Gabe joined a growing throng of professional ETAs about 18 months ago when he tossed in the corporate towel for a red Burning Love jumpsuit and a tin of hair grease.

Next month at the Wintersun Festival at Coolangatta, Gabe hopes others see his dedication to the ETA cause as a contestant in an ETA competition, a competition approved for the first time by Elvis Enterprises.

If successful in the competition, Gabe stands to win a trip to visit Graceland in Memphis and compete in the Elvis Tribute Artists World Grand Final.

The trip would be the final piece in the puzzle for a man who first started studying the moves, the voice and the charisma of Elvis at the age of 10.

"I used to do the falsetto voice back then and other children commented on the likeness," Gabe said.

"Then my grandfather gave me a collection of his music and I started emulating the voice. That was at the genesis of it.

"I sang In the Ghetto at a karaoke night and I was told I should pursue this," he said.

When he started growing sideburns and darkening his hair however, Gabe said his boss did question whether he was in "mid-life crisis".

Supported by his wife Bronwen Whiddett and their three children, Gabe said it also took a listen to his CD for his mother to "get over the shock".

"Now she's all for it and supports that he is following his dream. She told me she cried when she heard the CD. She never realised he was such a good singer," Bronwen said.

Other islanders have also offered their support, renaming themselves Vernon and Gladys (Elvis's parents) and Aunt Beryl when they visit Gabe's "Disgraceland" island home.

"It was a leap of faith. I got a comment when I performed at the Macleay Island Golf Club on New Year's Eve that he thought he was listening to a CD. That was the ultimate compliment," Gabe said.

Gabe's skill lies in his "cross pollination" of musical genres combining rhythm and blues, rockabilly, country and folk.

"Elvis was across the board and presented a fashionable variety, amalgamating the different genres into his own sound," Gabe said.

"It wasn't just rock and roll. It was a merge of blues and gospel with the faster pace of rock and roll - a combination of different musical tastes. And this varied at different ages."

For Gabe, the performance is also about retaining a sense of identity and dignity.

"It is a cardinal rule not to wear the jumpsuit after the show. It is our role to recreate the memory and invoke a sense of nostalgia.

"We don't want to see anyone sporting a jumpsuit with a can of beer and a cigarette. There's a universal etiquette involved that preserves Elvis's memory," he said.

Gabe brings his own touch as an ETA, saying he was able to get away with a more "modern look".

"At this stage, I don't want to have a multi-personality crisis and mimic other artists.

"I could do Buddy Holly and Jean Vincent but being an ETA is a lengthy procedure.

"You have to study the moves, the body language, the breathing and the pronunciation and enunciate the words. I'd rather perfect one thing at a time. I've made a conscious decision to stay in the Elvis realm," he said.

Gabe said the secret was not to over exaggerate the style.

"Elvis's charisma came naturally and subtle gestures gave incredible results. He was almost Napoleonic. He was very regal and aware of the emotion he invoked."

Gabe will compete in heats at 10am on June 7 with the finals to be held at the Wintersun Arena, Coolangatta, at 7pm on Sunday, June 10. Tickets for both events can be booked on 5536 9509.