Last night the Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist (ETA) Contest Preliminary Rounds took place at the Orpheum Theatre in Downtown Memphis, Tennessee. This contest for sure is one of the highlights during Elvis Week, because here the Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Champion is crowned. All together 24 young men competed against each other in order to save themself a spot for the finals which will take place on Thursday at 7 p.m. If you’re curious how the semi-finals went and who will return on Thursday, you should continue reading…
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The Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest Preliminary Rounds during Elvis Week 2015
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Ben Portsmouth: Acoustic Elvis during Elvis Week 2015 in Memphis
If you take a look at how short the nights during Elvis Week are, it was pretty early, when Elvis fans from all over the world came together at the New Daisy Theater in Beale Street, Downtown Memphis at 1 p.m. to see Elvis Tribute Artist Ben Portsmouth live on stage. Ben did an acoustic concert: just Ben, his guitar, his voice, and the tapping of his (mostly) right shoe… I already enjoyed the soundcheck, but (of course) the concert itself was much better than that!
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Dean Z, Jay Dupuis, and Ben Portsmouth at the New Daisy Theater during Elvis Week 2015
Elvis Week live! Standing ovations for three great artists! It was the second concert starring three Ultimate Elvis Tribute Champions at the New Daisy Theater in Beale Street Memphis, and again it was entertainment at it’s best! Dean Z, Jay Dupuis, and Ben Portsmouth took everyone back in time: Dean Z performed as the young Elvis, Jay Dupuis did the ’68 Comeback Special, and Ben Portsmouth reminded everyone how great the early ’70s have been.
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Cody Ray Slaughter, Dean Z, and Shawn Klush at the Elvis Week 2015 Concert in Memphis
It was the first concert evening during Elvis Week 2015 and these three guys totally nailed it: Cody Ray Slaughter, Dean Z and Shawn Klush! More than 500 Elvis fans from all over the world came together at the New Daisy Theater in famous Beale Street, Downtown Memphis, to celebrate Elvis Presley, his music, and of course to see the three Elvis Tribute Artist Champions live on stage!
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Elvis Impersonator Dean Z Talks about Travel: “I was Flying a Plane Before I was Driving a Car!”
It’s a sunny morning in Blackpool, England. The nights during the Elvis Festival “Europe’s Tribute to Elvis” have been far too short, and so I am happy to spend my time waiting in a comfortable brown leather chair in the luxurious hotel lobby. Suddenly, Dean Zeligman, more commonly known to his fans as “Dean Z”, shows up good-tempered, casually dressed – and late. Being late is one of the things he hates about himself, but especially due to the short nights, this is nothing that bothers me. Dean also seems a tad bit tired and a shade groggy in his pale-blue denim shirt and his blue jeans. It was only two days ago that he flew in from Las Vegas and his schedule in England wouldn’t cooperate with the understandable jet lag fatigue. However, it did not affect his positive mood in any way. The plan was to talk about travel, but that turns out to be more difficult than expected: As Elvis was said to be, Dean is congenial, and likeable, and thanks to his humor and naturalness talking to him as well deviating from the subject is quite easy…
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Only six days left until Elvis Week 2015!
I am excited and happy! Happy I decided to fly in for Elvis Week 2015! After all it’s the Elvis Week during which Elvis fans from around the world celebrate Elvis Presley’s 80th birthday! In 2013 I first visited Memphis, Tupelo, and Elvis Week. Back then I unfortunately did not have much time and saw not much more than the “Aloha from Hawaii” concert for the 40th anniversary at the Orpheum Theatre. This time it will be different, because this time I will have time! Above all, I will cover Elvis week on this travel blog (more or less) live. So how does my schedule look like?
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Dean Z and Cody Ray Slaughter at Europe’s Tribute to Elvis Festival in Blackpool, England
“Europe’s Tribute to Elvis” was an Elvis festival in Blackpool, England that lasted three days. Elvis impersonators Dean Z and Cody Ray Slaughter were the headliners of two evening concerts. Ben Portsmouth was confirmed as the third “Elvis Presley”, but due to health reasons he unfortunately was not able to participate. Enjoy the first pictures taken during the two concert evenings (camera: Nikon D7100; Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-105mm)!