PHILIPPINES: Filipino Elvis impersonator creates shrine for the 'King'

Record ID: 186573

  • Title: PHILIPPINES: Filipino Elvis impersonator creates shrine for the 'King'
  • Date: 16th August 2007
  • Summary: VINYL 78 RPM RECORDS OF "TROUBLE" AND "DON'T LEAVE ME NOW" BERTOL SHOWING RECORDS AND SAYING: "I CONSIDER THIS AS A VERY RARE ONE, BECAUSE IT'S OF THE 30'S, 40'S AND 50'S."
  • Embargoed: 31st August 2007 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Philippines
  • Country: Philippines
  • Topics: Entertainment
  • Reuters ID: LVAAOFX11GQ0QCGDZ1NLWEEX5D5A
  • Story Text: Joining Elvis Presley fans worldwide in commemorating the 30th death anniversary of the "King," Chito Bertol shows off rare paraphernalia and belts out a rendition of "Trouble."

    In 50 years of impersonating and idolising Elvis Presley, Chito Bertol has amassed a collection of Elvis souvenirs from dolls and neck ties to ash trays and a record personally signed by Elvis.
    "We're celebrating his 30th anniversary now, August 16, 2007. This is an original newspaper and it says how the King died," Bertol said, while showing a broadsheet from the day after Elvis's death.
    A fan since he was 15, Bertol won an "Imitate Elvis" radio contest fifty years ago. Since then, he has done impersonations of the legendary musician on local shows and in gigs in Japan and Hong Kong.
    Recordings of Elvis impressions are even sold on the online auction site, E-Bay.
    "He's not plastic. That's the way he feels, that's the way he moves, sexuality of Elvis Presley. There's so much to say about Elvis Presley's sexuality. And no other artist has it up to now. Imagine, 30 years, even Frank Sinatra doesn't have a club, maybe one or two. But Elvis has 620 clubs all over the world, can you imagine that?! Even the Beatles, do they have 600 clubs? So that's the love for Elvis," Bertol told Reuters.
    Now 64 and head of a seedling bank, Bertol's love for the rock and roll icon, whom he calls 'a white man singing black music,' has not diminished.
    His most priced items are rare vinyl recordings of "Trouble"
    and "Don't Leave Me Now."
    "In the Philippines, if you don't imitate anybody, you won't get popular during the 50's. I was in high school and I was 15 years old. Ever since that time, you see, I'm already a senior citizen right now, I've been collecting all of these things, doing a radio program. They always connect me to Elvis Presley though I'm working in the seedling bank as president but Elvis is my love, okay? So I love him for that, and I will continue to take care of Elvis forever. Okay?"
    The Philippines' baby boomer generation is big on Elvis, and concerts are often held on his death anniversary.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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