Eight-year-old Finley Watkins is known for impersonating Elvis Presley

Memphis rockabilly fans have been after Finley Watkins' autograph since before he could write his own name. The 8-year-old from Bernie, Missouri, has been taking the stage as a pint-size Elvis Presley since he was 5.

Finley Watkins, 8, poses for photos as Elvis on Tuesday in Dexter, Missouri. Watkins has been performing as Elvis since he was 5 years old.Laura Simon

Last week was Elvis Week in Memphis, and Finley, now 8, spent the week walking Beale Street and getting pulled onstage for songs. He said the most exciting moment was when he got pulled up at the Hard Rock Cafe to sing.

Despite his size, he looks the part, with a tall pompadour and pink blazer. His voice is still a little too high to recreate some of Elvis' hubba-hubba singing style, but he's got the lip curl nailed.

He plays guitar, keyboards and drums, too.

"I probably practice four or five hours a day playing music," he said. "Because when I get bored, that's something I can do, just sit down and play guitar or piano or something."

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But that's nothing compared to the hours he's spent studying videos of the King himself to practice his dance moves and mannerisms. The most difficult part, he said, is getting his hips to do the herky-jerky dancing that made Elvis such a scandal in his early years.

Finley Watkins, 8, poses for photos as Elvis on Tuesday in Dexter, Missouri. Watkins has been performing as Elvis since he was 5 years old.Laura Simon

Of the 20 or 30 Elvis songs in his repertoire, Finley said his favorite is "Blue Suede Shoes."

"I like the whole package deal about him," he said. "He was just an amazing spirit."

Finley said it's hard not to get swept away in the music when he's playing.

Finley Watkins, 8, poses for photos as Elvis on Tuesday in Dexter, Missouri. Watkins has been performing as Elvis since he was 5 years old.Laura Simon

"When I'm on stage, I kind of feel (Elvis') spirit flowing through my body," he said.

Finley Watkins, 8, poses for photos as Elvis on Tuesday in Dexter, Missouri. Watkins has been performing as Elvis since he was 5 years old.Laura Simon

Unless, of course, he's performing as a different rockabilly icon.

Finley also impersonates Buddy Holly, Jerry Lee Lewis, Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins and others. He once met Lewis, who shook his hand and talked with him about what it's like to be 7 years old.

Finley even has played with the man who played bass for Lewis.

He said he goes to Memphis at least once a month, usually more, but also goes other places to compete. He took first place last year in an impersonation contest in Branson, Missouri.

Finley Watkins, 8, poses for photos as Elvis on Tuesday in Dexter, Missouri. Watkins has been performing as Elvis since he was 5 years old.Laura Simon

He's released his first single, "First Train to Memphis," and said his goal is to win a spot one day playing Elvis in the Broadway musical "Million Dollar Quartet."

But until then, he's got music and school to keep him busy.

"I don't know," he said. "[I'm] just a rockabilly kid."

tgraef@semissourian.com

(573) 388-3627

Finley Watkins, 8, poses for photos as Elvis on Tuesday in Dexter, Missouri. Watkins has been performing as Elvis since he was 5 years old.Laura Simon