Graceland seeks 'ultimate' Elvis tribute artist

The people who safeguard Elvis Presley's legacy are about to begin a search for the ultimate tribute artist, and they've said they'll look in Collingwood, Ont.

The managers of Graceland, Presley's former home in Memphis, Tenn., made the announcement Thursday ofan Ultimate Elvis Tribute Contest.

And Canada's biggest Elvis Festival, held annually in July in Collingwood, will be an important stop in the series of qualifying contests leading up to the big event.

Elvis Presley Enterprises, the company formed byPresley's widow Priscilla after his death in 1977, is the group behind the new North America-wide search for a King tribute artist.

The plan is to hold a series of qualifying contests throughout Canada and the U.S. and to choose the ultimate artist in August 2007 on the 30th anniversary of Presley's death.

So far, organizers have selected just two sites for the qualifying rounds —Tupelo, Miss., where Presley was born, and Collingwood.

A group from Gracelandhave attended the Collingwood Festival for the last two years, finding out how it's done, says Marion Lewis, publicist for the event.

The Collingwood Elvis Festival is one of the largest in North America, and hotel and motel rooms are already booked for the next event, July 26-29, 2007.

Up to 200 entrants participate in the tribute artist contest in Collingwood, which is divided into professional, non-professional and youth categories, and two eras of Presley's life — early years and concert years.

"Don't call them impersonators. Ever!" says Lewis. "No one is trying to be Elvis; what they want to do is pay tribute to his life and music."

That definition of Elvis artists opens the door to participants who are black, Asian, elderly, female andunder the age of 10.

The Collingwood festival goes well beyond the contest, with free events, a dance and entertainment throughout the weekend, as well as the contest at the local hockey arena.

Like every major Elvis festival, the Collingwood event is licensed by Elvis Presley Enterprises.

There are at least 16 such festivals in Canada alone, Lewis said. Many more are held in the U.K. and U.S.

The search for the ultimate tribute artist is a way of extending the Elvis legacy, as well as generating revenue for EPE, say Graceland organizers.

"The number of Elvis fans around the world continues to increase as younger people are exposed to Elvis," Paul Jankowski, chief marketing officer for EPE, said in a statement.

"The Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest is another way to celebrate Elvis's ongoing contribution to the world of entertainment."

Elvis continues to be one of the highest-grossing artists among the departed because of the business acumen of EPE, which is now a subsidiary of CKX Inc., owner of the American Idol TV show.

Graceland plans to set guidelines to ensure it gets tasteful, classy performances and would prefer singers who might actually sound and look like Elvis.

The Memphis finals will be held over several days during Graceland's annual Elvis "Tribute Week," scheduled for Aug. 11-19.