Anchor ads are not supported on this page.

4S Ranch Allied Gardens Alpine Baja Balboa Park Bankers Hill Barrio Logan Bay Ho Bay Park Black Mountain Ranch Blossom Valley Bonita Bonsall Borrego Springs Boulevard Campo Cardiff-by-the-Sea Carlsbad Carmel Mountain Carmel Valley Chollas View Chula Vista City College City Heights Clairemont College Area Coronado CSU San Marcos Cuyamaca College Del Cerro Del Mar Descanso Downtown San Diego Eastlake East Village El Cajon Emerald Hills Encanto Encinitas Escondido Fallbrook Fletcher Hills Golden Hill Grant Hill Grantville Grossmont College Guatay Harbor Island Hillcrest Imperial Beach Imperial Valley Jacumba Jamacha-Lomita Jamul Julian Kearny Mesa Kensington La Jolla Lakeside La Mesa Lemon Grove Leucadia Liberty Station Lincoln Acres Lincoln Park Linda Vista Little Italy Logan Heights Mesa College Midway District MiraCosta College Miramar Miramar College Mira Mesa Mission Beach Mission Hills Mission Valley Mountain View Mount Hope Mount Laguna National City Nestor Normal Heights North Park Oak Park Ocean Beach Oceanside Old Town Otay Mesa Pacific Beach Pala Palomar College Palomar Mountain Paradise Hills Pauma Valley Pine Valley Point Loma Point Loma Nazarene Potrero Poway Rainbow Ramona Rancho Bernardo Rancho Penasquitos Rancho San Diego Rancho Santa Fe Rolando San Carlos San Marcos San Onofre Santa Ysabel Santee San Ysidro Scripps Ranch SDSU Serra Mesa Shelltown Shelter Island Sherman Heights Skyline Solana Beach Sorrento Valley Southcrest South Park Southwestern College Spring Valley Stockton Talmadge Temecula Tierrasanta Tijuana UCSD University City University Heights USD Valencia Park Valley Center Vista Warner Springs

Just pretend with James Kruk

“The King is a powerful aphrodisiac. I sang to my wife and that got her!”

Elvis impersonator James Kruk: "I love Bugs Bunny."
Elvis impersonator James Kruk: "I love Bugs Bunny."
Video:

"Suspicious Minds"

Impersonator James Kruk performing an Elvis classic

Impersonator James Kruk performing an Elvis classic

"I never dress as Elvis in my ‘real’ life,” says James “King” Kruk, a former English teacher who’s carved out a living by reenacting the King’s comeback era, 1968 to 1974, complete with meticulously re-created costumes and choreography. In addition to headline performances, he’s also become a regular on the nationwide competition circuit.

WHAT’S IN YOUR MUSIC PLAYER?

Promised Land CD by Elvis was recorded at Stax in Memphis. I love “I Got a Feelin’ in My Body.” Its lyrics are religious but the song most certainly is not. I love the extended version, as you can hear Elvis cutting it up between takes. One time, he says about his dear friend and harmony singer Charlie Hodge, “It’s like having a wino singing in your ear.” Elvis was very funny. I also love the Waylon Jennings and Billy Joe Shaver tune “You Asked Me To.” Elvis adds a special element of heartbreak to this one, and the beat kicks, for a country tune.

WHAT ABOUT NON-ELVIS CDS?

I love Oh, No! It’s Devo, because they’re geniuses, not just as musicians but as creative people. They rock very hard on this album, with a lot of heavy guitar, not as synth-heavy as later albums. One of the newer bands I love is the Kings of Leon. Their Youth and Young Manhood CD restored my faith that rock and roll was still very much alive. Then they got polished up by the record label and lost their edge.

Sponsored
Sponsored

ANYTHING YOU WERE EMBARRASSED TO MENTION?

Video:

"The Best Day Ever"

From Spongebob Squarepants

From Spongebob Squarepants

If I exclude the Disney-fabricated stuff my kids torture me with on long car rides, probably Jimmy Sturr polka tunes.

I must also admit that I love a Spongebob Squarepants tune called “The Best Day Ever.” It just makes me happy.

BEST ELVIS CONCERT ALBUM?

Elvis Live in Las Vegas is simply the greatest damn CD ever, 24 tracks and only two schmaltzy ones. Please, everyone, listen to “Just Pretend” and you’ll hear why Elvis is King!

ARE ELVIS COMPETITIONS EVER “RIGGED,” LIKE WRESTLING?

There was a private contest in Mesquite, Nevada. This was the worst contest ever; the contest organizers were all in cahoots with a few of the contestants. The company that produced the contest also produces shows starring the same guys who won the contest! This happens quite a bit in the Elvis world, sadly...a 70-year-old Elvis placed ahead of me. He was from Mesquite, the dinky town the contest was in. One of the judges was the MC’s wife from the same area the contest organizers were. I pieced this all together via Facebook.

