:: Jumpsuit or gold jacket? Elvis impersonators - the facts.

From Parishioner Johhny Thompson

The first Elvis lookalike to make a mark was Bill Haney. He had started out as an Elvis lookalike during Elvis’s lifetime itself. In fact, he was the only Elvis tribute artist that Elvis himself ever went to see. Another noteworthy Elvis impersonator during Elvis’s lifetime was Andy Kaufman. Elvis counted him as his favorite impersonator.

The number of Elvis impersonators is ever increasing. At last count, there were at least 200,000 Elvis tribute artists all over the world, up from the 170 there were in 1977, when Elvis died. The popularity of Elvis impersonators has spawned numerous Elvis lookalike contests, festivals and events celebrating the magic of Elvis. These contests attract thousands of Elvis fans hopeful of making it in an industry already chock-a-block with lookalikes.

The biggest contest of them all is the one held at the annual Elvis convention at Blackpool in England which has been licensed by Elvis Presley Enterprises as the official Elvis lookalike contest. Elvis’s Graceland Estate also had an Elvis lookalike contest in 2007 to mark the King’s 30th death anniversary.

Being white and young is not a pre-requisite to the job. There are black Elvii (the plural of Elvis), Mexican Elvii, Greek, Jewish, Chinese Elvii and even a Sikh Elvis. There was also an Elvis lookalike who was a dwarf. Female Elvis lookalikes named Elviras are also making a mark in the field of Elvis impersonation.

The popularity of Elvis impersonators can be gauged from the fact that the winner of a 2007 American reality show on T.V. called ‘The Next Best Thing on ABC’ was – you’re right- an Elvis lookalike. Another lookalike came in the top 5. There are many radio shows which incorporate an Elvis impersonator feature in their program. These shows have Elvis impersonators answering listeners’ questions in an Elvis voice or crooning Elvis songs. The industry boasts of an official Elvis Impersonator Registry, where Elvis tribute artists can register themselves as members of the thriving industry.

Although some Elvis impersonators admit that it is sometimes considered as a tacky line of work, the smiles and applause of the audience makes it worthwhile. Some impersonators dislike the term and prefer the term Elvis tribute artist instead. But what matters in the end is making people happy. It is not all glory but real hard work that has kept the heart and spirit of Elvis alive thirty years after his death. And the credit for this, all goes to the Elvis tribute artists.

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