Doghouse at Ole Red was 'All Shook Up'

Elvis himself? No, but Kraig Parker was filling his shoes on March 11. Anytime someone impersonates Elvis Presley that is reason enough to attend the date.

Parker captured the audience, but most of all, the ladies in the audience. One could hear the hearts throbbing with anticipation of the show. What a show it was.

Tishomingo was “All Shook Up” as Parker entered the stage decked out in a white jumpsuit embellished in gold to match his rings and sunglasses. Jaws dropped and the drums pounded with the same beats of the ladies’ hearts in attendance.

Parker’s energy and Elvis like moves had the ladies lined up in front of the stage to be gifted one of three dozen red sweaty sashes. He placed the sashes around the necks of those waiting, along with a kissonthecheek.Thewomen then turned away, blushing with smiles and some with tearsastheyreturnedtotheir seats to watch in awe.

Parkerbroughtbackmany memories for some. One woman shared that she was fourteen when Elvis died in 1977.

“I locked myself in my bedroom and cried for a week,” sheshared.“Thisremindsme ofmychildhood.”Shewasone of the women who received a red sash. Parker performed most of Presley’s greatest and most loved songs.

It felt as if one was captured in a time machine for an hour and a half. The passion and realism of Parker’s performance was like no other. Parker and his band held the audience caged as hesang“LoveMeTender.”At this point, the line of ladies waitingtobeserenadedgrew. Even Husbands were pushing their wives to the front of the line.

I always knew I wanted to be a traveling musician,” Parker said. “I never thought it would be as an Elvis tribute artist.”

Parker, a native of Ft. Worth,remembershisgrandmother playing Elvis’s songs on her guitar that she eventually gifted him. Parker knew at an early age that he loved Elvis, and they shared that love together.

Parker had a rock and roll band in high school and sang gospel music in college. Unbeknownst to Kraig, his Elvis careerof20plusyearsstarted when a co-worker talked him into impersonating Elvis at a corporate office party. From there, he entered a contest at the Hard Rock Café in Dallas where he tied for first place and won $500.

“I was just trying to be Elvis,” he said.

Since that day, Parker has been performing in Las Vegas casinos, festivals, symphony orchestras, weddings and private events. However, quite possibly, the best performance was a sold-out show at Ole Red Tishomingo. Attendees came from miles around to watch this performance.

Parker said he’s going to continueimpersonatingElvis as long as he can, and will “keep riding the wave.”

“You have to live while you’re alive,” he said.

His shows prove he is alive and enjoys doing what he does so well. Everyone had the chance to meet him and take pictures and get autographs after the show as well as take home souvenirs from a memory that will not be forgotten.