DO ELVIS IMPERSONATORS HAVE GROUPIES?

I did all right in my day, but when you’re dressed as Elvis, it don’t take much. The King is a powerful aphrodisiac. I sang to my wife and that got her!

EVER WANTED TO KILL SOMEONE?
Probably when I found out the managers of an apartment building we were living in knew something was happening to one of my kids and didn’t even tell us. Then they tried to get all this money from us, claiming we never gave notice before we moved. I still have a lot of anger about it.

BEST AND WORST BAND NAMES?

Best, Nashville Pussy. Worst, Toto.

FAVORITE CONCERT?

David Lindley and El Rayo X in New York City at the old Lone Star. It was five bucks, and you could be about six inches from the band. There were maybe 25 people there, and Dave just ripped everything — pedal steel, guitar, sitar, oud, and several other instruments only known to remote regions of the world. It was his humor, his band, his polyester — it just blew my mind how he plays, and he does every time I see him, which is anytime I can.

TOP WEBSITE BOOKMARK?

Nymets.com. I grew up in New York, where me and my dad loved the Mets, and I will ’til I die!

ANY FEARS OR PHOBIAS?

I don’t really like crowds, believe it or not, unless they’re my audience. I worry about my kids all the time.

SOMETHING WE DON’T KNOW ABOUT YOU?

I love Bugs Bunny.

Here's something you might be interested in.
Submit a free classified
or view all
Previous article

A poem for March by Joseph O’Brien

“March’s Lovely Asymptotes”
Next Article

Looking back at race relations in Coronado

A former football player recalls the good and the bad
Elvis impersonator James Kruk: "I love Bugs Bunny."
Elvis impersonator James Kruk: "I love Bugs Bunny."
Video:

"Suspicious Minds"

Impersonator James Kruk performing an Elvis classic

Impersonator James Kruk performing an Elvis classic

"I never dress as Elvis in my ‘real’ life,” says James “King” Kruk, a former English teacher who’s carved out a living by reenacting the King’s comeback era, 1968 to 1974, complete with meticulously re-created costumes and choreography. In addition to headline performances, he’s also become a regular on the nationwide competition circuit.

WHAT’S IN YOUR MUSIC PLAYER?

Promised Land CD by Elvis was recorded at Stax in Memphis. I love “I Got a Feelin’ in My Body.” Its lyrics are religious but the song most certainly is not. I love the extended version, as you can hear Elvis cutting it up between takes. One time, he says about his dear friend and harmony singer Charlie Hodge, “It’s like having a wino singing in your ear.” Elvis was very funny. I also love the Waylon Jennings and Billy Joe Shaver tune “You Asked Me To.” Elvis adds a special element of heartbreak to this one, and the beat kicks, for a country tune.

WHAT ABOUT NON-ELVIS CDS?

I love Oh, No! It’s Devo, because they’re geniuses, not just as musicians but as creative people. They rock very hard on this album, with a lot of heavy guitar, not as synth-heavy as later albums. One of the newer bands I love is the Kings of Leon. Their Youth and Young Manhood CD restored my faith that rock and roll was still very much alive. Then they got polished up by the record label and lost their edge.

Sponsored
Sponsored

ANYTHING YOU WERE EMBARRASSED TO MENTION?

Video:

"The Best Day Ever"

From Spongebob Squarepants

From Spongebob Squarepants

If I exclude the Disney-fabricated stuff my kids torture me with on long car rides, probably Jimmy Sturr polka tunes.

I must also admit that I love a Spongebob Squarepants tune called “The Best Day Ever.” It just makes me happy.

BEST ELVIS CONCERT ALBUM?

Elvis Live in Las Vegas is simply the greatest damn CD ever, 24 tracks and only two schmaltzy ones. Please, everyone, listen to “Just Pretend” and you’ll hear why Elvis is King!

ARE ELVIS COMPETITIONS EVER “RIGGED,” LIKE WRESTLING?

There was a private contest in Mesquite, Nevada. This was the worst contest ever; the contest organizers were all in cahoots with a few of the contestants. The company that produced the contest also produces shows starring the same guys who won the contest! This happens quite a bit in the Elvis world, sadly...a 70-year-old Elvis placed ahead of me. He was from Mesquite, the dinky town the contest was in. One of the judges was the MC’s wife from the same area the contest organizers were. I pieced this all together via Facebook.

DO ELVIS IMPERSONATORS HAVE GROUPIES?

I did all right in my day, but when you’re dressed as Elvis, it don’t take much. The King is a powerful aphrodisiac. I sang to my wife and that got her!

EVER WANTED TO KILL SOMEONE?
Probably when I found out the managers of an apartment building we were living in knew something was happening to one of my kids and didn’t even tell us. Then they tried to get all this money from us, claiming we never gave notice before we moved. I still have a lot of anger about it.

