Kjell Elvis
Encyclopedia
Kjell Henning Bjørnestad (known as Kjell Elvis or K. Elvis) (born March 12, 1968), is a Norwegian
professional Elvis impersonator
: He is an Elvis look alike and has had plastic surgery to look more like 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 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. 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
.
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.
He broke the world record for singing Elvis hits, in August 2003, when he sang nonstop for 26 hours, four minutes and 40 seconds. The Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation also set a record for themselves, by streaming the whole 26 hour concert on their website.
He is also known for having supported his friend Vidar Kleppe
, a former MP
for the Progress Party
, and in 2001 stated that "if Elvis were alive, he would have voted for the Progress Party". In the same year however, Kleppe broke away from the party and formed the Southern Norway List
, which Kjell also joined and stood as a candidate himself, both unsuccessfully.
. In 1999 he came second in an unofficial European Championships of Elvis impersonators, that took place in Germany. He won the Nordic
Championships in 2001. He was named Europe
's beste Elvis-impersonator in 2006, and he came in third place at the World Championship for Elvis impersonators in 2006. In 2007, he was a finalist in The Ultimate Elvis Tribute Contest, arranged by Elvis Presley Enterprises
.
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
professional Elvis impersonator
Elvis impersonator
An Elvis impersonator is someone who impersonates or copies famed American musician Elvis Presley. Professional Elvis impersonators can work all over the world as entertainers, and such tribute acts are in great demand due to the unique iconic status of Elvis...
: He is an Elvis look alike and has had plastic surgery to look more like Elvis
Elvis Presley
Elvis Aaron Presley was one of the most popular American singers of the 20th century. A cultural icon, he is widely known by the single name Elvis. He is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King"....
. He is also a sound alike
Sound alike
A sound alike is a person who is able to use their voice to closely resemble that of another person.In western culture, sound alikes find work as impersonators on television comedy programmes portraying famous individuals.-See also:...
and has released a couple of albums with Elvis songs.
Kjell Elvis was born in Farsund
Farsund
is a town and municipality in the county of Vest-Agder, Norway.The town of Farsund was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838 , although already recognized as a trading center in 1795...
, was raised in Vanse
Vanse
Vanse is a town in Farsund municipality, Norway. Its population is 1,967 by January 1st 2008.The small town is notable for having several references to America due to the high number of inhabitants emigrating to the US from 1825 to 1975...
, and currently resides in Lyngdal
Lyngdal
is a municipality in Vest-Agder county, Norway. Lyngdal was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838 . Austad and Kvås were separated from Lyngdal on 1 January 1909 but they were again merged with Lyngdal on 1 January 1964, together with the area of Spangereid west of Lenesfjorden.It is a...
. While he was in the military
Norwegian Armed Forces
The Norwegian Armed Forces numbers about 23,000 personnel, including civilian employees. According to mobilisation plans , the strength during full mobilisation would be approximately 83,000 combatant personnel. Norway has mandatory military service for men and voluntary service for women...
in 1988, he started doing some Elvis impersonating. He has had plastic surgery
Plastic surgery
Plastic surgery is a medical specialty concerned with the correction or restoration of form and function. Though cosmetic or aesthetic surgery is the best-known kind of plastic surgery, most plastic surgery is not cosmetic: plastic surgery includes many types of reconstructive surgery, hand...
a number of times, to look more like his idol, Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley
Elvis Aaron Presley was one of the most popular American singers of the 20th century. A cultural icon, he is widely known by the single name Elvis. He is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King"....
, the first one in 1994. 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
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
and Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
.
He arranged an Elvis Festival in Kristiansand
Kristiansand
-History:As indicated by archeological findings in the city, the Kristiansand area has been settled at least since 400 AD. A royal farm is known to have been situated on Oddernes as early as 800, and the first church was built around 1040...
in Norway in 2001, but it was not an economic success. He arranged a new festival in Oslo
Oslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
in 2002. He is (per August 2003) the only full time professional Elvis impersonator in Skandinavia.
He broke the world record for singing Elvis hits, in August 2003, when he sang nonstop for 26 hours, four minutes and 40 seconds. The Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation also set a record for themselves, by streaming the whole 26 hour concert on their website.
He is also known for having supported his friend Vidar Kleppe
Vidar Kleppe
Vidar Sveinung Kleppe is a Norwegian politician. He was a Member of Parliament and deputy chairman of the Progress Party until being suspended and left the party in 2001...
, a former MP
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
for the Progress Party
Progress Party (Norway)
The Progress Party is a political party in Norway which identifies as conservative liberal and libertarian. The media has described it as conservative and right-wing populist...
, and in 2001 stated that "if Elvis were alive, he would have voted for the Progress Party". In the same year however, Kleppe broke away from the party and formed the Southern Norway List
County lists for the Norwegian parliamentary election, 2001
The county lists for the Norwegian parliamentary election, 2001 was a group of nine political lists, or parties, which under different names ran for the 2001 parliamentary election in Norway...
, which Kjell also joined and stood as a candidate himself, both unsuccessfully.
Awards and nominations
In 1997, he came in sixth place in an Elvis competition in the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. In 1999 he came second in an unofficial European Championships of Elvis impersonators, that took place in Germany. He won the Nordic
Nordic countries
The Nordic countries make up a region in Northern Europe and the North Atlantic which consists of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden and their associated territories, the Faroe Islands, Greenland and Åland...
Championships in 2001. He was named Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
's beste Elvis-impersonator in 2006, and he came in third place at the World Championship for Elvis impersonators in 2006. In 2007, he was a finalist in The Ultimate Elvis Tribute Contest, arranged by Elvis Presley Enterprises
Elvis Presley Enterprises
Elvis Presley Enterprises, Inc. is a corporate entity created by "The Elvis Presley Trust" to conduct business and manage its assets, including Graceland...
.
External links
- Official website
- K. Elvis on MySpaceMySpaceMyspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....