NJ's Deacon Elvis gets churchgoers 'All Shook Up'
Share and Follow

Elvis has left the building — to go to church.

A New Jersey deacon who is also an Elvis Presley tribute band singer is known to get his parishioners “All Shook Up.”

Anthony Liguori Jr., known affectionately as “Deacon Elvis” among the parishioners of Corpus Christi Church in Hasbrouck Heights, often surprises new attendees with his striking resemblance to the legendary Elvis Presley.

At Christmas services, Liguori, aged 64, has observed newcomers entering the church and then reacting with amazement upon noticing his likeness to The King. He recalls the amusing sight of people nudging each other and pointing at him as he carries out his duties.

He humorously mentions, “Even while I’m solemnly delivering the Gospel, I catch glimpses of individuals studying me intently, some of them unable to contain their smiles. Eventually, their family members reassure them, ‘Yes, this is our Deacon Elvis!'”

The Saddle Brook, NJ native doesn’t sing at the pulpit, but he does sport sideburns, high hair and a sterling silver cross that was handmade for Elvis by the superstar’s ranch hand in 1972.

A fan of Liguori’s, Don Dunn, purchased the cross in 1978 at a Memphis convention for around $1,500. When Liguori was ordained a deacon by the Catholic Church in 2011, Dunn gifted it to 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.”

It’s not strange to equate Elvis with religion, Liguori explained.

“People would yell out at concerts, ‘Elvis, you’re The King!’ And he would say, ‘No, I’m not, Jesus is The King,’” he said.

“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 noted the late singer, who died at 42 in 1977 and would have turned 90 on Wednesday, was extremely generous.

“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.”

When he was 6, Liguori’s great-grandmother introduced him to Elvis’ movies.

“I thought he was cool, the girls, the guitars, the motorcycles, the hairstyle,” recalled Liguori, who began playing Elvis’ music in high school and performing professionally in college.

Although he attended mass every Sunday, it was a near-death experience at 20 — when his omentum, a flap of tissue that covers the abdominal organs, twisted from years of contact sports — that brought Liguori closer to God.

“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.”

After sharing his story with others, Liguori, who married his high school sweetheart and has two children, felt a calling to the deaconhood.

Deacons, who go through five years of seminary training, perform many of the functions that priests do.

“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 explained.

His nickname came soon after he was ordained, when he was asked to sing at a retreat, advertised with a poster that proclaimed, “The music is going to be provided by Deacon Elvis.”

“At first, I was taken aback, but the poster was approved by the archbishop, who actually called me that in person.”

The singer-songwriter, who is in the Alabama Country Music Hall of Fame, performs nationwide with his band, which includes his son Christian — everywhere from cruise ships to casinos to, of course, his church.

“We did a fundraiser here a year ago and packed the house. We couldn’t sell another ticket.”

Share and Follow
You May Also Like
Trump pays tribute to 'great and brave soldiers of the United Kingdom'

Trump Honors UK Veterans: A Heartfelt Tribute to the Nation’s Courageous Soldiers

Donald Trump recently expressed his admiration for the UK’s “great and very…
Rachael Leigh Cook Reveals ‘Caught By Love’ Wrapped Two Weeks Before The Louvre Robbery: “I Cannot Believe The Similarities”

Rachael Leigh Cook Shares Eerie Timing of ‘Caught By Love’ Filming and Recent Louvre Heist

Rachael Leigh Cook, a familiar face in romantic comedies, is back in…
FBI agent probing ICE shooting of Renee Good resigns

FBI Agent Leading Investigation into ICE Shooting of Renee Good Steps Down

An FBI agent who embarked on an investigation into the deadly shooting…
DCPS to install walk-through weapon detection system at all middle schools

DCPS Implements Advanced Walk-Through Weapon Detection Systems in Middle Schools

Duval County Public Schools is set to introduce the CEIA OPENGATE weapon…
Florida sets execution date for man convicted of killing a grocery store owner

Florida Schedules Execution for Convicted Grocery Store Murderer: Justice Set for December

A man found guilty of murdering a grocery store owner in the…
Minneapolis officials work to confirm details on reported ICE shooting

Minneapolis Authorities Investigate Reported ICE Shooting Incident Details

The city of Minneapolis has announced that it is looking into reports…
Trump reveals to The Post ‘on land’ drug strikes could hit ‘anywhere’ — including Mexico, Central and South America

Trump Discloses to The Post: Potential ‘On-Land’ Drug Strikes Could Target Locations Across Mexico, Central and South America

WASHINGTON — In a bold statement, President Trump announced potential land strikes…
Rangers and Sharks head coaches share a unique, special bond

Discover the Unique Connection Between Rangers and Sharks Head Coaches

SAN JOSE — In the tight-knit world of hockey, the bond between…