Can’t help falling in love

PROFILE. Dana Z’s oldest daughter explains to people why her dad is an Elvis impersonator.

“‘My dad does Elvis because Elvis died a long time ago’,” Dana quotes his 5-year-old as saying.

“That’s as much as she knows about it,” he scoffs.

But what should she know about a man who died on Aug. 16, 1977? For her dad, and many others, though, Elvis Presley, is — not was — special. This father of three doesn’t connect with Elvis only because he has a singing voice reminiscent of The King. He identifies with Presley because both are self-taught, each learning as he went along.

“Elvis was a beginner. There wasn’t anyone to follow. Michael Jackson studied; he always said he took his moves from James Brown and Jackie Wilson. He worked hard. But Elvis didn’t work at being Elvis. He was just Elvis.”

Most Elvis impersonators study every note and gesture from Presley’s movies and performance videos —“For what I do, I do nothing!” exclaims Dana. He also takes acting and singing lessons.

Unlike Presley, when it came to performing, Dana was a late starter. Five or six years ago, the North Shore-based 49-year-old was painting houses for a living, not touring the country impersonating Elvis.

“I didn’t start doing this until I was older than Elvis was when he died,” he laughs.

When he performs on Sunday at Dick’s Last Resort’s annual memorial, he says what carries him through are the audiences.

“The only reason I keep doing this is what I see in people’s eyes,” he says. “Some people pass by and laugh.

They think it’s funny. But that’s not what I see in other people’s eyes. I see they are enjoying it and I’m giving them a connection to Elvis. If I thought I was just putting on a costume, like a clown, I wouldn’t do it.”

Hunk-A-Hunk-A Elvis Memorial with Dana Z
Sunday, 8 p.m.
Dick’s Last Resort
Faneuil Hall Marketplace
MBTA: Green or Orange Line to Haymarket
No cover, 617-267-8080
www.dickslastresort.com