By DIANE GASPER-O'BRIEN

dobrien@dailynews.net

From the time he was a youngster, Frank Werth grew up listening to, and singing, Elvis Presley music.

For years, he imitated the "King of Rock 'n' Roll" around his musical family in Schoenchen.

Now, the Ellis County native gets the chance to give tribute to his idol on a much bigger stage.

Werth and six other Elvis Tribute Artists -- of which there are only 30 throughout the country recognized by Graceland Enterprises as ETAs -- will perform in Kansas City in an Elvis tribute.

The performance at VooDoo Lounge at Harrah's Casino North Kansas City will be in honor of Elvis' 75th birthday, which would have been Jan. 8. He died at the age of 42 on Aug. 16, 1977.

Werth, 28, wasn't even born until four years after Elvis' death.

But he loved his music from early on.

Werth's mom, Geralyn Werth, said her son started singing about age 3 and from the time he went to school, he would come home and tell her "he was going to school to sing" when he grew up.

"My dad was a huge Elvis and Roy Orbison fan," Werth said of musical greats who got their start more than 50 years ago. "Elvis kind of stuck with me."

Werth got his start on stage a couple of years ago when an Elvis tribute artist performed at Fox Pavilion in Hays.

Werth was called up on stage and asked to sing "You've Lost That Loving Feeling," by the Righteous Brothers.

"He wasn't prepared, but he did well, and he came off stage like he's been doing this all his life," his mom said. "The guy told (her son) he'd better buy a wig and jump into a jumpsuit."

With that encouragement, Werth began studying up even more on his idol.

A natural blond, Werth eventually dyed his hair and long, wide sideburns black, bought some of those jumpsuits and started performing.

A lot of his local performances are not only tributes, but benefits as well, donating 100 percent of the profits from a concert to a charitable cause.

The jumpsuits, which weigh 30 pounds each, are made by the same company -- B&K Enterprises in Indiana -- and out of the same material from France that Elvis' were.

"Some guys like to hunt for a hobby; others like race cars," Werth said. "For me, this is my hobby that's turned into a business."

What makes Werth's business even more enjoyable for him is he is entirely surrounded by family.

His mom and his aunt, Valerie Gabel, are his backup singers.

His dad, Ernie Werth, is his stage manager who takes care of lights. Werth's father-in-law, Larry Calvery, is his promotional manager and in charge of sound.

Together, they practice four nights a week, three hours a night.

His wife, Dierdre, is F.A.T.E.'s -- Frank's Attribute to Elvis -- marketing director and keeps him stocked with scarves he throws out to fans, much like Elvis did during his career that spanned three decades in the 1950s, '60s and '70s.

Werth gave out his share of scarves Saturday night at a "Christmas in Graceland" concert at the American Legion in Hays.

F.A.T.E. began with a history of Werth and how he became interested in Elvis' music and what he is trying to accomplish, "giving thanks to Elvis" for his contributions to music.

Werth then strung together a 90-minute show of gospel, ballads and Christmas and rock 'n' roll songs that had people singing along and nodding their heads to the music the entire time.

"He's really good," said Connie Meis-Willett from Topeka who heard the real Elvis in person in Germany in the late 1950s.

An Elvis tribute artist is different than an Elvis impersonator, Werth explained.

"There's a huge difference," he said. "We wear the clothes, but we don't put on an act. We sing his songs and pay tribute. There's a lot of respect for him."

While ETAs do dress like Elvis, they probably sound more like him than look like him.

Werth definitely fits that part.

Someone mentioned after Saturday's show they thought it was a CD of Elvis playing when Werth first took the stage.

"I don't know how you can tell," Trish Brunswig from WaKeeney said. "He's really good."

Brunswig got the chance to hear Werth perform as a Christmas present from her daughter, Cara Brunswig, a hair stylist at J.C. Penney Salon.

Brunswig works with Werth's hair dresser, Arilla Wear, at the salon, along with Janae Jenkins.

All three, who kept their table lively Saturday, plan to be in Kansas City on Jan. 8.

Vocal fans ranged from their 20s to late-60s and beyond.

"It's neat to see all age groups enjoy this," Werth said.

"My pride shows through when he's on stage, and I just can't sit still," said Werth's 69-year-old grandmother, Marlys Werth, who, like Meis-Willett, grew up in the Elvis era.

"I was 17 when Elvis started to get famous, and Frankie is my pride and joy," Marlys Werth said.

"I told him when he was a little boy, he'd be on stage someday -- if he wanted to be," she added. "I haven't missed one show yet, and I'll go as long as I can."

Werth, a salesman for Crawford Supply in Hays, has weekends off.

Like his grandmother, Werth said he plans to keep going as long as he can.

Werth was named an ETA by Graceland Enterprises after a performance at Branson, Mo., in April.

In August, Werth will participate in another contest in an effort to make it to Memphis for the semifinals.

"My goal is to be the ultimate Elvis artist," he said. "We'll keep working to become No. 1."

All along the way, he's having a lot of fun, too.

He cut three CDs this year and is working on a gospel CD.

"Oh, yes," he said. "I put people around me in my business who I can trust, and we're all having a lot of fun with it."