Elvis Tribute Artist Eddie O'Rourke presents A Tribute to The King

August 10, 2008

I am often asked to explain the difference between the two. If you
posed the question to a dozen Elvis Tribute Artists/Impersonators,  you would probably get a dozen different variations on the theme. All I can offer is my
personal take on the subject. For myself, I prefer the title of Tribute
Artist. I pay tribute to the man and his music. When I’m on stage my
goal is to present myself with a general Elvis style. Yes, I wear
the jumpsuit, but my voice is MY voice. If people feel I have an
Elvis quality when I sing…I’m pleased. I don’t attempt to sing a
song with every inflection the King used at a particular concert . I
don’t present a song exactly the same way twice. Even Elvis played
with the lyrics and melody.

An Impersonator is someone who attempts to be a carbon copy. Exact
vocals with exact moves and facial expressions. It is unfortunate,
but there are far too many guys with little or no talent attempting
to be exact copies. They’re the ones who give the rest of us a bad
name and all too often the press refers to them as “IMPERSONATORS.”

I’ve always tried to project a natural Elvis appearance in my
shows. Real sideburns not paste-ons. I don’t wear stage makeup to
enhance the look and I’ve never worn those ridiculous wigs with the
exaggerated pompadours. I DON’T IMPERSONATE ELVIS, I PAY TRIBUTE! My
appearance, moves and singing are meant to be similar….not an
exact copy! In the final analysis, no matter where you perform; Philadelphia to Phoenix, Memphis to Moscow… call yourself whatever you
please. But, perform with quality and respect.

Thomas Kinkade paints Graceland…

quoted from thomaskinkadememphis.com

Fifty years ago, the King of Rock ?n Roll bought the palace that became,
for him, a sanctuary from the demands of a very public life, and for
devotees of American pop culture, a Mecca that grows only more famous
with the passage of time. Graceland? is one of the most visited homes in
America, where legions of fans come to embrace the memories and the
music of the undying rock legend, Elvis Presley?.

I grew up with Elvis’? great songs and movies; my older sister was a
huge fan who played his records until she wore them out. I?ve grown to
appreciate the energy and high spirits the King contributed to what has
become classic American culture. So, naturally, I was delighted when I
got the opportunity to paint the official 50th Anniversary portrait of
Graceland.

I set up my easel at Graceland on a crisp autumn morning when the
stately home was particularly cozy and welcoming. I was inspired to
paint it with smoke curling from the chimney and a golden light blazing
in every window. I finished my sketchy plein-air study in just a few
hours, and then took Graceland, 50th Anniversary to my studio where I
created an image that includes such finishing touches as a likeness of
the King and one of his famous cars. The finished canvas is being
offered as a Limited Edition release to honor the 50th Anniversary of
Graceland ? a home like no other.
? Thomas Kinkade

Guistar Picks, manufacturers of custom-made guitar picks, will introduce
Wednesday a gold-colored Elvis pick stamped with ?The King?s? thumb
print as duplicated from his military records.

?we replicated his actual thumb print provided by Elvis Presley
Enterprises utilizing our patented enhancement process,? says Guistar
spokesman Rich Mackey.

(AP) The 40-year-old singer Lisa Marie and her husband, music producer Michael Lockwood, are expecting their first children together this autumn. Presley has two children from a previous marriage to musician Danny Keough. She has also been married to Michael Jackson and actor Nicolas Cage.

NEW YORK (AP) — Elvis Presley’s favorite performance costume, the peacock jumpsuit, sold for $300,000 on Thursday, making it the most expensive piece of Elvis memorabilia sold at auction.

The online sale by auctioneer Gotta Have It! ended at 3 a.m. The pre-sale estimate was $275,000 to $325,000.

The white outfit with a plunging V-neck and high collar features a blue-and-gold peacock design hand-embroidered on the front and back and along the pant legs.

It is cinched at the waist by a wide belt decorated in gold medallions in a design resembling the eye of a peacock feather.

The auctioneer would describe the seller only as “a big Elvis collector” and declined to say who bought it.

Elvis paid $10,000 to have the outfit made by Los Angeles designer Bill Belew, who created all of The King’s stage wardrobe between 1968-1977. It captured the rock ‘n’ roll legend’s fascination with peacocks as a good luck symbol and the auction house said it was among his favorite Belew designs.

Elvis first wore the costume at the Forum in Los Angeles on May 11, 1974, and later for the cover of his album “Promised Land.”

The previous record for an Elvis collectible is $295,000 for his 1956 Lincoln Continental Mark II.

The most ever paid previously for one of his stage costumes, the so-called aloha cape, which was worn during one of his last television shows, was $105,250. Both were sold at a 1999 auction at Graceland run by Guernsey’s.