Kamloops residents Cliff "Elvis" Moody (right) with partner Linda Shaw.

Image Credit: SUBMITTED/ Cliff Moody

When Elvis tribute artist Cliff Moody was growing up, his parents had an 8-track of Elvis Presley’s Blue Christmas album. He quickly fell in love with the music, and the man, eventually becoming “the King of Rock n’ Roll” himself.

Moody has been dressing up as Elvis every day for the past three decades, walking around Kamloops, singing karaoke at local bars and performing his “Always Elvis Show” for events, weddings, and birthdays.

“I’ve been a flamboyant guy, not one to hide in the corner and I dress flashy,” he said. “I wear a lot of fancy country embroidered shirts and cowboy hats too.”

Moody said his one bedroom basement suite is “one big walk-in closet,” full of gold and white jackets, professionally made jumpsuits, and a wig he wears when he’s performing as a seventies Elvis. He does a lot of thrift shopping for various pieces and has fans giving him others.

“My hair and sideburns are mine and I get it cut a certain way for when I do the fifties Elvis, I prefer the slicked up clean cut look,” he said. “I put up with the seventies wig but don’t like it as much, and I love the jumpsuits. I also have outfits that are similar to something he could have worn.”

Cliff gets support from his partner Linda Shaw who upgrades the costumes and does some marketing for the business. Moody said they get a lot of attention when they’re out and about town, and has a fan following.

“We go to the (Central Station Pub) to sing karaoke and people come in and take pictures of us,” he said. “We go to the Grotto and don’t have pay a cover charge. A car will show up, take pictures and drive away, or we’re at Denny’s and they come up and get photos.”

He wasn’t always accepted by the general public in the city.

“You go through an ugly period at first, everyone thinks you’re weird and different but then you come out the other side,” he said. “Now people buy me drinks, show me respect and think what I’m doing is cool.”

READ MORE: Why this 86-year-old BC man won't get his driver's licence back

Moody performs as fifties-, sixties- and seventies-era Elvis, and sometimes he’s a Hawaiian Elvis based off Presley’s 1973 Aloha from Hawaii concert in Honolulu. He calls the shows “interactive” where he kneels down to “sing to the ladies.”

“I do the whole thing, I wiggle around and do all the movements,” he said. “As seventies Elvis, I give out scarves like he did. When I sing Teddy Bear I hand out teddy bears and when I’m Hawaiian Elvis, people get a lay and can say they’ve been laid by Elvis.”

Kamloops resident Cliff "Elvis" Moody performing at Penticton's Elvis Festival.

Image Credit: SUBMITTED/ Cliff Moody

READ MORE: TRENDING NOW: Revelstoke Enchanted Forest TikTok goes viral

It might not have been just the 8-track Christmas album that sparked a lifelong love of Elvis Presley for Moody.

“When I was going to school my stepmom would make me peanut butter and banana sandwiches, and that was before I started thinking about Elvis.”

Go here to find out more about Cliff “Elvis” Moody or to book a show. 

To contact a reporter for this story, email Shannon Ainslie or call 250-819-6089 or email the editor. You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom and be entered to win a monthly prize draw.

We welcome your comments and opinions on our stories but play nice. We won't censor or delete comments unless they contain off-topic statements or links, unnecessary vulgarity, false facts, spam or obviously fake profiles. If you have any concerns about what you see in comments, email the editor in the link above. 

News from © iNFOnews, 2023