The King brought tears to a few people’s eyes. Just eight months
after his second kidney transplant, Elvis impersonator Donald
Prieto dazzled more than 150 screaming fans Thursday night
Gilroy – The King brought tears to a few people’s eyes.
Just eight months after his second kidney transplant, Elvis impersonator Donald Prieto dazzled more than 150 screaming fans Thursday night at his family’s Mexican restaurant on First Street, singing rock ‘n’ roll hits and gospel ballads for about three hours to honor his newfound health and the 30th anniversary of Elvis Presley’s death.
“Elvis is back in the house. Elvis has returned,” said Dottie Stewart, who donated one of her kidneys to Prieto for his second transplant surgery Dec. 15, nearly eight years after the diabetic’s first transplant.
To show his appreciation, Prieto sang the religious number “How Great Thou Art” for Stewart.
“That was for the both of us,” Prieto, 40, said in reference to himself and Stewart. “She’s always there supporting me. When we come around to the 15th every month, I say to her, ‘This is the third or fifth month,’ and last night was our eight-month anniversary. The whole night was just amazing, with everybody showing up. I was real nervous, but after a couple of songs, I got back into the whole groove. Hopefully people will see I’m back into it.”
This was hard to miss in Prieto’s bright red, jewel-covered jumpsuit that he said he hasn’t fit into in eight years since the anti-rejection drugs he takes make him gain weight.
But the text-book success of his most recent surgery means he no longer takes more than 50 pills a day, so he’s dropped a few pounds.
“He looked so handsome, so thinned out, and his movements were great,” said Irene Caston, a loyal fan who especially enjoyed Prieto’s rendition of “Love Me Tender.” “I had tears in my eyes,” Caston said.
Prieto wasn’t the only looker in the crowd Thursday night, though.
Prieto’s friend Steve Dixon drove the star up in the “Rockin’ Caddy Daddy,” an elaborate, custom red Cadillac complete with tail fins, a 3,000 watt public address system, and a passenger trailer made from the rear half of another GM convertible.
“He comes in on this blinged-out car,” said friend and fan Carolyn Watanabe. “Oh my gosh, it was such an extravagant entrance. It was really impressive. Everybody started screaming and yelling.”
The momentum only picked up when the local celebrity howled “Viva Las Vegas,” a perennial crowd-pleaser. Other favorites throughout the three-hour show included “Heart Break Hotel,” “All Shook Up,” and, of course, “Can’t Help Falling In Love With You.”
While the lyrics for this last song are, “Take my hand … Take my whole life, too,” Stewart changed the second part of the verse at Prieto’s last concert before his December surgery when she grabbed the microphone and sang, ” … Take my whole kidney, too.”
“It was a riot,” Stewart said. “Everybody was just cracking up.”
Prieto also laughed when speaking about the potential singing career of his 11-year-old daughter, Presley.
“She sings a lot in the shower, with her iPod blasting,” he said, “and she can mimic every word I sing during the shows.”
This differs slightly from Prieto’s boyhood. “My mom was listening to Elvis since I was about 7,” he said. “I used to get my mom’s broomstick out and shake a leg.”
Every Thursday during the summer, Prieto takes a break from managing Victoria Mexican Restaurant and indulges the crowd with his serenading, a welcome respite from the other karaoke singers throughout the night.
“Performing is such a huge part of his livelihood,” Stewart said.
If it weren’t for Stewart, though, Prieto’s livelihood might not exist.
“All of us are so thankful that somebody like Dottie would come up and donate her kidney as a special gift for Donald, giving him many more years of life,” Watanabe said.
Prieto has had type 1 diabetes since age 7.
The organs for his first surgery – he also had a pancreas transplant – nearly eight years ago came from a man who died in a motorcycle accident, sparing Prieto from suffering through kidney dialysis multiple times a week. But less than two years ago his transplanted kidney started to fail. He needed a new transplant, but, one by one, his family members were disqualified as potential donors.
Now he’s rebounded and plans to be the King for at least another five years, he said.
“It can get pretty wild, all the screaming and yelling, but it’s good, the women,” said Prieto, who just got out of an engagement. “Elvis is available.”