BEST AND WORST BAND NAMES?

Best, Nashville Pussy. Worst, Toto.

FAVORITE CONCERT?

David Lindley and El Rayo X in New York City at the old Lone Star. It was five bucks, and you could be about six inches from the band. There were maybe 25 people there, and Dave just ripped everything — pedal steel, guitar, sitar, oud, and several other instruments only known to remote regions of the world. It was his humor, his band, his polyester — it just blew my mind how he plays, and he does every time I see him, which is anytime I can.

TOP WEBSITE BOOKMARK?

Nymets.com. I grew up in New York, where me and my dad loved the Mets, and I will ’til I die!

ANY FEARS OR PHOBIAS?

I don’t really like crowds, believe it or not, unless they’re my audience. I worry about my kids all the time.

SOMETHING WE DON’T KNOW ABOUT YOU?

I love Bugs Bunny.

Comments
Sponsored
Here's something you might be interested in.
Submit a free classified
or view all
Previous article

Celebrate Holi, Borrego Springs Music Festival

Events March 23-March 27, 2024
Next Article

Tiny Home Central isn’t solving the San Diego housing crisis

But it does hope to help fill in the gaps
Comments
Ask a Hipster — Advice you didn't know you needed Big Screen — Movie commentary Blurt — Music's inside track Booze News — San Diego spirits Classical Music — Immortal beauty Classifieds — Free and easy Cover Stories — Front-page features Drinks All Around — Bartenders' drink recipes Excerpts — Literary and spiritual excerpts Feast! — Food & drink reviews Feature Stories — Local news & stories Fishing Report — What’s getting hooked from ship and shore From the Archives — Spotlight on the past Golden Dreams — Talk of the town The Gonzo Report — Making the musical scene, or at least reporting from it Letters — Our inbox Movies@Home — Local movie buffs share favorites Movie Reviews — Our critics' picks and pans Musician Interviews — Up close with local artists Neighborhood News from Stringers — Hyperlocal news News Ticker — News & politics Obermeyer — San Diego politics illustrated Outdoors — Weekly changes in flora and fauna Overheard in San Diego — Eavesdropping illustrated Poetry — The old and the new Reader Travel — Travel section built by travelers Reading — The hunt for intellectuals Roam-O-Rama — SoCal's best hiking/biking trails San Diego Beer — Inside San Diego suds SD on the QT — Almost factual news Sheep and Goats — Places of worship Special Issues — The best of Street Style — San Diego streets have style Surf Diego — Real stories from those braving the waves Theater — On stage in San Diego this week Tin Fork — Silver spoon alternative Under the Radar — Matt Potter's undercover work Unforgettable — Long-ago San Diego Unreal Estate — San Diego's priciest pads Your Week — Daily event picks
4S Ranch Allied Gardens Alpine Baja Balboa Park Bankers Hill Barrio Logan Bay Ho Bay Park Black Mountain Ranch Blossom Valley Bonita Bonsall Borrego Springs Boulevard Campo Cardiff-by-the-Sea Carlsbad Carmel Mountain Carmel Valley Chollas View Chula Vista City College City Heights Clairemont College Area Coronado CSU San Marcos Cuyamaca College Del Cerro Del Mar Descanso Downtown San Diego Eastlake East Village El Cajon Emerald Hills Encanto Encinitas Escondido Fallbrook Fletcher Hills Golden Hill Grant Hill Grantville Grossmont College Guatay Harbor Island Hillcrest Imperial Beach Imperial Valley Jacumba Jamacha-Lomita Jamul Julian Kearny Mesa Kensington La Jolla Lakeside La Mesa Lemon Grove Leucadia Liberty Station Lincoln Acres Lincoln Park Linda Vista Little Italy Logan Heights Mesa College Midway District MiraCosta College Miramar Miramar College Mira Mesa Mission Beach Mission Hills Mission Valley Mountain View Mount Hope Mount Laguna National City Nestor Normal Heights North Park Oak Park Ocean Beach Oceanside Old Town Otay Mesa Pacific Beach Pala Palomar College Palomar Mountain Paradise Hills Pauma Valley Pine Valley Point Loma Point Loma Nazarene Potrero Poway Rainbow Ramona Rancho Bernardo Rancho Penasquitos Rancho San Diego Rancho Santa Fe Rolando San Carlos San Marcos San Onofre Santa Ysabel Santee San Ysidro Scripps Ranch SDSU Serra Mesa Shelltown Shelter Island Sherman Heights Skyline Solana Beach Sorrento Valley Southcrest South Park Southwestern College Spring Valley Stockton Talmadge Temecula Tierrasanta Tijuana UCSD University City University Heights USD Valencia Park Valley Center Vista Warner Springs
Close

Anchor ads are not supported on this page.