'Thank you, thank you very much'

Ray Haines, 50, of Damascus, Md., went to the show decked out in a flaming red shirt, bejeweled black pants with flared-legs and a sequined studded belt.

"I love Elvis," Haines said. "I mean it. He was it."

"He was legend alive," said Haines' sister, Pat Hodson, 60, of Germantown, Md.

Logan Stambaugh, 5, of Martinsburg, W.Va., was one of many budding young Elvis fans in the crowd. Logan, who went to the tribute with his father, Scott Stambaugh, 40, said he likes Elvis' music and was hoping to hear "A Little Less Conversation" and "Too Much Monkey Business."

Last night's concert was the last in an 11-city national tour. Promoter Omar Farag described the show as a "tribute to Elvis and the multi facets of his music as they pertained to his life."

Farag said one way the show stands out from other Elvis tributes is that D.J. Fontana, Elvis' original drummer, performs in the concert.

"D.J. brings a credibility to the concert," Farag said. "The music is kept the way Elvis did it."

Moments before the show, Fontana, 75, spoke about the widespread and enduring appeal of Elvis.

"He was a good-looking guy, first of all," Fontana said. "But he had charisma. He lit up the room. A group of guys could be sitting around grumbling, 'Oh, we have to go do this.' Then he would show up and everyone would change and say, 'Oh, Elvis is here. Let's go do this!'"

Fontana commended the performances of Donny Edwards, who portrays Elvis in his younger years of rockabilly, movies, black leather and the military, and Shawn Klush, who renders his later "jumpsuit" years.

Edwards, of Las Vegas, erupted onstage for the first act. His boyish good looks, velvety voice, lively moves and pursed lip seemed to resonate with the audience members, who applauded, catcalled and danced in their seats.