MEMPHIS, TENN. — Janesville’s Jesse
Aron stood across the street from Graceland on Monday still in shock
from his big weekend win in the annual Images of the King World
Championship Contest.
“I can’t believe it,” he said, over and over. “I’m on cloud nine.”
Aron won top spot in the longest-running competition for Elvis
tribute artists, an accomplishment he has been trying to achieve for
six years.
“I finally won,” he said, with the sounds of traffic and voices in
the background, as he spoke by phone from Memphis, Tenn., where the
international competition takes place.
One of the most difficult of Elvis contests, the event began in 1987.
“We have been going strong ever since,” says contest owner Bobbie Hoover. “We are known worldwide.”
She called winning “a big deal. If Jesse promotes himself the right way, it can be lucrative for him.”
Past winners have received movie and sitcom offers as well as invitations to perform at large corporate functions.
Aron was the top tribute artist of about 80 from the United States, Canada and Europe.
“Jesse has an awesome voice,” Hoover says. “His voice was superior
to all the others. He also has a great look, and he represents Elvis
with dignity and honor. He just had the right package.”
Aron wept on stage when learning of his award.
“People came up to him and said it has been a long time in coming,” Hoover says. “It was very fun and very emotional.”
Aron receives $2,000; a $1,000 gift certificate to B&K
Enterprises, which sews jumpsuits for Elvis tribute artists; and the
right to tour in Europe and Japan with past winners.
“This is definitely one competition a guy wants to get under his belt,” Aron said.
He sang four songs, which ended with an old-time gospel, “How Great
Thou Art.” Aron does not think his selection of music put him over the
top.
“Everyone thought I was more relaxed,” he said. “I was more personable with my audience. I partied with them all week.”
During Elvis Week, Aug. 8-16, people came from all over the world to
Memphis to celebrate the life and times of Elvis Presley. Elvis died in
Memphis on Aug. 16, 1977, at his Graceland mansion.
Next year, Aron wants to enter another big-time Elvis contest.
Sponsored by Graceland, the competition comes with a $25,000 purse.
He credited his wife, Tarie, when he captured the King World
Championship on Saturday night. The two often work together, when she
joins him on stage as Marilyn Monroe.
Aron left his job as a forklift driver in 2004 to be a fulltime
tribute artist. He has won many awards, and the Internet is full of
testimonials praising him as the next best thing to Elvis.
Aron once lip-synced an Elvis record in a talent competition
while still in high school. He graduated from Craig in 1993.
To all those who once tormented him because of his bouffant hair and
desire to pay tribute to the King of Rock ‘n Roll, he has a message:
“Don’t judge a book by its cover. You never know who that person will turn out to be.”