A Texas Deacon has taken the internet by storm for his uncanny resemblance to Elvis Presley. Anthony Liguori Jr., originally from New Jersey, bears a shocking resemblance to the King of Rock and Roll: he sports sideburns, high hair, and a sterling silver cross that was handmade for Elvis by the superstar’s ranch hand in 1972. The deacon doesn’t sing at the pulpit, but he has performed worldwide.
New churchgoers are often taken aback by his resemblance to Elvis. “During Christmas services, I could see these people come in, and then they’re tapping on the shoulder and pointing … It’s pretty funny to watch,” Liguori, 64, told reporters. He is lovingly called “Deacon Elvis” by the people who attend his church. While most people love his impersonation there are some doubters.
He said “Even as I’m up there proclaiming the Gospel, I’m watching the people looking at me, some of them with smirks on their face. And then their family who brought them in is saying, ‘No, this is what he does.’” His signature cross was purchased by a fan in the 1970s at a Memphis convention for around $1,500. The fan gifted him the cross when Liguori was ordained a deacon by the Catholic Church.
Liguori explained how the man told him, “He said, ‘I have no children and I got to give it to somebody that really would deserve this.’ I was floored. And he gave me . . . a photograph of Priscilla wearing this.” The deacon says there’s a strong connection between Elvis and religion. “People would yell out at concerts, ‘Elvis, you’re The King!’ And he would say, ‘No, I’m not, Jesus is The King,’” he stated.
Anthony Liguori described how “A lot of the churches where he lived in a very poor part of Mississippi were black Gospel churches, so he got a lot of that rhythm and soul from them.” He also drew attention to the generosity of the late rockstar, “When he made it and the money just started rolling in, he saw it as a way to help people. He literally gave homes to not only people he knew, but strangers, and didn’t want any publicity.”
The deacon was introduced to Elvis’ movies. by his great-grandmother. “I thought he was cool, the girls, the guitars, the motorcycles, the hairstyle,” explained the deacon. Liguori started playing Elvis’ music in high school and began professionally performing in college. While he grew up attending church regularly, he grew closer to God after a near-death experience.
“My whole body was being poisoned … I remember being in the operating room and kind of rising … I saw the whole tunnel and light thing, as cliché as that sounds … I had my vision of paradise … Jesus embraced me and I felt his warmth and power heal me,” he said. After marrying his wife and fathering several children, he felt the call to become a deacon. “We can preach the Gospel, baptize, perform wedding ceremonies, preside at funerals. The only things we don’t do is hear confessions or do the consecration,” he stated.
Watch A Video Of Deacon Elvis Below:
He was given his nickname soon after his ordination; he was scheduled to perform at a retreat, advertised with a poster that read “The music is going to be provided by Deacon Elvis.” He said, “At first, I was taken aback, but the poster was approved by the archbishop, who actually called me that in person.” Liguori, who is in the Alabama Country Music Hall of Fame, performs across the world. He said, “We did a fundraiser here a year ago and packed the house. We couldn’t sell another ticket.”
Featured image: Screen shot from embedded video.