Pete Vallee, known professionally as Pete "Big Elvis" Vallee, is an Elvis impersonator. At one stage and possibly even now, he is the world's heaviest Elvis impersonator.

Background Vallee was born in Memphis, Tennessee to a mother who was a singer. She ended her singing career to concentrate on motherhood.Toronto Star Wed Jun 09 2010 Vegas Elvis impersonator is a Big Hunk o’ Love By: Kathleen Kenna The youngest of four children, Vallee grew up in a house that had pictures of his mother Delores Vallee with Kitty Wells, Elvis Presley and others. In 1971 when he was five, his mother divorced his alcoholic father.

On July 15, 2010, he married Amanda Lasham, the daughter of Robert & Letitia Lasham. She is of Hawaiian and Philippine extraction and was raised in Hawaii.Las Vegas Sun Friday, July 16, 2010 Big Elvis, the King of Bill’s Gamblin’ Hall, finds a fitting bride By John KatsilometesImportant Occasions.com 07/04/2010 Pete "Big Elvis" Vallee & Amanda Lasham Weddiing Bells Are Ringing!

Elvis career At the age of 13, Vallee learned to play guitar. Even at that age, he was quite sizable. One day when he was singing in a choir, his pastor heard him and commented that he sounded like Elvis. He later was in Washington as part of a group called Ricky and the Starfires.Toronto Star Wed Jun 09 2010 Vegas Elvis impersonator is a Big Hunk o’ Love By: Kathleen Kenna

Vallee started his Elvis act around 1996 and came to Las Vegas in 1997.Las Vegas Review-Journal August 28, 2014 A day in the life of … a Las Vegas Elvis By F. Andrew Taylor He has been described as one of the longest-running, and most unusual, Elvis impersonators in Las Vegas.Los Angeles Times December 30, 2015 Elvis impersonators are in the building for Presley's birthday concerts in Las Vegas Jay Jones He performs at The Piano Bar at Harrah's Casino doing Elvis' 40-minute sets three times on afternoons.Rox News October 18, 2012 5 free things to do when you visit Vegas

On Feb. 27, 2017, Vallee was honored with a star on the Las Vegas Walk of Stars.

Venues Vallee had a residency at Harrah's Casino on the Las Vegas Strip. During his performances, he handed out maracas and Elvis wigs to audience members and invited them to get involved.Daily Herald 30/10/2012 Yes, there are free things to do in Las Vegas, Big Elvis

Health

Weight loss In 2005, he weighed 960 pounds (68st 8 lb, 435 kg). Five years later, he had dropped down to 450 pounds (32st 2 lb, 204 kg). At one stage he had to weigh himself on the scales in a post office which he had to access from the back entrance so he wouldn't be seen. He achieved his weight loss with diet and exercise, and with help from his manager Lucille Star.

Accident In September 2015, Vallee was hospitalized after being involved in a road accident on Blue Diamond road that resulted in leg lacerations and bruises.Las Vegas Review-Journal October 1, 2015 The Scene and Heard By Norm Clarke

Ancestry In a 2004 Las Vegas Mercury article, Vallee has said that there are three other Elvis love children other than himself. One is a woman called Desiree Presley who Vallee said Presley, when he was alive, acknowledged as his daughter. He said the other two were male. Vallee's publicist, Lucille Star said she believed Vallee was Presley's son. They were hoping to get a sample of Lisa Marie Presley's DNALas Vegas Mercury February 19, 2004 Music: The King and I by Roberta Ostroff He has had two birth certificates. One from Memphis, the other from Canada. Vallee said that when his mother Delores was dying, she told him that she had an affair with Presley who was introduced to her by Kitty Wells. Apparently, his mother had an affair with Presley in 1964.Huffington Post 06/04/2012 'Big Elvis' Peter Vallee, 500-Pound Presley Impersonator, On A Diet

Films

The Big Elvis Files An article in the Las Vegas Review-Journal, dated August 28, 2014 mentioned that Vallee was to appear in a film The Big Elvis Files. In addition to some fellow Las Vegas performers, Cook E. Jarr was to appear in the film.Las Vegas Review-Journal August 28, 2014 A day in the life of … a Las Vegas Elvis By F. Andrew Taylor Most of the writing and co-production was handled by his brother Guy Vallee who also had a small part in the film.LA CONNER PD – THE BIG ELVIS FILE MOVIE AboutSkagit Valley Herald Sep 1, 2014 Big Elvis takes care of business in La Conner, Elvis Presley impersonator wraps up filming with brother By Evan Marczynski The film was about two policeman from the city who were on the run. They sought refuge in La Conner, a small town in Skagit County where they come across "Big Elvis".Lincoln Theatre La Conner PD: The Big Elvis File Among the people to appear in the film which included locals from Skagit, the actual sheriff and mayor of La Conner appeared in the film. Living in Skagit La Conner PD: The Big Elvis File by Waterfront Cafe about Waterfront Cafe in La Conner

Big Elvis In 2018, Paul Stone created a short film titled Big Elvis, a biography of Vallee's life and career, as well as his claim to be Elvis's biological son. It was met with positive reviews. It was also nominated for Best Documentary Short at the Tribeca Film Festival.

References

External links

You Were Always On My Mind – Big Elvis