Branson's Elvis Festival features

Branson's Elvis Festival features "The Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest"

by Gary Groman aka The Ole Seagull
published: Mar 31, 2009

Branson Missouri, the live music show capital of the world is not without the sounds of “Elvis.” But even in a town where Elvis is portrayed on a daily basis by Dean Z and others in the “Legends in Concert The World’s Greatest Live Tribute Show,” Dave Ehlert in “Elvis and the Super Stars” and Tony Roi in “Tony Roi’s Elvis Experience” April 18 will be a special day for Elvis fans.

On April 18 the Legends in Concert and Elvis Presley Enterprises Inc. will present Branson’s 3rd “The Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest” in the Dick Clark’s American Bandstand Theater, starting at 7:00 p.m. The contest is one of only about 20 preliminary contests in the world sanctioned by Elvis Presley Enterprises Inc.

In addition to other prizes, the Branson winner earns the right to compete in the semi finals of “The Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest” which will be held at the Cannon Center for the Performing Arts in downtown Memphis, TN on Wednesday, August 12 during Elvis Week. The finals and the selection of the “Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist” will take place in the same theatre on Thursday, August 13.

Melody Byrd, Group Sales and Marketing Manager, Legends in Concert, said that Branson’s “The Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest” will be limited to 15 competitors and that all the contestants would be introduced during the 8:00 p.m. performance of the Legends in Concert show on April 17. The winner of the contest willbe performing at the 8:00 p.m. Legends in Concert show on April 19.

Byrd said the “The Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest” is just one of the events that will be held at the theatre complex in conjunction with the “Branson Elvis Festival” April 17-19. The festival will include an Elvis meet and greet dinner April 17 at 5 p.m. at the Dick Clark’s Grill, and Elvis karaoke at Club 57 starting at 10:30 p.m. on April 17and 18.

On April 18, in addition to the “The Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest” at 7:00 p.m., the festival will include an Elvis Vendor Village from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. with a free showing of the movie “Speedway” staring Elvis Presley and Nancy Sinatra in “the auditorium” starting at 10:00 a.m. On April 19, the “Grand Old Gospel Hour,” held at 10:00 a.m. at Dick Clark’s America Bandstand Theater will feature Elvis gospel music and the performance of the contest winner at the 8:00 p.m. performance of the Legends in Concert show.

http://www.bransoncourier.com/issue-64/ultimate-elvis-contest-1156.html