Sunday, October 6, 2013

The Garb Of An Elvis Impersonator Is A White Jumpsuit With Rhinestone Trim

By Angel Dudley


Sometimes it seems as if there is another Elvis impersonator around every corner in Memphis Tennessee. That is, of course, the hometown of the real Elvis Presley, who bought Graceland for his mother all those years ago. For years people have claimed the ghost of the singer is seen walking through the mansion late at night.

Others claim to have seen him at the black wrought iron gates, which have musical tones decorating them. He was a man who came from very humble beginnings and he would sometimes visit with his fans at those gates. When he passed away at the early age of 42, mourners surrounded the mansion and lined the streets for his funeral procession.

Numerous impersonators live and work in Memphis Tennessee where the mansion and a hotel named Heartbreak Hotel are located. There are many in Las Vegas too. Many television situation comedies have used one or more of them in an episode. Movies also use these lookalikes to make reference to the late great singer.

These performers are hired to put on stage shows all around the country. In the mid 1950s the first impersonator appeared. He was named Jim Smith and was 16 when he first jumped up on stage at a concert and did an impromptu impersonation. It became a well-known and accepted phenomenon in Memphis.

After the king passed away, impersonators started appearing all over. This singer and entertainer will never be forgotten. Grandmothers who grew up listening to his songs taught their daughters to be fans and the daughters taught their daughters. Generations brought new fans over the years.

An actor on the hit television series, Taxi, had a regular character, Andy Kaufman do an Elvis impersonation. At first he was terrible at it. But he became an impressive impersonator over the course of the series.

There is a little joke that makes the rounds from time to time. Presley once entered an Elvis look-alike contest held in a Memphis restaurant. The newspaper article that started it all, published the news that he came in third. It was a funny joke, however, some people took it to be the truth.

There is a song recorded called, Walking in Memphis, and a few impersonators have been seen doing just that from time to time. The late Kurt Russel did a sound alike skit in the movie Forest Gump. There are female copycats and one young boy did a skit on television a few years ago. People simply love the man, and want to think of him as if he were still alive.

Many of these lookalikes make a living at impersonating the king. Tribute artists are those who dress like him and perform his songs as a way to honor him. There are some who make personal appearances for the right price. Wealthy people hire them to perform at their teen daughters birthday parties to this day.

Currently, there is a demand for an Elvis impersonator to appear at all kinds of functions. Some sing, some do not. It is now considered a separate arm of the entertainment industry. Many skits and other references to Elvis can be seen on television and movies quite frequently. His popularity has not decreased with his death.




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