After his army days, Kjell started training to be an auto mechanic and then spent 5 years working in a factory but says he found it very boring. That was when he decided to become a full-time professional entertainer – and he’s never regretted his decision.
In 1996, after he’d spent 8 years working throughout Europe, a TV crew approached Kjell and asked if they could “follow” him. They followed him for 3 years --through Europe, Norway and to his first contest in Memphis. The documentary was later shown throughout Europe and he became “an overnight success.”
Kjell says it hasn’t been easy being an ETA in Norway. It’s been a long, hard struggle and that he is the only one making a living imitating just one person in Norway.
Kjell says also that it was big moment in his career when he became the 2006 Grand Champion at last January’s “Walk a Golden Mile in My Shoes” contest in Blackpool, UK winning over “50 good impersonators.”
He stresses that if you really want something and if you want to reach the top, you can do it, although it may take a while. You need to be humble in your soul, and be willing to listen to constructive criticism. He says this is how he’s lived his life --learning to sing better, listening to good advice, and listening to his voice.
Kejll says he is ready to take the next big step. He now has good contacts now in Las Vegas and in California and plans to take his show to the next level, adding that he has worked all his life for this and is focused now on heading for the top.
Regarding contests, he says it’s always fun to compete – it’s nice to meet other ETAs and, of course, to sell his Golden Voice backing tracks.
Speaking of which!
Kjell’s new l969 Live! At The International Hotel, Las Vegas, Nevada CD is, as Joanna states, “absolutely stupendous,” “incredible,” “authentic,” “gives goose bumps” and most certainly equals the quality of his previous highly acclaimed Aloha from Hawaii CD.
Norway’s Elvis
&
President and Founder of
Golden Voice Professional Tracks of the King
This month’s live interview is with Kjell Bjornestad -- Norway’s Elvis, award-winning ETA, and president and founder of Golden Voice Professional Tracks of the King..
Speaking in English all the way from Norway, Kjell tells us that speaking English with a bit of an American accent came from listening to Elvis Presley speak as he grew up. And, as Joanna says, what a compliment that is to Elvis and to Americans!
Kjell first became aware of Elvis at age 6 when he was watching “Love Me Tender” on TV. He was struck by the effect Elvis had on his mother and her friends, by Elvis’ look, and everything about Elvis.
As he grew up, Kjell sang in churches with his family; Christian and gospel music was a family favourite. It was when he was in the Norwegian army, at age l9, that his ETA career really started. He was out one night with his buddies in a restaurant when he noticed a guitar on the wall – he jumped up onto a table with the guitar, and started singing Jailhouse Rock. The owner of the restaurant was so impressed he invited Kjell back to sing again, and Kjell says he decided then that this was what he wanted to do --to sing and entertain -- adding that he has always felt comfortable on the stage and that he is an entertainer by nature. He adds that it didn’t hurt that ,even in his army days, he was always told he looked a lot like Elvis.
He states that on stage an ETA needs “magic” – the look helps, along with charisma and how you act on stage. He says that one can listen to an ETA with a very good singing voice, but without the rest of the act the show can be very boring. Kjell says 50% is how you act and look on stage.
