27 years on and he’s become a stalwart of the Latin-American music scene. Though, he didn’t expect to end up where he is now – a globe-travelling recording and performing artist. “I used to run an art gallery in Los Angeles, and one night I created an Elvis art theme. All of Elvis’ fans would hang out at my gallery to pay tribute to Elvis every week.” As part of the exhibition, Lopez staged what he intended to be a one-off gig impersonating his great hero. But the audience reaction was so enthusiastic that El Vez was born.
Lopez’s act stands out from many of his contemporaries in that he’s not simply an impersonator. Along with the classic material, his repertoire includes a number of socially motivated originals. In his own words, “I reinvent what Elvis is to me. I try to bring something new to the audience.”
The Mexican Elvis thrives on introducing new and innovative ideas into his shows. He sets his eyes on the stars and doesn’t hold back. “From costume changes to background singers, I like to switch things up in all different areas,” he says. “I am always shifting gears, giving the audience something new. I want everything new.”
His shows aim to the keep the audience on their feet, encompassing punk rock themes to his very own El Vez Xmas Special. He puts his own spin on the King’s iconic look, and when it comes to his outfits, he favours sparkles over leather. “I am my own puppet master. I get my jumpsuits custom made on Hollywood Boulevard,” he says.
It’s not easy to maintain such liveliness on-stage, and Lopez stays in shape courtesy of regular yoga sessions. This’ll come in handy ahead of his trio of appearances at the forthcoming Falls Festivals – his first visit Down Under in 14 years. “It has been a long time but I am looking forward to showing my stuff again. I want people to look at me as a reliable entertainer,” he says.
Over the years, El Vez has appeared on the likes of Oprah and MTV, and received rave reviews from Rolling Stone, Vogue, People and many more. But Lopez is by no means an overnight success, given he’s been a hard-working performer since the mid-‘70s. Although he’s performed all around the globe, there are some places left on the bucket list. “I have yet to play Japan, which is my goal for the future. Some of my songs have been recorded in Japanese, so I was very honoured about that.”
Lopez remains a dedicated performer, and he’s continually motivated him to honour the legacy of the King. “My career has been longer than Elvis’ career, who died at 42. I am the oldest living Elvis impersonator and I take that with great pride.”
BY REBECCA ADAMS
