Son of the King While other 18-year-olds hold part-time jobs at restaurants and grocery stores, Nick Perkins of Tickfaw has a full-time career not many people would expect. He dresses in specially designed suits several times a week, styles his dark hair, applies makeup and reaches for his guitar to perform for crowds at restaurants in St. John the Baptist Parish and around Louisiana. The kicker is, when Perkins walks out on stage, people see a rock ‘n’ roll legend from the past. Perkins works as an Elvis tribute artist, dressing in full costume and transporting audiences back in time with his deep,
soulful voice. “I think this is probably one of the jobs you wouldn’t expect a lot of people to do, but it’s definitely been a big thing for me because I get to become my hero for a while,” Perkins said. He became an Elvis Presley fan when his mother took him to an Elvis tribute show as a child, and he’s been on a musical path ever since. After learning to play the guitar and dabbling in country music, Perkins decided he want-
ed to start his own Elvis tribute show. In January 2016, he started performing at local restaurants, and his show has expanded over time. He’s been recognized on a national scale, having placed top 5 in the 2016 Images of the King four-day Elvis tribute artist competition in Memphis, Tenn., featuring contestants from all over the world. In 2017, he placed fourth in the nonprofessional division of the Myrtle Beach Elvis Festival. His three-hour shows include 60 songs that originally focused on 1970s hits, paying homage to the iconic image of Elvis Presley in a white jumpsuit. Perkins said the first part of his show has shifted to include song selections from the 50s and 60s as well, though his favorite song to perform is still the 1970 hit “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’.”
Last year, Perkins recruited former classmate Skylar Leach to DJ his shows and manage sound production. Leach was happy to participate in honor of his grandmother, who was a huge Elvis fan. “I feel like I play an important role,” Leach said. “He [Perkins] wouldn’t be able to perform without sound.” The two regularly travel to venues including El Paso restaurants in LaPlace, Slidell, Gonzales and Lafayette, Barrios’ Rock’n Gator in Larose and private events. Along the way, Perkins met a man in LaPlace who has become one of his biggest fans. Sgt. Rick Bailey of the St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff’s Office heard an Elvis tribute artist was scheduled to perform at El Paso and knew he had to check it out. “I’m a huge Elvis fan,” Bailey said. “I listen to Elvis day in an day out.”
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This Is Us: Celebrating the River Region’s People & Traditions 25