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[[File:Elvis impersonators.jpg|thumb|right|150px|Some people show tribute toward Presley by imitating his voice, looks, or both. Some entertainers are professional Elvis Tribute Artists, who perform concerts in Las Vegas or elsewhere emulating Presley.]]

[[File:Elvis impersonators.jpg|thumb|right|150px|Some people show tribute toward Presley by imitating his voice, looks, or both. Some entertainers are professional Elvis Tribute Artists, who perform concerts in Las Vegas or elsewhere emulating Presley.]]

Presley's legacy is such that many entertainers have made careers emulating him in voice, looks, or both. They are called Elvis Tribute Artists, or informally as Elvis impersonators. Professional Elvis impersonators highlight in Las Vegas and other areas across the United States and around the world.

Presley's legacy is such that many entertainers have made careers emulating him in voice, looks, or both. They are called Elvis Tribute Artists, or informally as Elvis impersonators. Professional Elvis impersonators highlight in Las Vegas and other areas across the United States and around the world.

Elvis impersonators are in great demand due to the iconic status of Presley, and many of these tribute acts exist. The first recorded Elvis impersonator was Jim Smith in 1956, shortly after Presley began to rise in popularity. Smith looked like and imitated Presley, but was just pretending since he could neither sing nor play the guitar. The first influential Elvis impersonator was Phil Ochs in 1970.<ref>[http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/WolfFiles/story?id=92624&page=1 The Sad End of the First Elvis Impersonator] Buck Wolf, August 16, 2001, abcnews.com</ref> Andy Kaufman was a significant Elvis impersonator in the mid 1970s and Presley himself said Kaufman was his favorite. While Presley was alive, impersonators largely competed in talent shows. It was after Presley's death the art grew into the industry it is today. Elvis impersonators range from professional performers to people who do it as a hobby to people who do it as part of a comedy act. There is also an Elvis Tribute Artist contest sponsored by Elvis Presley Enterprises. They are extremely popular in [[Las Vegas]], in Pigeon Ford, and in many other areas in the [[United States]] and other countries. There are impersonators who specialize in performing as the early Presley, the Las Vegas late 1960s Presley, and the late 1970s gospel Presley.  

Elvis impersonators are in great demand due to the iconic status of Presley, and many of these tribute acts exist. The first recorded Elvis impersonator was Jim Smith in 1956, shortly after Presley began to rise in popularity. Smith looked like and imitated Presley, but was just pretending since he could neither sing nor play the guitar. The first influential Elvis impersonator was Phil Ochs in 1970.<ref>[http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/WolfFiles/story?id=92624&page=1 The Sad End of the First Elvis Impersonator] Buck Wolf, August 16, 2001, abcnews.com</ref> Andy Kaufman was a significant Elvis impersonator in the mid 1970s and Presley himself said Kaufman was his favorite. While Presley was alive, impersonators largely competed in talent shows. It was after Presley's death the art grew into the industry it is today. Elvis impersonators range from professional performers to people who do it as a hobby to people who do it as part of a comedy act. There is also an Elvis Tribute Artist contest sponsored by Elvis Presley Enterprises. They are extremely popular in [[Las Vegas]], in Pigeon Ford, and in many other areas in the [[United States]] and other countries. There are impersonators who specialize in performing as the early Presley, the Las Vegas late 1960s Presley, and the late 1970s gospel Presley.