WHO’S WHO

Local Personalities: Suriya “Elvis” Prajamthee

by Dr. Iain Corness

Walk past the Captain’s Corner restaurant on a Wednesday evening, or the Jomtien Boathouse on a Friday night and you will hear the unmistakable sound of Elvis Presley thumping out his ballads. Get closer and you can see a youthful Elvis Presley with the coiffed hair, white rhinestone suit, red scarf and the trademark gyrating pelvis. However, this is not Elvis coming down (or up) to do a couple of gigs in Pattaya, but a performance by a very talented Thai musical artist by the name of Suriya Prajamthee.

Suriya was born in Korat, the eldest in a family of five children. His father worked on the railways as an engine driver, but young Suriya had no childhood desire to be an engine driver himself. His father did sing Thai songs to his children, but mother also was musical. “I grew up to mother singing Honky Tonk Woman and songs like that, and I remember asking her what that was, because she always sung in English.”

He did well at the government school in Korat and then went to college in Bangkok to study drafting and architectural design. However, at weekends, while he was still at school, he would sing in pubs and clubs in Korat, and in his mind he could already see that drafting boards and design offices did not really suit him. He wanted to be a full-time musician.

By then living in Bangkok, it was time to see if he could make it. He teamed up with some friends and they began performing in the pub and club scene in the nation’s capital. Band members showed him how to play the guitar and he practiced in his room till he became proficient. In many ways, the ‘normal’ apprenticeship period for a young muso.

After a three years in Bangkok, Suriya knew that he could make it in the music scene and in 1988 decided to leave Bangkok and come to Pattaya. “There were many tourists and good opportunities for a singer down here,” said Suriya.

His repertoire covered all styles of music, R&B, rock and roll, Country and Western, the usual general offerings suitable for the western tourists, and he was making a living.

After five years of being down here in Pattaya, he was singing regularly in the Island Cafe attached to the Alcazar Cabaret. “The boss there loved Elvis and he listened to me sing and said that my voice was just like Elvis and I should try to do him.” This was not as easy as it may sound. Suriya had never really seen Elvis performing (Elvis had been dead for 11 years at that stage), so was not conversant with the unique Elvis style.

However, he took the advice and went and bought Elvis videotapes and VCD’s and read the (sad) story of Elvis’ life. It took 12 months of study and refinement before Suriya was ready to perform in public, as Pattaya’s answer to (or reincarnation of) Elvis Presley.

Part of that stage persona is the Elvis outfit. Suriya has many of these now, but the first ones took much out of his salary. Between 7,000 and 10,000 baht is the price for the high-collared, jewel encrusted outfits. A hefty sum of money for a young Thai musician.

To be able to keep up the frantic pace of his concerts, the real Elvis Presley resorted to drugs. You only have to watch and Elvis concert and see just what energy is required. Our “Elvis” Suriya also has the frenetic energy in his performances, and I asked him directly whether he has to use some chemicals to help him through his performances. “No, I take no drugs. Maybe some beer or wine,” said Suriya with a laugh. However he did agree that it was tiring. “You need to have power, so I go jogging and exercise three time a week, and go swimming as well.”

Being fit enough is only one problem for the Elvis impersonator. Elvis was well known for his luxuriant mop of hair and the long sideburns. Since playing Elvis is his life these days, Suriya has to carefully coif his hair every day. Now being in his mid forties, there is a little receding at the temples that has to be attended to as well. There is more to being an Elvis impressionist than a rhinestone suit and a guitar!

I asked Suriya what he would do if he won a million dollars. He did not hesitate. “I would go to Graceland!” And while that remains a dream, there have been some tentative offers for him to take the suits and guitar to Europe. “Some German and Swiss people want me to go. I would like to go overseas one time in my life.” However, it would need a large contract to get Suriya away from Pattaya. He likes it here and has his regular gigs in Pattaya, as well as doing parties and events. There are many people who still love Elvis who are thrilled that they can get “Elvis” to perform again.

Suriya really is ‘Elvis’ these days. And just like Elvis, he is married and has a seven year old daughter, who proudly says, “My Papa, he is Elvis!” And how could any seven year old child be wrong!