They’re all shook up

For a 7-year-old future basketball star, Ryan Rose knows a whole lot about a rock ‘n’ roll legend who died long before he was born.

“I know he had black hair, he bought a pink Cadillac for his mom and his first hit was ‘That’s All Right (Mama,)’” Ryan boasted, the hint of a Southern accent in the Las Vegas native’s voice.

“His first movie was ‘Love Me Tender’ and my favorite song is ‘All Shook Up’ because it was the first one I learned when I was 3.”

Though he just returned from commemorating the 30th anniversary of the King’s death in Memphis, Ryan planned to hit the road early this morning in his powder blue jumpsuit to make it out for the 8th Annual Elvis Fest, running today at the Orange County Market Place.

Ryan’s chauffeur is his professional Elvis-impersonating father, Don Rose, who performs regularly in various Sin City lounges.

For the second year, the pair is set to perform individually and together throughout the day, joining five other Elvis tribute artists, including a comedic impersonator, and numerous karaoke crooners vying for a spot in the Los Angeles County Fair’s Karaoke Contest.

“It’s difficult to explain what made Elvis so great. It’s just a phenomenon,” Rose said. “He broke down all the musical barriers between black and white, country and gospel, rich people and country people — he brought everybody together.”

The cultural icon continues to unite several thousand people — including a 9-foot-6-inch stilt-walking Elvis — in Costa Mesa each year for Elvis Fest.

The Jailhouse Rockers of California fan club will be displaying and selling souvenirs and memorabilia and offering visitors a chance to snap their picture with Elvis during the all-day event, donating proceeds to the Elvis Presley Memorial Trauma Center in Memphis.

Founded in 1991, the nonprofit group meets monthly to “keep the spirit and name of Elvis Presley alive” by listening to and performing his music and sharing Elvis-related news.

“We try to be philanthropic like the King was,” said longtime member Dennis Skiles, adding Elvis helped establish the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, performed to raise money for the USS Arizona Memorial in Hawaii and gave away countless Cadillacs, not only to friends, but also to strangers.

“He was always a very genuine and generous individual even though he made unbelievably huge amounts of money.”

Besides his treasured musical repertoire, it was Elvis’ kindness, particularly toward his mother, that made a fan out of Carol Heywood.

Though 30 years have passed since Elvis’ death, Heywood still remembers the tragic day with great detail.

“I remember hearing it and thinking I never got to see him in person, which was something I always wanted to do,” she said, citing others like John Lennon and Buddy Holly who “we lost long before their time.”

“Now if there is someone I really want to see, I make sure I get to see them.”

Heywood, who works in Costa Mesa, will perform “Kentucky Rain,” a song from Elvis’ latter years, in the Crème de la King Elvis Singing Competition during today’s event.

“I just thought it would be something fun to do because I love to sing and I want people to come out and have as good a time as I’m having,” she said. “Plus I love shopping, so I am killing two birds with one stone.”

FACTS ABOUT ELVIS

 The 29-cent U.S. postage stamp released in 1993 featuring Elvis is the most popular stamp of all time according to the U.S. Postal Service. More than 124 million were collected.

 When Elvis died Aug. 16, 1977, Bruce Springsteen was reported as saying, “It was like he whispered his dream in all our ears and then we dreamed it.”

 Elvis’ first network TV appearance was Jan. 28, 1956 on CBS’ “Stage Show.” He was paid $1,250.

 Released in 1960, “G.I. Blues” was Elvis’ longest-running album on the Billboard pop album chart, running 111 weeks, 10 of them at No. 1.

 In 1973, Muhammad Ali sent Elvis a pair of boxing gloves inscribed with the message, “You are the greatest.”

 Canada is the only country outside the United States where Elvis performed live.

 Elvis received two of his three Grammy awards for separate recordings of the same song, “How Great Thou Art.” One was a studio recording and the other was a live concert performance.

IF YOU GO

WHAT: The 8th Annual Elvis Fest

WHEN: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. today; the Crème de la King Elvis Singing Competition runs from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and tribute artists perform nonstop from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

WHERE: The Orange County Market Place, 88 Fair Drive, Costa Mesa

COST: General admission to the Market Place, which includes the festival, is $2 for adults and free for children 12 and under. Parking is free.

INFO: Go to www.ocmarketplace.com or call (949) 723-6660.