Las Vegas Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest
Returns to Fremont Street Experience on May 11 & 12
Elvis Tribute Artists will compete for a chance to become the ultimate “King”
in Memphis during Elvis Week 2012
For the third year, Elvis Presley Enterprises, Inc. (EPE), Las Vegas’ famed Fremont Street Experience and the celebrated tribute artist production “Legends in Concert,” host the official Las Vegas preliminary round of the Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest. The Elvis competition will take place on Friday, May 11 and Saturday, May 12 from 8 p.m. to midnight on the 3rd Street Stage. Elvis Tribute Artists are competing for a chance to proceed to the semifinals during Elvis Week 2012, the 35th anniversary celebration in Memphis.
Enjoy special presentations on the Viva Vision canopy and a parade of Elvi starting each night’s competition. VIP seating for both nights will also be available directly in front of the stage for $20 but is limited and will be distributed on a first come, first served basis. On both Friday and Saturday nights, Elvis Karaoke will be featured at 3rd Street Stage immediately after the event.
“Las Vegas has a very special place in its heart for Elvis and with the indelible mark he has left on this city it is only natural to look for best tribute artist in Vegas. The level of talent is incredible here so the audience is in for a real treat,” said Jeff Victor, President of Fremont Street Experience.
Contestants in the Las Vegas Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest will be judged on the best ‘representation of the Elvis legacy’ in vocals, style, stage wear, and stage presence. Judges will consist of Vegas industry experts as well as individuals instrumental in Elvis’ life. The winner of the contest qualifies to compete in The 2012 Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest presented by EPE in Memphis during Elvis Week, August 10-18. In addition, the winner of Las Vegas’ Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist contest preliminary round will take home a $2,500 cash prize and a Graceland getaway prize package.
The winner of the Las Vegas Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist contest in 2011 was Johnny Fortuno and the 2010 winner was Justin Shandor, who went on to take first place in the international competition in Memphis during Elvis Week. Both Fortuno’s and Shandor’s Las Vegas victory gave them a chance to compete against other finalists from around the world for the grand prize and title of the Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist.
“We have already proven ourselves to be great judges of Elvis as we picked the international winner in 2010. This year we are hoping to produce the ultimate winner again,” added Victor.
On Stage Touring, a subsidiary of On Stage Entertainment and creators of the world’s longest-running celebrity tribute show, has been officially licensed by EPE to produce preliminary contests at “Legends in Concert” venues and other locations throughout the country, including Las Vegas, Nevada.
“These competitions are a great opportunity for up-and-coming entertainers. It is one of the few chances they have to showcase their talents to a large number of people and with EPE involved it is truly great chance for the competitors to shine,” said Brian Brigner, chief operating officer of On Stage.
Legends will again furnish one of the Grand Prizes for the Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest winner, the opportunity to sign a performance contract with Legends in Concert. Also provided will be a cash prize of $20,000, recognition by EPE, the title of Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist of 2012, and selection of other valuable prizes.
Launched in August of 2007, the Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest in Memphis is one of the highlights of Elvis Week activities, which attracts more than 70,000 fans from all over the world.
“The Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest has quickly evolved into one of the highlights of Elvis Week and given Elvis Presley’s special association with Las Vegas this Fremont Street preliminary round will surely be a coveted title for the winner,” said Scott Williams, Vice President of EPE.’’
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2011 Johnny Fortuno – Johnny Fortuno, a resident of Las Vegas (originally from Honolulu, HI), last year’s winner of the preliminary round of the 2011 Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest at Fremont Street Experience in Las Vegas.
For more information: www.legendsinconcert.com, www.elvisweek.com and www.vegasexperience.com.
About Elvis Presley Enterprises
Elvis Presley Enterprises, Inc. is based in Memphis, with additional offices in Los Angeles. In addition to Graceland and its related attractions in Memphis, including the Heartbreak Hotel, EPE is aggressively involved in a worldwide licensing program, merchandising, music publishing, and television, film, video and Internet projects. For more information on EPE and Graceland, visit www.elvis.com. EPE is a subsidiary of CKX, Inc. (www.ckx.com), a publicly traded company listed on the NASDAQ Global Market® under the ticker symbol CKXE.
About Fremont Street Experience
Fremont Street Experience is a five-block entertainment complex located in historic downtown Las Vegas. Fremont Street Experience features Viva Vision, the world’s largest video screen which is 1,500 feet long, 90 feet wide and suspended 90 feet above the urban pedestrian mall. Viva Vision features nightly spectacular light and sounds shows
with 12.5 million LED lights and a 550,000-watt sound system. Fremont Street Experience is a one-of-a-kind venue which includes free nightly concerts and entertainment on two stages. With direct pedestrian access to 10 casinos,
more than 60 restaurants and specialty retail kiosks, Fremont Street Experience attracts over 17 million annual visitors. Fremont Street Experience can be found online at www.vegasexperience.com.
About On Stage Touring, LLC
On Stage Touring, producers of the Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artists Tour, is a subsidiary of On Stage Entertainment, owners and operators of Legends in Concert. Celebrating its 25th year, Legends in Concert is a live musical celebration featuring the world’s greatest celebrity tribute artists. Widely recognized in the entertainment industry
as the original celebrity tribute show, Legends in Concert has not only performed throughout the United States, but
the show has traveled to 15 countries on five continents, entertaining more than 20 million fans. On Stage Entertainment operates numerous fixed-based, touring, limited-term and private engagements of Legends in Concert throughout the world. In addition to Las Vegas, Legends is presented year-round in numerous cities including Myrtle Beach, S.C.; Branson, Mo.; and Foxwoods (Mashantucket), CT. For more information on Legends in Concert or On Stage Entertainment, visit www.legendsinconcert.com.
