nine years ago at

Los Angeles radio station KLOS--FM (95.5), where deejays Mark and Brian

host a radio show.

The duo presented plenty of Elvis-themed shows back then, and people

called in to do impressions.

Bruce, instead, showed up at the station in all his Elvis-garbed

glory.

Mark and Brian were spontaneous enough to invite Bruce in on the spot

-- to let him settle a live dispute even about one of Elvis’ song lyrics

-- and the gigs started pouring in.

“So I sort of became their resident Elvis that morning,” Bruce said.

Bruce’s credits also include appearing in music videos for Sheryl

Crow, Faith Hill and Tasmin Archer, as well as on the FOX-TV sitcom

“Partners” and on the daytime soap opera “Days of Our Lives.”

He is always the young Elvis -- the “‘50s Elvis.”

“I think people make a lot of fun of Elvis, and that’s probably

another reason I like to portray Elvis in the ‘50s -- because that’s

when, at least to me, that’s when Elvis made his impact,” Bruce said.

The ‘50s Elvis came before the jumpsuit days. He wore a gold lame

jacket, baggy black slacks, two-toned shoes and a sports coat, with the

collar turned up, of course.

And what will Bruce do when he’s too old to play the young Elvis?

“I don’t have plans to evolve with the character,” he said. “As much

as I love doing Elvis, I think of it as my day job while I’m pursuing my

own music.”

For Bruce, even playing Elvis is about being a musician.

“Of course Elvis was a stylist and he brought just an amazing sound

and style to popular music that so many people were influenced by, but it

goes back to the whole rock ‘n’ roll spirit, the rawness, the

unpretentiousness,” Bruce said.

And the musical resemblance between the impersonator and the original

is strong, said Richard Kaplan, Muldoon’s special events director.

“He’s a very gifted musician with the guitar and voice, but he has an

uncanny resemblance,” Kaplan said. “It’s hard to find a good Elvis right

now, but it’s sort of haunting in a way. Same height, same hairline, blue

eyes, physique, and just a beautiful voice. It’s all quite astonishing.”

FYI

What: Scot Bruce performs as Elvis

When: 2 p.m. Sunday

Where: Muldoon’s Dublin pub, 202 Newport Center Drive, Newport Beach

Cost: Free

Call: (949) 640-4110