MORE than 60 years since he first walked into Sun Studios, The Elvis Years chronicles the rise of Elvis Presley from a teenage truck driver from Tennessee to the undisputed King of Rock'n'Roll.

Musical director David Mackay and 20-year veteran Elvis impersonator Mario Kombou have put together a tribute show that combines West End talent and pageantry with a career-spanning catalogue of Presley’s greatest hits.

Last night's first half began by adopting the conceit of a documentary, with a nervous and inexperienced Elvis making his debut with That’s Alright Mama, before launching into a rapid-fire recreation of the King’s meteoric rise to prominence, including his appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show, his military service and his movie career. Kombou perfectly captured the growing confidence and energetic performance of the young King, and his vocals and moves were equally authentic.

The second half was unfortunately marred by the interruptions of a few overly enthusiastic fans, but Kombou handled them all with the disarming charm and wit of a seasoned performer.

His acoustic set – reminiscent of Presley’s legendary 1968 Comeback Special – was an entertaining change of pace. The concert-style finale, complete with giveaway silk scarves, saw nearly the entire crowd up on its feet and cheering and screaming for an encore, with a significant portion of the female audience crowding around stage perimeter.

The Elvis Years contains everything that fans love about Elvis, brilliantly recreated and delivered at with unbelievable pace and passion.