AT the age of five Lee Memphis King watched Elvis Presley on TV and a life-long “obsession” began.

He had only just started school but his future career was decided as he copied his every move and sang his songs.

Forty years on Lee says he is still striving to perfect his Elvis show – even though he has won awards for being the WORLD’s best Elvis tribute.

Talking to the Daily Echo ahead of his return visit to Christchurch Regent Centre tomorrow, in a brand new show, Lee immediately corrects me when I call him an Elvis ‘impersonator’: “I don’t like the word impersonator as it conjures up the image of some fat dad in a wig!

“I was a five year old kid when I first had this obsession with Elvis. I just loved his music immediately. He had everything- the looks, the moves and the songs.

“My parents liked rock ’n’ roll so I heard them listening to his records and that was it.

When I look back I’ve always been able to impersonate people but I wanted to perfect his voice all through my life, and impersonate him – it’s kind of odd really.”

Lee originally had a ‘normal’ job. He use to work in account management but gave it up to work exclusively on his Elvis shows.

He’s been touring since 2006 to huge acclaim and packed theatres but refuses to rest on his laurels: “I’m a perfectionist. You can never say I’ve got there now – I’m still working at it. The band is the same- always striving to get the right sound.”

Lee is surprisingly modest, given that he was named the World’s best professional Elvis tribute in the world ten years ago.

He doesn’t take that too seriously:”I think most of these competitions are not very credible. With tributes in general most are bad – you get a minority who are good or authentic.”

Entirely self-taught, Lee says he has never had any vocal coaching: “I’ve just watched and listened.”

The show begins with an authentic recreation of the 1968 comeback special, including the legendary ‘sit down’ section, progressing through to a rousing expo of Elvis’s years performing in Vegas.

Lee brings the majesty of the voice and the electrifying power of Elvis’s performance back to life, accompanied throughout by his world class band and backing singers.

The show also features large screen projection, making it the biggest Elvis show to tour UK theatres.

Over the last eight years as Lee has toured his One Night of Elvis he has played to over a million fans and has headlined and sold out some of the most prestigious venues across the UK and Europe.

He is thrilled to be returning to Christchurch where he always goes down a storm.

One Night Of Elvis starring Lee Memphis King Regent Centre, Christchurch. Box Office 01202 499199.

Website: leememphisking.com.