This was published 7 years ago

A career fit for a king

He wears a sequinned jumpsuit to work, has performed in front of thousands of fans and sports an impressive set of sideburns. While he's not the King of Rock and Roll, Paul Fenech has made a career out of paying tribute to him.

Starting out as a fitter and machinist, Fenech made an abrupt career change at age 26. It was one of those theatre restaurant moments that most of us try to forget – being dragged up during a show – that sparked the start of a memorable career which now spans 20 years.

Paul Fenech is keeping memories of Elvis Presley alive. Supplied

After a period of hospitalisation, Fenech's family took him to Elvis Pizza in Rushcutters Bay to cheer him. An Elvis Presley fan since childhood, it was just the medicine he needed. He returned each week for more and the owner, recognising he'd become a regular, asked him to get up and sing an Elvis song with him.

Fenech says: "My natural reaction when the music started was to move and shake. The crowd at the restaurant just went crazy. I didn't expect it." Fenech was offered a regular gig as an Elvis performer at the restaurant – which he now owns – and, as they often say in show business, the rest is history.

His career has taken him far beyond the restaurant, to Gracelands, Las Vegas, Singapore and more. But it was that early restaurant gig that offered excellent training, says Fenech.

"I had the audience right in my face. They could hear and see everything. I had to make sure the lips, facial expressions, hair and sideburns were right. And, of course, I had a good costume."

His costumes are six months in the making, sent back and forth between Australia and the US maker to get the perfect fit. Fenech's 37 years of experience in karate also helps.

"Elvis was very flexible and did a lot of karate on stage in the '70s. I've got a lot of experience and understanding of that."

But a tribute performance isn't all about mimicry. Fenech describes himself as an "emotional performer."

He adds: "I'm not a robot. My spiritual presence and my own personality come out in my show."

It's clearly a great combination. Fenech is a two-time winner of the Australian Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest.

Carving a successful career out of a personal passion came from finding a relatively unexplored niche, says Fenech. "Years ago, when I started out, I made it a career because there weren't many people doing it. To get work now in the entertainment industry is very hard. If you're going to get into it, get into it and do it properly from the start. But don't throw in your day job just yet."

Apart from international travel and performing alongside Australian greats like Jimmy Barnes, Glenn Shorrock and Ross Wilson, Fenech says having Estelle Brown as back-up singer is a career highlight.

"It was an honour to have her voice behind mine, just as Elvis did. She's in all his concerts throughout 1969 to 1977. She's in all the footage. You can't miss her."

However, like that first moment back in the restaurant, the highlight is sometimes simply audience appreciation: "I love the connection with the audiences. They're so overwhelmed with what you've just done for them. I always look back and think, 'I'm just a normal guy but I can make people feel that good.' That's something really important to me."

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