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Mike Miller has seen all manner of people who look like Elvis Presley.

He's seen them youthful and decked in tight leather. He's seen them paunchy and draped in sequins.

He's watched them drive motorcycles and ride horses, and he even witnessed one hauling around a toilet stool to use as a seat in homage to where the singer supposedly died.

"I've seen hundreds of them, but there's only one that I've heard who actually sounds like him," Miller says of the multiple Elvises. "But the problem with that guy is he doesn't look like him."

The Lawrence resident is one of dozens of Elvis impersonators and thousands of area fans who will make the pilgrimage today to Kansas City's 18th annual Elvis Parade.

"It's the chance to march for the King to celebrate the life of one of the greatest rock and roll guys ever," parade organizer Tanna Guthrie says. "You can celebrate fat Elvis, skinny Elvis, the comeback Elvis, the Army Elvis - it doesn't matter. For one day, slap on a couple sideburns and we're all Elvis."

Photo by Nick Krug

Lawrencian Mike Miller, right, has been posing as "the King" for five years and will participate in this Friday's Elvis Parade in Kansas City.

Guthrie has run the event since its inception in 1988. The spectacle began as a sponsorship gimmick for Kansas City radio station KYYS 99.7 FM, where Guthrie is part of the popular morning show trio of Max, Tanna and Moffitt.

She expects the gathering to draw from 15,000 to 20,000 people, most of whom are crazy about Elvis, and some who are just plain crazy.

"One year we had a woman in a pink dress storm the stage because she was convinced Elvis was there to meet her to marry her," Guthrie recalls.

"She was dead serious. We had to have four guys carry her off - they each grabbed an arm and a leg. People thought it was part of the act. That's what's so funny about the parade: Something weird happens and everybody says, 'That's just part of the show.'"

Hung up on Elvis

For this year's parade, around 30 impersonators will take the stage and sing a snippet of "All Shook Up." Crowd response decides which of the singers earns a cash prize.

The 36-year-old Miller will be among the competitors.

"I do the Vegas Elvis. I've got the weight for it, and I've lost some of my hair," says Miller, who dons a beaded white jumpsuit and dyes his mane black for the gig.

As for duplicating the King's trademark delivery, Miller concedes he doesn't really sound much like the star.

"I do my best," he says. "I learn the words and do what I can."

Miller and his compatriots won't be the only ones rendering a shaky tune this year.

The parade's grand marshal is William Hung, the infamous "American Idol" contestant whose Chinese accent put a whole new spin on Ricky Martin's Latin track "She Bangs." Hung has managed to parlay his 15 minutes of fame into two years and counting.

"I don't know Elvis that well," Hung says in a phone interview from Los Angeles. "I was born in Hong Kong. I'm still young and from a new generation - not like '60s and '70s. Elvis is kind of '60s and '70s, right?"

The 22-year-old has postponed college for a while to embark on a singing career. He's already released three albums of his stabs at covering other artists, including his latest disc, "Miracles: Happy Summer."

Hung admits he's also been working with a vocal coach.

"I know that when I listen to myself, it's better now," he says.

But is it possible to harm his career if he improves too much?

"No, it's not," Hung says. "I don't mind if my career ends right now because it's already been a miracle. I'm already satisfied with this experience. But while I'm doing it, I'll continue to improve my singing, and sing more great songs for all my fans. I just love singing."

The Elvis Parade boasts a proud tradition of grand marshals over the years. Weird Al Yankovic filled the role in 2004. Others featured Jerry Mathers (Beaver Cleaver), Barry Williams (Greg Brady), Al Lewis (Grandpa Munster) and David L. Lander (Squiggy).

"The fact that William Hung is the grand marshal and that he sings Elvis - and quite badly - that's fun," Guthrie says.

"A lot of people are coming out for him because he's such a novelty act. What do you think about William Hung? Is he legit? Does he get it? I haven't figured him out."

Too much mockery

Not everybody is enamored with the cheekiness that the Elvis Parade exudes.

Special to the Journal-World

William Hung

"I gave up on it," Bob Murray says. "There was too much ridicule of Elvis. Everything that they do, they make it a big laugh. The MC gets up with the microphone and says, 'Happy Elvis death day.'"

Murray, a resident of Garnett, has only been performing his Elvis act for a few years, but it keeps him plenty busy. In fact, he'd just returned from giving a show at a nursing home when he spoke with the Journal-World.

"I don't know that I have a specialty," the 66-year-old says. "I've got three jumpsuits and karaoke CDs. I don't claim to be an Elvis mimic. I'm a tribute artist."

But Murray emphasizes he won't be paying any more tributes to the Elvis Parade.

He says, "I'd participated in the parade for three years before it finally dawned on me what they were doing. I said, 'I don't want to have anything to do with this anymore.'"

Inspirational figure

In addition to Hung - who at press time was still debating whether he knew how to sing any Elvis hits - the parade also will feature Benny "Boom Boom" Koske. The "human bomb" plans to blow himself up in a Porta Potti.

• On the Street: What is your favorite Elvis song?

Otherwise, there is little to detract people from the central theme of the event: all Elvis, all the time.

"I don't think anyone else would inspire that (kind of devotion)," Guthrie says of the figure who still kindles fanatic loyalty 28 years after his death. "I don't think you'll see a John Lennon parade, and Lennon was equally talented.

"There was something about Elvis that's very hard to define. There will never be another rock and roll icon like him. He just had it."

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