And the world record for longest career as 'Elvis' goes to ... a man from Genoa Township?

A longstanding world record is about to be "All Shook Up," a Livingston County performer says.

Dave "King" Falzetti has been portraying Elvis Presley for nearly 49 years, dressing up as the King of Rock n' Roll and giving live performances.

Falzetti, who lives in Genoa Township near Brighton, said he has plenty of evidence of his long career as an Elvis tribute artist. He recently registered with Guinness World Records and applied for a world record in the category of "the longest career as an Elvis impersonator," which is also referred to as "the most durable Elvis impersonator."

He expects to hear sometime next year, hoping his application won't be marked "Return to Sender," so to speak.

"I began before Elvis passed, and that’s significant because others I know started after he passed," he said. Presley died in 1977.

In 1974, he was working as an art teacher at Plymouth-Canton Salem High School. The school held a faculty talent show. A photograph of him made it into the yearbook at the end of the school year.

"I just put a leisure suit on, popped my collar and that was it," he said, adding that his hairdo had already looked like Presley's.

After the talent show, he continued dressing and performing as Presley. When he wasn't teaching art, he played in a cover band called Celebration. The band covered hits from the 1950s, '60s and '70s. He said he worked his Elvis tribute into the act.

In the decades that followed, he performed at events and venues across Michigan and other parts of the U.S., including a 1992 performance in Las Vegas for "Viva Las Vegas Week."

For years, he performed with a 10-piece band. These days he performs solo and is also a member of The Jersey Boys, a four-member tribute to Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons.

He also owns Oz Productions, an events and booking agency for other tribute artists.

"I’ve got Aretha Franklin, Elton John, Dean Martin, Diana Ross and the The Jersey Boys show," as well as Thrill & The Thrillettes, which performs hits from Motown, soul, oldies and doo wop music, he said. He has worked with a "Whitney Houston" in the past and will feature a "Rod Stewart" next year.

"The show that sets the record will be in February," with 2023 being his 49th year portraying Presley, he said.

The Feb. 11 show will be held at Captain Joe's Grill in Whitmore Lake, which hosts Oz Production tribute acts. The restaurant will host Falzetti's "Love Me Tender Valentine's Show," a ticketed event also featuring a special buffet, starting at 7:30 p.m. He will perform songs from Presley's early years through the 1970s at the show, which will also feature a Dean Martin tribute act.

Upon inspection of keepsakes on display in a band room in his basement, his claim to the throne appears valid, but it will be up to Guinness World Records officials to determine if he meets their criteria.

The current record holder for "the longest career as an Elvis impersonator" is Victor Beasley, a Belgian performer who died in 2003.

According to Guinness World Records, Beasley started performing as Presley in 1955 and continued for 48 years.

"On 6 July 2002, Beasley gave his 48th annual show," Beasley's entry on the Guinness World Records website states. "During the course of his distinguished career, Beasley has also been made an Honorary Citizen of Tupelo, Mississippi, USA, birthplace of the legendary Presley."

There are many Guinness World Records related to Presley, including "the largest gathering of Elvis impersonators" and "the fastest marathon run dressed as Elvis" for males and females. The world record for a mosaic made of coffee mugs depicts Presley.

Presley still holds several records, including "best-selling solo artist", "most No. 1 albums by a male artist (US album charts)", and "most fan clubs - singer," among others.

Contact Livingston Daily reporter Jennifer Eberbach at jeberbach@livingstondaily.com. 

This article originally appeared on Livingston Daily: Elvis impersonator Dave Falzetti has a career for the record books