No-one really knows how many Elvis Tribute Artists (ETA’s) there are but it has been suggested that there were approximately 170 ETA’s at the time of Elvis’ death in 1977 and that in 2010 there were an estimated 250,000 – 400,000 worldwide. This is surely an exaggerated figure which suggests that at the same growth percentage, compounded year on year, by 2049, we could have as many ETA’s in the world as the current UK population. Realistically, there are only around 2,000 professional/semi-professional Elvis Tribute Artists worldwide.
Elvis Tribute Artists have existed since the mid 1950’s, a short time after Elvis started his career. Apparently, Elvis was aware of them and, in a complimentary letter to one such ETA, wrote that “mimicry is a sincere form of being a fan”. It wasn’t until 2007, that Elvis Presley Enterprises (EPE) grasped the cultural phenomenon by hosting the first Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist contest in Memphis, Tennessee.
Elvis Tribute Artists could be considered the biggest Elvis fans in the world as they strive to represent Elvis in an honest and gratifying way by putting on the best act they can. Through their performances, they have the remarkable ability to communicate in unimaginable ways; for those who grew up with Elvis’ music during his lifetime, memories come flooding back and for those in the younger generation who are influenced to become future Elvis fans.
Being a professional ETA is a full-time job, the motivation being that they are fortunate enough to be doing what they love, rather than the money. Is it hard work? You bet it is! Paying tribute to the ‘King’ takes constant dedication as they use themselves as a measure of success of keeping his legacy alive. At the same time, it can be incredibly humbling for them to perform to an audience who may also be using them as a measure against the ‘King’ himself.
