FOLEY, Ala. — When Assistant Principal Shane Tucker was asked to perform as Elvis at his first Foley High School faculty Christmas party, he agreed, never knowing that it would spark the entertainer inside of him.

He said that getting started was almost a fluke. Tucker had been asked to perform at two parties back to back, and when he went to rent the suit, the store owner offered it to him for $50 because the store was closing.

Tucker decided to buy the suit. He said he thought he might do a few more shows. Then, at a performance at the Cactus Cafe, the music Tucker had been lip-syncing would not play, and he decided to sing it himself.

After 12 years, Tucker is still pumping out Elvis’ hits.

Now, Tucker has two professional outfits and has retired his first one. He sports the sideburns and has ice blue eyes, just like the King. He is also growing his side business and is working to open his own website, www.elvisathegulf.com, in the next few months.

“The last three years have really picked up a lot more,” said Tucker. Last year he did 41 performances.

Tucker has entertained at birthday parties, class reunions and even weddings. At FHS pep rallies Tucker puts on his act, and has performed songs like “Loser Hotel,î” rather than “Heartbreak Hotel,” to the opposing team,

Tucker said that one of his top five favorite performances was singing with the high school's full symphonic band.

To achieve such an infamous persona, Tucker studies Elvis. The costumes portray a specific time in Elvis’ career, and Tucker makes note of that. He said he thinks about the vocal ability and the moves Elvis had at the time, and he tries to perform accordingly.

The moves Tucker has on stage always draws a crowd. At a recent performance, he could not keep his fans off of him.

“It’s got to be about entertaining the people,” he said. “It’s fun to interact with the crowd.”

The interactive part of his show includes Tucker throwing scarves to the audience, and getting kisses, usually on the cheek but sometimes elsewhere.

Tucker said it’s all in good fun, and that his wife, Carmyn, is “such a good sport.” He understands the craze.

“It puts people back.”

He said he can see the joy on people’s faces because the songs transport them to special times in their lives.

Although he has a big following, Tucker said that his daughter Bonnie Clair, 9, loves Elvis and is his biggest fan, however his first daughter, Brandi, 17, has other favorites than Elvis.

As far as the King is concerned, Tucker thinks he would be fine with all the imitators that have followed.

“Nobody is ever going to be Elvis,” said Tucker. ”I just try to do it as close to the way he performed it.”

That’s why Tucker says he is not an impersonator, he is a tribute artist.

“He’s my favorite performer still,” said Tucker.

In a letter to one of the first Elvis impersonators, Elvis wrote that he was flattered by the hard work the impersonator put into his act.

“Mimicry is a sincere form of being a fan,” Elvis wrote.