MEMPHIS, TN. (Top40 Charts/
Elvis Presley Enterprises) - For the first time ever,
Elvis Presley Enterprises, Inc. (EPE) is producing an official Elvis tribute artist contest. The 'Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest' in
Memphis is part of the 30th Anniversary Elvis Week celebration currently underway. Out of a field of 24 semifinalists chosen from preliminary events from around the world, ten were selected Sunday night to advance to the finals being held on Friday, August 17 at the Cannon Center for the Performing Arts in downtown Memphis.
The ten finalists selected and the contests they've won are:
Brandon Bennett - Tupelo Elvis Festival
Trent Carlini - Love Me Tender Ultimate Elvis Contest
Donny Edwards - The Promised Land Ultimate Elvis Contest
Jeff Golden - Alabama Ultimate Elvis Contest
Joseph Hall - Chingawassa Days Ultimate Elvis Contest
Ben Klein - Kelowna Elvis Festival
Shawn Klush - Viva Las Franklin
Paul Larcombe - Walk A Golden Mile In My Shoes
Jay Zanier - Collingwood Elvis Festival
Kjell Henning Bjornestad - Last Man Standing Ultimate Elvis
Judges based the selections on the 'best representation of the Elvis legacy' in talent, appearance, performance, stage presence and each contestant's overall tribute to Elvis. In the finals the judges will choose the best overall performer to be named the 'Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist 2007' and receive a grand prize package including $5,000 in cash, a $5,000 shopping spree at Graceland, and more.
USA Today is providing an additional opportunity for one of the finalists to be recognized in a readers' choice poll. Starting on August 15, the public will be invited to choose their favorite from the ten Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest finalists via a special voting system on the award winning news site USATODAY.com. The USA Today readers choice is separate from the judges' voting for the Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest and does not affect its outcome. It's a special separate honor.
Details on the reader's poll are as follows:
* Starting Wednesday, Aug. 15, USATODAY.com readers will be able to vote for their favorite Elvis tribute artist at elvis.USATODAY.com.
* USATODAY.com will run selected videos of the 10 finalists from "The Ultimate Elvis Tribute Contest" on the site.
* USA Today readers to pick their favorite Elvis tribute artist by voting online, which continues through Friday, Aug. 17, 2007.
* USATODAY.com reader favorite will be announced Friday, Aug. 17 at the Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist finals in Memphis.
