Sometimes it seems as if there is another Elvis impersonator around every corner in Memphis Tennessee. That is, of course, the hometown of the real Elvis Presley, who bought Graceland for his mother all those years ago. For years people have claimed the ghost of the singer is seen walking through the mansion late at night.

These famous gates are decorated with musical notes and during his lifetime the king would walk down and talk to fans who had gathered there. His humble beginnings led him to appreciate the fans who made him rich and famous. Each year on the anniversary of his death fans gather at those gates and hold a candlelight vigil in his honor.

His popularity lives on through a hundred and one impersonators in Memphis and all around the country. Las Vegas has so many. In one episode of the television show, The Golden Girls, a dozen of them appeared at a wedding. There have been movies in which a group of imitators, called the Flying Elvises, all garbed in white jumpsuits, sky dived out of an airplane to land in Las Vegas.

Elvis lookalikes are hired for all sorts of performances. They have been around since the mid 1950s when Elvis began his rise to popularity. The first was a boy named Jim Smith. At the age of 16 in 1956, he used to jump up on stage right along with the real Elvis and imitate him.

After the king passed away, impersonators started appearing all over. This singer and entertainer will never be forgotten. Grandmothers who grew up listening to his songs taught their daughters to be fans and the daughters taught their daughters. Generations brought new fans over the years.

One Academy Award winning movie, Forest Gump, had Kurt Russell performing as an impersonator of Elvis. The parachuting troupe called the Flying Elvises parachutes to the ground at outdoor shows wearing the traditional white jumpsuits all decorated with rhinestones.

There is a little joke that makes the rounds from time to time. Presley once entered an Elvis look-alike contest held in a Memphis restaurant. The newspaper article that started it all, published the news that he came in third. It was a funny joke, however, some people took it to be the truth.

His records were all hits and there is an entire hall at Graceland displaying gold and platinum awards. There are female imitators, young kid imitators and those who imitate him all over the world. He is as loved now as he was when alive. Some consider him to be God-like and pray at his grave at Graceland.

A professional Presley tribute artist is available for hire. He will sing in the Kings style, put on a stage show, or simply make an appearance for the right price. He makes a good living at this.

The impersonators are so prolifick that it is considered a separate branch of the entertainment industry. Contests to judge the Elvis impersonator are held routinely. In addition to his admirers there are comedians who take an act on the road performing a parody based on him and his life.