Viva Hesperia! Popular Elvis Presley tribute artist coming to the High Desert

Elvis Presley tribute artist, Greg Miller, will bring his gyrating hips and lyrical talents to the Hesperia Elks Lodge this weekend.

Miller, a global performer who starred as Elvis for nearly two decades with "Legends in Concert" in Las Vegas, will perform at 7 p.m. Saturday at the Elks Lodge. The artist told the Daily Press he’s driven through the Victor Valley hundreds of times and is excited about “finally stopping to perform for the great folks of the High Desert.”

With family and friends living in the High Desert, and after living in Las Vegas and Los Angeles for years, Miller said he’s very familiar with the area he considers like home.

Miller said that some of his favorite food hangouts in the High Desert are TNT's Cafe, the Hilltop Tavern, Steer 'N Stein, and Barstow Station.

Talk shows, movie appearances

Miller, who became friends with the late Elvis Presley in the early 1970s, has appeared on talk shows such as Late Night with David Letterman, the Tonight Show with Jay Leno, and Last Call with Carson Daly.

In the 2002, "Sympathy” music video by the Goo Goo Dolls, Miller is dressed like Elvis as he sits with singer John Rzeznik in the backseat of a taxi as it travels through Las Vegas at night.

“I’m only in the video for a few seconds, but my part took hours to shoot,” Miller said. “The video shows a few nonverbal moments between us, but behind the scenes, it was great to chat with Rzeznik and his crew.

Miller explained that Rzeznik was good friends with the video’s director Anthony Bongiovi Jr., the brother of rock star Jon Bon Jovi, or John Francis Bongiovi Jr.

“The entire filming had a family vibe, which made it a very cool thing,” Miller said. “I was honored to be a part of it.”

Miller can also be seen in several movies, including the 2001 film “3000 Miles To Graceland,” starring Kevin Costner, Kurt Russell, Christian Slater, Courteney Cox, David Arquette, Jon Lovitz, and Kevin Pollak. In the film, Miller played one of many Elvis impersonators at an Elvis Presley fan convention in Las Vegas, where five thieves enter the Riviera Casino with guitar cases full of guns, and stage a daring robbery.

Meeting the King of Rock 'n' Roll”

As a teen, Miller attended several Elvis Presley concerts in California, sitting in the front row after meeting a family who knew the legendary performer.

“I met Norma Kilpatrick, a secretary at Paramount who handled Elvis’ fan mail,” Miller said. “After sitting with her in the front row for three concerts, Elvis asked her about the teenage boy who looked like him as a kid.”

Months later, the family introduced Elvis to Miller and the two developed a long-distance friendship by phone that seemed more like a father-and-son relationship, he said.

“He was a friend and mentor, who spoke into my life,” Miller said. “He was also like Santa Claus, he loved people and always wanted to make them happy.”

A few of Miller’s prized gifts from Presley are two signed records, numerous photos, and a necklace, all sent from Graceland, the performer’s home in Memphis, Tennessee.

Honoring Elvis

After Elvis died in 1977, singers began impersonating the king, but Miller was grieving his friend's death.

Miller eventually began impersonating Elvis as a way of honoring him and performing for a generation of younger fans who never saw the legend perform.

Miller believes his personal experience with Elvis means he can bring more of his persona to the stage.

“When Elvis left this world, he left me with an incredible gift, the inspiration to share his music with thousands of people across the globe,” Miller said. “I feel a tremendous responsibility to put on the best show I know how to honor the King of Rock and Roll.”

Living in Spain and Arizona

Miller lives with his wife, Sonia Gascón, in Madrid, Spain, and Yuma, Arizona, and continues to perform in the Southwestern U.S. and Europe.

“I toured a lot in Japan and Europe and even performed at the opening of a casino in Zurich, Switzerland,” Miller said. “I hooked up with a Spanish-based producer for an Elvis and Michael Jackson tribute show.”

Miller explained that one of the benefits of working in Spain was meeting his wife, a popular actress, who has appeared in several movies.

After living in Las Vegas, the couple moved to Yuma, Arizona, and purchased a second home in Madrid, Spain so his wife could spend more time with her aging parents.

Don and Sonya Rugg

The Elks Lodge fundraising concert is organized by Miller’s friends, lodge members, and Apple Valley residents, Don and Sonya Rugg, who have worked in the entertainment industry for decades.

Don Rugg is a longtime impersonator of heavy metal rock legend Ozzy Osbourne and President George Bush.

Sonya Rugg said the couple has worked in the entertainment field for about 20 years and had the privilege of meeting many tribute artists across the U.S., Europe, and Canada.

“We hope that by booking Greg Miller we gain exposure here in the High Desert to obtain more bookings to entertain our community,” Sonya Rugg told the Daily Press. “It’s our goal to bring more shows to the area.”

Tickets to the Elvis Tribute Show can be purchased at the Elks Lodge at 9202 E Avenue in Hesperia or by calling (760) 949-2646 or (760) 885-0196.

Daily Press reporter Rene Ray De La Cruz may be reached at 760-951-6227 or RDeLaCruz@VVDailyPress.com. Follow him on Twitter @DP_ReneDeLaCruz

This article originally appeared on Victorville Daily Press: Viva Hesperia! Popular Elvis tribute artist coming to the High Desert