Battle host Robert Shaw didn't know he was going to grow up and become Elvis.
He'd dabbled in Elvis impersonations since he was 15 or so but never took it seriously. It wasn't until after the 30-year-old actor, singer and producer came to Tucson in 1998 that destiny called.
The Indiana native was asked to play a private birthday party in 2004 and decided to get a band together and do all Elvis songs.
The show was a hit, and, at the encouragement of the Gaslight Theatre where he is a regular performer, he booked some concerts as Elvis and they sold out.
Shaw has been steadily performing as Elvis ever since. His upcoming Monday-night shows at the Gaslight will be re-creations of Presley's 1968 comeback special on television.
In 2008, he took his Elvis act on the road, playing New Mexico, Kentucky and back home in Indiana. He hopes to tour again this year.
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He also had his Elvis show scored for a symphony and performed it with the Tucson Pops Orchestra.
In addition, Shaw worked up a Johnny Cash show a couple of years ago.
"The first time we attempted it, we did a Johnny-and-June sort of thing," he said during a recent interview. "And as awesome as his music is, I had discovered after a couple performances that two straight hours of that steady-train beat gets a little redundant. So we decided, why don't we do half Elvis, half Johnny?"
Shaw gave two sold-out performances of "Elvis and Johnny: The Early Years" on Monday at the Gaslight Theatre.
Here are a few of his favorite things:
Favorite Cash song to sing: "I really like 'Folsom Prison (Blues).' I think it was the third or fourth song he ever wrote, and there's just a rawness to it. And it's got that line, 'I shot a man in Reno just to watch him die.'"
Favorite Elvis song to sing: "Probably the one people want to hear the most is 'How Great Thou Art.' And I like singing that one. That one has a personal connection to me, too. Both my grandmothers asked me to sing that at their funerals. Every time I'm singing it, I kind of feel like I'm singing it for them."
Favorite part of hosting Battle of the Bands: "I love listening to the groups that are playing, but I think even cooler than that is watching the groups that are getting ready to play. They are so excited. They're so nervous, but they're happy. One of them might be jumping up and down, trying to work up a sweat. Another one's over in a corner doing yoga or something. It's a really neat energy that they have. And it's cool to see these kids embarking on the world that is live music."
• What: Robert Shaw as Elvis: "The '68 Comeback Special."
• When: 7 pm. March 16, April 20 and May 18.
• Where: The Gaslight Theatre, 7010 E. Broadway.
• Tickets: $23.95.
• More info: robertastheking.com and thegaslighttheatre.com
