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Every year as Elvis Presley's birthday approaches, the Buchanan Theatre brings Blaine Compton back to the stage
In January, a cold Virginia rain kept the crowd away, but Compton delivered.
"I'm doing a tribute show," Compton told us. "I've run into people... that try to be Elvis. We're not Elvis. "We're somebody that's doing a show. This has all been done before, it's not anything original."
"I'm giving you what I got, I give you everything, the singing, the moves and everything, but in between I'm not trying to be him, I tell you something about the songs, rather than try to stand and talk like him all the time. Other than the obligatory, thank you, thank you very much."
The Elvis fans who braved the wintry conditions weren't disappointed. Compton, they say, helps them recapture the excitement of the Presley performances they remember.
"Oh I love Elvis," said Rita Layne. "I mean I know he's dead, and everything, but it just brings back a lot of memories. A lot."
"I think he's one of the most untrained talents that there ever was," said Peggy Layne as she explained the appeal of Elvis' music. "His voice was awesome, so that's drawn me to him."
Compton's appearances are a family affair. His mother Cheryl makes his costumes, and often runs the sound system.
"I get tickled at him sometimes," Cheryl told us, "because I know he's embarassed. He's a very shy person, believe it or not."
On the night we caught the act, Compton's father Glenn and 11-year-old son Buford were also helping out.
"It's cool to see my dad just like Elvis," Buford told us.
"And I like the music," added Glenn. "I'm getting old, but I still like the music."
Compton's musical career began when his wife and his best friend encouraged him to sing karoake. He has been performing as Elvis for the last 15 years.
"I have a lot of fun," he said. "And they have fun, and you know, It's a good night."
Portraying Elvis isn't a full-time job for Compton. He makes his living at the Yokohama Tire plant in Salem, but he has no plans to hang up his jumpsuit just yet. He says he'll continue his tribute to Elvis as long as people like what they hear.