Kjell Elvis: Difference between revisions

| caption = Kjell Elvis in Stavanger2008

| alias = Kjell Elvis<br />K. Elvis

| labelwebsite = {{URL|elvis.no}}

'''Kjell Henning Bjørnestad''' (born 12 March 1968), known as '''Kjell Elvis''' (or '''K. Elvis''') (born March 12, 1968), is a [[Norway|Norwegian]] professional [[Elvis impersonator]]: He– is an Elvisa {{nowrap|[[look -alike]]}} and haswho had plastic surgery to look more like American rock 'n' roll musician [[Elvis Presley|Elvis]]. He is also a [[sound -alike]] and has released a couple of albums with Elvis songs.

Kjell Elvis was born in [[Farsund]], was raised in [[Vanse]], and currently resides in [[Lyngdal]]. While he was in the [[Norwegian Armed Forces|military]] in 1988, he started doing some Elvis impersonating. He has had [[plastic surgery]] a number of times, to look more like his idol, [[Elvis Presley]], the first one in 1994.<ref>[http://www.nrk.no/programmer/tv/styrk/3264578.html NRK: Bedre liv med plastikk-kirurgi?] ([[Norwegian language|Norwegian]]), [[Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation|NRK]]</ref><ref name="LeverSomElvis">[http://www.nrk.no/musikk/1.859488 Lever som Elvis] ([[Norwegian language|Norwegian]]), [[Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation|NRK]], 15 August 15, 2003</ref> In 1997, a media company of Norway, the [[Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation]], showed the documentary ''Kjell Elvis'', about his life as an impersonator. The documentary was also shown in [[Sweden]], [[Germany]] and [[Denmark]].<ref name="LeverSomElvis" />

He arranged an Elvis Festival in [[Kristiansand]] in Norway in 2001, but it was not an economic success. He arranged a new festival in [[Oslo]] in 2002. He is (per August 2003) the only full -time professional Elvis impersonator in [[Skandinavia]]Scandinavia.<ref name=LeverSomElvis />

He broke the world record for singing Elvis hits, in August 2003, when he sang nonstop for 26 hours, four minutes and 40 seconds.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/music/3170467.stm Elvis fan breaks singing record], [[BBC News]], 21 August 21, 2003</ref> The [[Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation]] also set a record for themselves, by streaming the whole 26 -hour concert on their website.<ref>[http://arkiv.na24.no/Nyhet/311664/Kjell+Elvis-rekord+fikk+internasjonal+oppmerksomhet.html Kjell Elvis-rekord fikk internasjonal oppmerksomhet]{{dead link|date=February 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} ([[Norwegian language|Norwegian]]), NA24, 27 August 27, 2003</ref>

HeKjell Elvis is also known for havinghis supportedsupport of his friend [[Vidar Kleppe]], a former [[Member of Parliament|MP]] for the [[Progress Party (Norway)|Progress Party]], and in 2001 stated that "if Elvis were alive, he would have voted for the Progress Party". InHe thewent sameon yearto however,support Kleppe broke away from the party and formedin the [[County lists for the 2001 Norwegian parliamentary election, 2001|Southern Norway List]], whichin Kjellthe also2001 joined and stood as a candidate himselfelection, both unsuccessfully.<ref>{{citenewscite news|url=http://www.nrk.no/musikk/1.859488|title=Lever som Elvis|work=NRK|first=Stian|last=Fjelldal|date=15 August 2003}}</ref> and subsequently Kleppe's [[Democrats in Norway|Democrats]] party.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.sfm.no/Arkiv-2009/Art-Jun-2009/070609.Demokratenes_landsmoete.htm|work=Samfunnsmagasinet|title=Kjell Elvis rocket på Demokratenes landsmøte|date=7 June 2009|location=Kristiansand|language=Norwegian|first=Jan|last=Hansen|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120402130941/http://www.sfm.no/Arkiv-2009/Art-Jun-2009/070609.Demokratenes_landsmoete.htm|archivedate=2 April 2012}}</ref><ref name=nsd2011>{{cite web|url=http://www.nsd.uib.no/polsys/index.cfm?urlname=&lan=&MenuItem=N1_3&ChildItem=&State=collapse&UttakNr=97&fylke=Vest-Agder&valgaar=2011&partikode=249|title=Fylkestingsvalget 2011: Valgliste for Demokratene i Vest-Agder|language=Norwegian|publisher=Norsk samfunnsvitenskapelig datatjeneste|accessdate=21 September 2011|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120603215501/http://www.nsd.uib.no/polsys/index.cfm?urlname=&lan=&MenuItem=N1_3&ChildItem=&State=collapse&UttakNr=97&fylke=Vest-Agder&valgaar=2011&partikode=249|archivedate=3 June 2012}}</ref> For the 2013 parliamentary election he however campaigned for the new [[The Christians (Norway)|The Christians]] party, citing his support for socially conservative Christian policies.<ref>[http://www.vl.no/samfunn/kjell-elvis-til-kamp-for-de-kristne-1.43987 "Kjell Elvis til kamp for De Kristne"], ''Vårt Land'', 9 August 2013</ref>

In 1997, he came in sixth place in an Elvis competition in the [[United States]]. In 1999 he came second in an unofficial European Championships of Elvis impersonators, that took place in Germany. He won the [[Nordic countries|Nordic]] Championships in 2001.<ref name=LeverSomElvis /> He was named [[Europe]]'s best Elvis-impersonator in 2006, and he came in third place at the World Championship for Elvis impersonators in 2006.<ref>[http://www.kpk.no/index.cgi?art=3431 Kjell Elvis på tredjeplass i verdensmesterskapet for Elvis-imitatorer] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060831112751/http://www.kpk.no/index.cgi?art=3431 |date=31 August 2006 }} ([[Norwegian language|Norwegian]]), Kristelig pressekontor</ref> In 2007, he was a finalist in ''The Ultimate Elvis Tribute Contest'', arranged by [[Elvis Presley Enterprises]].<ref>[http://www.aftenposten.no/kul_und/musikk/article1938061.ece Kjell Elvis til finalen] ([[Norwegian language|Norwegian]]), [[Aftenposten]], 16 August 16, 2007</ref><ref>[http://www.elvis.com/news/full_story.asp?id=1311 Elvis Presley Enterprises Announces Public Opportunity to Vote in Association with the First-Ever Official Elvis Tribute Artist Contest], [[Elvis Presley|Elvis.com]], [[USA Today|USAToday.com]], 15 August 15, 2007</ref>

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* [{{Official website|http://www.elvis.no/ Official website]}}