Official ETA Contest Announced by EPE

ELVIS PRESLEY ENTERPRISES ANNOUNCES FIRST-EVER OFFICIAL ELVIS TRIBUTE ARTIST CONTEST 

WITH THE WINNER NAMED “ELVIS TRIBUTE ARTIST OF THE YEAR”

FINALS TO BE HELD DURING 30th ANNIVERSARY ELVIS WEEK, AUGUST 11-19, 2007,
EXPECTED TO BE THE LARGEST COMMEMORATION EVER WITH UNPRECEDENTED WORLDWIDE ATTENTION


MEMPHIS, TN – November 16, 2006 – For the first time ever, Elvis Presley Enterprises, Inc. (EPE) will produce an official Elvis tribute artist competition. The company announced today that it will launch a search for contestants for the “Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest.” Contestants will be selected at existing Elvis tribute artist contests, along with fairs, festivals and other venues holding new contests. The first licensed festivals confirmed to hold preliminary contests are the Tupelo Elvis Presley Festival in Tupelo, Mississippi and the Collingwood Elvis Festival held in Ontario, Canada. The qualifying rounds and finals will be held in Memphis during the 30th Anniversary Elvis Week.

“The number of Elvis fans around the world continues to increase as younger people are exposed to Elvis,” stated Paul Jankowski, Chief Marketing Officer for EPE. “The Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest is another way to celebrate Elvis’s on-going contribution to the world of entertainment. The contest will appeal to both the Elvis fans who have made the trip to Graceland every year since Elvis’ death in 1977 and to the new fans who have just discovered Elvis’s timeless appeal.”

Judges will be looking for the “best representation of the Elvis legacy” in talent, appearance, performance, stage presence and each contestant's overall tribute to Elvis. The best overall performer will be named the “2007 Elvis Tribute Artist of the Year.”

Elvis Week, to be held August 11-19, 2007, will mark the 30th anniversary of Elvis' death on August 16, 1977 and is expected to be the largest commemoration ever. Each year, tens of thousands of people arrive in Memphis to celebrate the superstar's life with concerts, charity events, dances, fan club activities and much more.

One of the most anticipated events will be "Elvis: The 30th Anniversary Concert" to be presented at FedExForum. This concert, like major anniversary shows in 1997 and 2002, will bring together a large cast of Elvis Presley's original concert musicians and back-up singers live on stage with the REAL Elvis Presley starring in the show via video technology. The 30th anniversary concert will be the most elaborate production of the "Elvis video-interactive" concept to date. 

MORE INFORMATION:  Are you an Elvis tribute artist interested in competing in the Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest?  Are you a festival organizer interested in staging an official preliminary competition?  Please visit http://www.elvis.com/ultimatecontest/.   For more about Elvis, Elvis Week and Graceland, visit www.elvis.com.

 

 

Reviews
DVD: Colonel Parker
Film: Elvis Killed My Brother
CD: Elvis A Legendary Performer Vol. 7
DVD: A Tribute To The King (Scotty Moore)
Book/CD: Memphis Recording Service
Book: Elvis and the Memphis Mafia
CD: All Shook Up (reggae tribute)
Book: The King's Ransom
Book: The King (graphic novel)
'Elvis On Tour Outtakes' DVD review
'Hitstory' CD EIN in depth review
CD: Hitstory (USA edition)
FTD: Summer Festival
DVD: Born To Rock
Book: Elvis Aaron Presley: A Candle In The Wind
FTD: Too Much Monkey Business
Book: Desert Storm
Book: Elvis On Stamps
FTD: Elvis Today
Book: Behind The Image Vol. 2
Book: Elvis on Screen
DVD: Elvis & Me
FTD: All Shook Up
FTD: Tickle Me
CD: Elvis by the Presleys
Book: Warman's Elvis Field Guide
DVD: Why Elvis?
Book: Dewey and Elvis
CD: Black & White Elvis
CD: All Shook Up
Book: Rough Guide to Elvis
FTD: Rockin' Across Texas
FTD: Elvis Is Back
TV Special: "Elvis by the Presleys"
Book: Elvis by the Presleys
CD: Tom Green
CD: A Legendary Performer Vol. 5
FTD: Big Boss Man
FTD: Flashback
FTD: Paradise, Hawaiian Style
CD: I Remember His First Love Song
FTD: Polk Salad Annie
DVD review: Aloha From Hawaii
CD: Elvis At Sun
DVD: Comeback Special
FTD: Elvis Recorded Live In Memphis
FTD: Spinout
Book: Elvis Fashion
Did you miss?
CD review: The Greensboro Concert
FTD review: Girl Happy
Article: Political correctnesss and intolerance in the Elvis world
Article: All you ever wanted to know about Graceland
Interview: Larry Geller
FTD review: Viva Las Vegas
CD review: Close-Up
Debate: Is Elvis Alive?
Article: The pitfalls of re-mixing The King