Fans in 91原创 of Elvis Presley get another chance to see Darren Lee, one of the world鈥檚 best Elvis tribute artists, perform at the George Preston Recreation Centre on Saturday, Aug. 12.
Lee, who holds the record for the longest performing 鈥淓lvis鈥� in Vegas 鈥� with 11 years in the 鈥淎merican Superstars鈥� show at the Stratosphere Hotel and Casino 鈥� is returning to his Canadian roots and looking forward to wowing young and old alike with his singular tribute to the King of Rock 鈥榥鈥� Roll.
Lee鈥檚 connection to 91原创 runs deep, first performing in 1995 in 91原创 when he moved to B.C. He played at the legion multiple times.
He also lived in 91原创 for two and a half years before moving to Maui, where his twins were born.
Lee鈥檚 mother first introduced him to Elvis鈥� music.
鈥淸My mother] was a heavy inspiration, more so in the fact that she loved Elvis and so his music was all over the house鈥henever we鈥檇 get driven to school, she would throw eight tracks in and most of them were Elvis,鈥� Lee said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 just where the love of his music developed.鈥�
But his journey as an Elvis tribute artist began in Grade 5, when a Catholic nun taught him to play guitar. By age 14, Lee was singing in lounges, and entered his first Elvis competition 鈥� in which he won second place and was encouraged by a fellow Elvis impersonator to audition for an Elvis tour going through Canada.
鈥淚 sent the promoter a very bad video and his exact words were, 鈥榃e don鈥檛 have anybody else, so you鈥檒l do,鈥� and I was hired in 1988,鈥� Lee said. 鈥淚 had the time of my life. I was on the road with seven guys, two other Elvis鈥檚 and we played everywhere, drove in the bus and had a blast.鈥�
Nine years later, Lee won the title of top Elvis Tribute Artist in the world at a competition in Memphis, Tennessee. He was the first Canadian to win it.
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On a vacation to Maui in 2007, Lee fell in love with the island and knew someday he would do a show there.
In 2012, Lee received the Queen鈥檚 Diamond Jubilee Award in recognition of his success as a Canadian in America, and the next year he finally got to perform in Maui and raised funds for the island鈥檚 food bank.
鈥淢aui was the only place on Earth where being an Elvis Tribute Artist was accepted as a really cool job,鈥� Lee said. 鈥淏eing an Elvis impersonator in L.A. or Vegas, it鈥檚 a joke; but for the people here on Maui, Elvis is still the legend that he was when he left us.鈥�
Now, Lee is taking his performances around the world and hopes to end his career with a tour in Europe.
Cris Schandl, manager of the event, said this show is extra special because Lee鈥檚 12-year-old daughter, Shayla, will be performing alongside her father.
鈥淸She] has only been playing guitar for over a year is total music prodigy and future superstar,鈥� he said.
Schandl said this is a great opportunity to see the Elvis legend with his full band in concert.
The King is Gone event will be at the Bunkhouse Bar at George Preston Rec Centre on Saturday, Aug. 12, located at 20699 42nd Ave.
Doors open at 6, and the concert starts at 7:30 p.m. Food and beverages will be available for purchase inside the venue.
Tickets start at $42 and can be bought online at .
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