2012 Ultimate ETA Winners. The preliminary winners from around the world have been picked and are ready to head to Memphis, Tennessee for Elvis Week to attempt to win their shot at being crowned “King” of the Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artists of 2012 at the final show down at the Hard Rock Café.
The prelim winners are:
Jerome Jackson. Winner of the Tampa Elvis Festival. He discovered Elvis at the young age of eight-years-old and started singing at 13. He currently works in the broadcast industry.
William Stiles. Won the Harrah’s Cherokee Ultimate ETA Preliminary. Hailing from Memphis himself and coming from a musical family, it was a natural fit for him to emulate the King.
Elias Jamhour. This Sydney native has loved Elvis since the age of five. He began as a tribute artist at his brother’s wedding singing. He has been going strong for the last seven years.
Kevin Mills. Won his spot at the Myrtle Beach Ultimate ETA preliminary. He enjoys the challenge of emulating the King from many genres which he’s been trying to perfect since he was a teen.
Eli Williams. This Canadian won his spot at the Penticton Elvis Festival. He’s been a tribute artist since graduating from high school. He has been lucky enough to have a mentor who has been a tribute artist who still encourages and teaches him to this day.
Garry Wesley. Winner of the Diamond Jo Casino Elvis Weekend, he’s been a life long fan and has been a tribute artist since 1980.
Cliff Wright. Winner of the Rockin’ Elvis Fest at Oneida Casino, is a self-taught musician since age eight. His Elvis influence comes from seeing “Elvis 56.”
Jim Barrone. East coast Elvis at its best, Jim won his victory at the Atlantic City Ultimate ETA Contest. He has been in musical theatre since his teen years so performing as Elvis came natural to him.
Tyler Hunter. From the birthplace of Elvis, Tyler won the prelims at the Tupelo Elvis Festival. After attending an Elvis tribute show when he was 13, he became hooked.
Dwight Icenhower. Ohio native who won the Lake George Elvis Festival. His tribute began singing karaoke at age 16 and has been a professional tribute artist since.
Matt Cordell. The Memphis in May Ultimate ETA Contest brought forth this Tennessee native to the forefront who has been performing as the King for more than 15 years. All that “practice” has paid off.
Victor Trevino Jr. Deep in the heart of Texas, this tribute artist won his spot in Las Vegas at the Legends in Concert ETA Contest. Having been a veteran of musical theatre, playing the King was a natural thing for him.
Jay Dupis. Baton Rouge native got all shook up and won his spot at the Philidelphia Elvis Fest. He’s been a huge fan of Elvis since the age of three.
Sean Spiteri. Another Aussie dons the jumpsuit from the Ultimate ETA in Melbourne, Australia. Influenced heavily by his parents who were big Elvis fans and got him started after watch the 68 comeback special.
Tim Hendry. Another winner from the great white north, Tim won his prelim spot at the Toronto Elvis Festival. He’s a professional musician of more than 20 years and began as a tribute artist in 2003.
Bobby Simkins. From the heart of entertainment, this truck driver was qualified at the Branson Elvis Festival in Missouri. A recent tribute artist, he has become more serious about his craft.
Adam Fitzpatrick. Winner of the Rockin Elvis Fest at Pala Casino, this Canadian was entered into an ETA contest by a friend without his knowledge. Since then, he’s been swiveling his hips in tribute to the King.
Charlie Nieshio. From Osaka, Japan; Charlie has been singing professionally for 25 years counting his biggest influence as Elvis Presley. He won his spot at the Third Look for Japanese Elvis Ultimatel ETA. He dedicates his performance this year to the victims of the 2011 Japan earthquake.
Paul Fenech. Another Elvi from Sydney. This veteran tribute artist of 15 years is also a martial arts instructor. This is his second run in the Ultimate ETA Contest.
David Lee. David won the Fill the Blue Suede Shoes Ultimate ETA contest at the beginning of the year. He is a soulful singer and brings that passion into each performance.
Stephen Freeman. Freeman won his spot on the high seas at the King of the Cruise Contest on the 2012 Elvis Cruise. He’s a former police officer and has been performing as Elvis since 1998.
Damian Mullin. Another from down under, Damian won at the Surfers Paradise Elvis Birthday Bash in Melbourne, Australia. He left a lucrative sales career to become a professional tribute artist.
Mark Anthony. Originally from Australia, Mark has traveled the globe performing as the King. He won his spot at the Pocono Mountains Elvis Festival.
Ted Torres. This multi-talented singer/songwriter, musician and actor won himself a spot at the Elvis Fantasy Fest in Florida.
Jesse Aron. This Midwest boy is from Janesville, Wisconsin. He won his spot at the Rockin’ E Jamboree. He’s been performing as “E” since 1998 and also does a tribute to Roy Orbison.
Rick Huntress. From the New England Elvis Festival, this Massachusetts native has always been known as “The Elvis Guy” all throughout high school. He’s been singing “Burning Love” since age two.
Matt Dowsett. The Tweed Tribute to Elvis Festival held in Canada brought forth our final preliminary winner. He has been an avid fan of Elvis movies, performances and music from a very young age.
Good luck to all the preliminary winners as they shake, rattle and roll at the Hard Rock Café in Memphis, Tennessee for the 2012 Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Semi-finals.