Melvis
Kwok Lam-sang (1952-2020) known professionally as Melvis, or Lan Kwai Fong Elvis was an Elvis Presley impersonator and busker and cultural icon in Hong Kong active from 1981 until his death in December 2020.
Melvis | |
|---|---|
 Melvis in Lan Kwai Fong in 1995 | |
| Born | Kwok Lam-sang February 2, 1952 |
| Died | December 29, 2020 (aged 68) |
| Other names |
|
| Occupation | Elvis impersonator |
| Years active | 1981–2020 |
Early life
Kwok was born in Jakarta, Indonesia to an ethnic Chinese family. His family moved to Guiyang, Guizhou Province, China in 1967. He moved to Hong Kong in 1974 and found a job at an electronics factory in Kwun Tong.[1]
Career
Kwok said that he only became aware of Elvis Presley after Elvis’ death in 1977 and soon became obsessed with the late singer. Kwok won his first Elvis impersonation contest in 1981 in Kowloon district.[1]
In February 1992 he began busking full-time as the "Cat King", the Chinese name for Elvis and started frequenting the newly popular Lan Kwai Fong area of Hong Kong Island playing to the largely expatriate bargoers who would pay him small sums of money to play Elvis songs.[1][2] His wife Anna was initially reluctant about this choice but supported him in pursuing his passion and became his manager.[3]
When interviewed by The New York Times in 2010, Kwok said that he worked two hours a night making approximately 500 Hong Kong dollars each night. He owned more than 20 custom-made Elvis suits and two guitars. He was described as "not particularly melodious, but… passionate." In addition to busking Kwok performed at private parties.[3] In September 2017 he held a concert at the Sheung Wan Civic Centre.
In an interview in March 2020 Kwok said that he had worked every night for 28 years.[4] With bars in Hong Kong closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Kwok said that he had spent most of 2020 in his apartment watching Elvis movies and playing his guitar.[2]
He died of Kidney failure on 29 December 2020 at the age of 68.[1] He was survived by his wife Anna and their son and daughter.[2]
References
- Ethan Paul (13 January 2021). "Hong Kong legend 'Melvis' dead at 68, local branch of International Elvis Presley Fan Club says". The South China Morning Post.
- Mike Ives (15 January 2021). "Melvis Kwok, Tireless Elvis Impersonator in Hong Kong, Dies at 68". The New York Times.
- Bettina Wassener (3 November 2010). "The King is Back, in Hong Kong". The New York Times.
- John Carney and Holly Chik (9 March 2020). "Hong Kong Elvis impersonator Melvis talks about his 28 years on the road, and how he became the King". The South China Morning Post.CS1 maint: uses authors parameter (link)