Rumor has it he also plans to step on their blue suede shoes.
Posted on 04/17/2006 9:17:34 PM PDT by Aussie Dasher
The organisers of the Parkes Elvis Festival in the central west of NSW are seeking legal advice about changes to the rules surrounding Elvis Presley impersonators.
An American billionaire who owns the rights to the Elvis name and likeness is working to stop "unauthorised" impersonators as part of a plan to open a show and exhibit in Las Vegas dedicated to 'the king'.
More than 5,000 people travel to Parkes each year to see hundreds of Elvis look-a-likes and celebrate his music.
The festival's Monique Kronk says very few details about the shake-up are known but organisers want to ensure it will not threaten the event.
"We've got to discuss not just how it affects the festival itself but ... who are coming in and we don't know quite yet enough about what they are planning to change," she said.
"But obviously we'll have to speak to Elvis Presley Enterprises and maybe we can negotiate some sort of licence that will cover for the whole festival - festival goers coming - we don't know enough yet about the situation."
how can you own the rights to the likeness of a dead famous public person?
While we’re on the topic of names, someone has left something out.
The reason I mention him is everyone commented on how much he sounded like Elvis. Now he wasn't an impersonator but with Elvis dead it would seem he would have become more prominent, and he really did sound like Elvis.
I hope they can work this out. We can't go on together, with suspicious minds...
Sounds like they're "all shook up".....
Stafford's version was a terrific record. In my book, it's better than the Elvis original.
While we’re on the topic of names, someone has left something out.
It must have left the building.
Rumor has it he also plans to step on their blue suede shoes.
Probably the Sonny Bono Artistic Rights Law, or whatever the offical name is.
<< Elvis impersonators under threat? How ever will we survive? >>
By becoming Johnny Devlin impersonators, of course!
Jacko, perhaps?
Your kidding, right? Try to use Humphrey Bogarts face to sell something and watch what happens.
They are not claiming to be Elvis; they are not using any images or recordings of the real Elvis; and they are selling their own "talent" (such as it is) for impersonation, not Elvis's talent. The only question might be how the show is advertised and if they use Elvis' name and likeness without permission in the promotional materials. As long as they have an ASCAP/BMI license to perform the songs publicly, I don't see how this case can be won. Of course, this isn't in America, so the laws might be different. But I don't think Rich Little has to pay royalties to everyone he imitates during a Las Vegas show.
It was terry Stafford, who made Doc Pomus' 'Suspicion' a top ten hit in 1964. Elvis recorded it a few years earlier, but it did not top the charts.
Another guy, often called an 'Elvis impersonator' was Gene Vincent. His 'Be bop a Lulu' is truly a classic rockabilly tune. Sad story about Gene Vincent, one of many rock tragedy's.
Elvis Presley Enterprises IS Lisa Marie Presley.
Robert FX Sillerman owns the rights to control Elvis' name and likeness. ... AMERICAN IDOL creator SIMON FULLER is taking charge of ELVIS PRESLEY's,,,
http://www.elvisinfonet.com/saleofestate_archives.html
"You mean I can't do this anymore?"
In 2004 Lisa Marie sold 85% of Elvis Presley Enterprises to Robert FX Sillerman for $100 million.
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