Night Of A Thousand Elvises

An Elvis tribute-artist contest sponsored by the singer’s estate to highlight the 30th anniversary of Elvis Week August 11-19 is spreading faster than the late king’s waistline ever did.

The Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest, which will be held in Memphis August 12th and 17th, was originally supposed to include candidates from Mississippi’s Tupelo Elvis Presley Festival and the Collingwood Elvis Festival in Ontario.

The response from Elvis tribute artists has been so overwhelming that concert organizers have added a slew of competitions in locations around the world, most of them in small markets, bringing the total number of official contests to 23. They are expecting to add more in the near future.

Would-be kings can now try to win their 15 minutes of near-fame in locations as varied as Blackpool, England; Bowie, Md.; Rapid City, S.D.; Queenstown, Australia; Windsor, Ontario, Lake of the Ozarks, Mo., and Shreveport, La.

Contestants will be judged on talent, appearance, performance and stage presence.