Elvis Presley comes alive

GOMEZ (centre) and the other 'Elvises' on the stage at the end of the  show.

NINE Elvis Presley impersonators from throughout the country wowed the crowds with the ‘King of Rock and Roll’ signature stage performances at a charity dinner which was held at the Magellan Sutera Harbour on August 25.

Organized by Risworld Creation, the charity dinner was in aid for the Sabah Society for the Blind and Sabah Thalassemia Society.

Themed “Moment with Elvis”, the event was also in conjunction with the 35th Death Anniversary of Elvis Presley.

Among those who impersonated Elvis Presley was Risworld Creation director cum organizing chairman Chris Gomes, who is known as the Elvis of Sabah.

The other eight Elvis impersonators were Wilfred Ragam, Ges Barundang, Valentine Salok, Sebastian Elbongo and John Siaz from Sarawak; and Elsunny Tai, Paul Lee and Eddie Francis from West Malaysia.

Present at the event were Head of State Tun Datuk Seri Panglima Juhar Mahiruddin and his consort Toh Puan Datin Seri Norlidah R.M. Jasni, Community Development and Consumer Affairs Minister Datuk Hajah Azizah Mohd Dun and City Hall Mayor Datuk Abidin Madingkir.

Also present were Sabah Society for the Blind president Rasalind Chew and Sabah Thalassemia Society president Francis Mujim.

During the dinner, each Elvises performed four songs from the late ‘King of Rock and Roll’.

They also imitated the King’s shake and dance to the roaring crowds who attended the charity dinner.

The final act saw all nine Elvis impersonators performed together with one of Elvis Presley hit song entitle ‘Can’t Help Falling in Love’.

After the show, some dinners rushed up on stage to posse with all the Elvises and thanking them for a great and memorable performance.

Gomes shoot to fame after winning first place in the “Elvis Presley Singing Contest” in Sandakan in 1966 and that led him to be popularly known as the “Elvis Presley of Sabah” since the 60’s till present.

His colorful musical career began with youthful idolization of the late musical icon and later earned him national recognition as one of very privilege “Elvis of Malaysia” title but preferred to be called “Elvis of Sabah”.

Gomes has also performed with 14 other Elvis impersonators from Sarawak, Penang, Johor Bharu, Malacca, Port Dickson, Selangor and Kuala Lumpur in Petaling Jaya on August 21, 2011 in conjunction with the 34th Death Anniversary of “The King of Rock and Roll”.

The charity program begin on August 24 where all nine Elvis impersonators in their Elvis Presley jumpsuits took a ride on a coach and tour the city, Tanjung Aru, Luyang and Penampang.

The Elvises then make their first visit to the Thalassemia Treatment Centre, Sabah Women and Children’s Hospital in Likas where they handed out goodies and sang songs to Thalassaemia children.

It was quite a sight when the nine Elvis impersonators all dressed in colorful Elvis Presley jumpsuits walked into the hospital.

Patients including hospital staffs were seen pepping inside the Thalassemia ward trying to take a glimpse of all the nine Elvis impersonators. Some staff even took photograph with their ‘idol’ for remembrance.

The Sabah Thalassemia Society (STS) was formed on November 1, 1992 and was registered on February 4 two years later.

The society was then admitted to the Sabah Council of Society Services in April 1997.

STS objectives are to provide benefit to all Thalassemia patients in Sabah, as well as to those having interest in Thalassemia.

The Elvises then made a two-hour public appearance at the 1Borneo Hypermall in Jalan Sepanggar, where each Elvis impersonators took turns to entertained shoppers with couple of songs of the ‘King of Rock and Roll’ before posing for photos with the public.