When JUSTIN SHANDOR  stepped onto the stage of the Orpheum Theater at the final phase of the competition for the title of “2010 Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist World Champion” – he stepped into the pages of ETA history!
      For history was made for him that day!  Being named the winner of this most prestigious Elvis competition is the ultimate achievement of an Elvis Tribute Artist.  It’s tantamount to winning an Oscar, or a Grammy, or being inducted into the yet unnamed ETA Hall of Fame!  
       To get to this coveted top spot, Justin had to win one of the preliminary rounds held around the world.  He won in the first-ever Las Vegas Ultimate ETA Preliminary Contest presented by Legends in Concert at the famous Freemont Street Experience.
       Las Vegas is where ELVIS PRESLEY made history himself!  Elvis’ longest running show was at the famous International Hotel and Casino, now the Hilton Hotel and Casino.  The “City of Neon Lights”, the “Entertainment Capital of the World”, is also “Elvis City” – because Elvis and Vegas are so closely linked together.  Whenever you make mention Vegas, Elvis comes to mind!   
       At the semi-finals held in Memphis, Tennessee, Justin competed with 23 other ETAs and was selected as one of the Top Ten finalists to compete in the Grand Finals.  During the first segment of the final competition, each performer sang two songs.  Justin mesmerized the crowd with his epic rendition of “How Great Thou Art” and “Unchained Melody.”
      After the intermission, he again made it to the Top Five!  This time, wearing a blue jumpsuit, he gave his all in his powerful version of “Polk Salad Annie” and won the big prize!  As the New Champion, Justin was awarded $20,000 and a contract to perform in the Legends in Concert Ultimate Elvis Tribute Tour.
      It’s no cause to wonder.  This young and very talented ETA can duplicate the amazing voice and electrifying moves of the King.  From the high, urgent and raging voice of the young Elvis, to the superb baritone and sensual trembling vibrato of the older Elvis – Justin can do it!
      And the way he moves!  This young ETA can really rock – legs shaking, arms swinging, hips swiveling – mesmerizing young and old alike.
      Women of all ages scream every time Justin shakes his legs and swivels his hips.  They are reminded, no doubt, of Elvis’ untrammeled machismo.  You hear from the audience these compliments:  “Outstanding!”; “Truly amazing!”; “Incredibly gifted!”
    Winning this competition calls for top talent and ability, and Justin is endowed with a lot.  Not only is he gifted with an enviable talent and ability, he also exudes personal and stage charisma.  And he has an uncanny resemblance to the King!
      How uncanny?  When Justin performed for a local casino in Washington, Graceland e-mailed the casino stating that they “could not use a real picture of Elvis to promote the show.”  However, the photo wasn’t that of Elvis at all – it was a picture of Justin!
       A few years back, U.S.A. Today featured Justin on its front page in its headline article entitled “Hunks of Burning Love Keeps His Memory Alive” together with a one-fourth page photo of Justin leaning out of the side window of a pink Cadillac.  Most of the readers who saw the photo thought it was the photo of the young Elvis!
      Justin also has the persistence to go for what he wants! It’s well proven that persistence pays time and again.
      Justin didn’t get very far in his first attempt in 2008, but he came pretty close in 2009.  This year (2010), he developed a strategy that was designed to appeal to the judges – a brilliant performance showcasing all the years of Elvis’ life.  The third time was the charm!  He got the title!
      JUSTIN SHANDOR can rightly be called the “Top Elvis Tribute Artist in the World” – a crowning achievement of any ETA.  For a year anyway!  Because immediately after 2010 Elvis Week ended, preliminary competitions immediately started, and will culminate in the 2011 Elvis Week when another World Champion will be crowned.
      Did you know that Justin got his very first gig when he was just 16?  And at his very first audition too!  After that audition, he landed a contract with Elvis-A-Rama in Las Vegas, performing 7-8 shows a day, 6 days a week, for over 2 years.  When Elvis-A-Rama closed its doors, Justin moved to bigger and better things.  
       Justin writes his own music, and he can play several kinds of musical instruments.  Yet with all his talent, ability and fame – Justin is still the way he was 10 years ago when he first started his performing career – humble, down-to-earth and devoid of airs.  I have known this young man over the years and he is a joy to watch and to talk to!
     In more ways than one, our new champ is like the champions of the past three years:  SHAWN KLUSH (2007), BRANDON BENNETT (2008), and BILL CHERRY (2009).  These three champions are now legends in the Elvis world.
      With Justin as 1st place winner, the other Top 5 winners in the 2010 Ultimate ETA contest are:  2nd place -- KEVIN MILLS of Cinnaminson, New Jersey, winner of the Tupelo Elvis Festival preliminary; 3rd place -- JAY DUPUIS of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, winner of the Silver Slipper Ultimate ETA Contest preliminary; 4th place -- VICTOR TREVINO, JR., winner of the Hollywood Casino Baton Rouge Ultimate ETA Contest; and 5th place -- MATT CORDELL, winner of Harrah’s Cherokee Ultimate ETA Contest.
       KEVIN MILLS sang “Suspicious Minds” and received $3,000, while JAY DUPOIS “You’ve Lost That Loving Feeling” and took home $2,000.

     Justin was originally from Chicago, then he moved to Las Vegas, then to Portland, Oregon, and now he is back in Vegas.  Las Vegas can again claim Justin as one of its own!
        He moved back to Vegas so he can expand his career.  Currently, Justin is performing in several ongoing shows that are featuring Elvis Tribute Artists while waiting for his upcoming but yet unnamed “Super Show” to start.  One of Justin’s as yet unfulfilled dreams is to do symphonies!
       In 2008, Justin performed in two Swedish tours with Elvis’ original keyboard player GLEN HARDING.  He also performed in several tours with Elvis’ original back-up quartet, “The Jordanaires.”  In August of the same year, he performed for 20,000 people at the “Back to the 50s Cruise In” in Grants Pass, Oregon.
       In November of 2009, Justin drew a crowd of over 100,000 people in 17 theater shows in Australia.  He has performed all over the United States, Canada, Sweden, England, and Fiji.
     Justin attributes his ongoing success first of all to the Lord, next to his very beautiful and supportive wife, JANELLE, and last but not least to his manager for the past ten years – West Coast Producer JAMIE GOETZ of Jamie’s Rock and Roll Legends.  Justin can be contacted through Jamie’s website:  www.jamieslegends.com or by calling Jamie’s number (503) 703-8655.
       The ETAs who made it to the Top 10 were (in no particular order):  CODY SLAUGHTER of Arkansas, winner of the Last Chance ETA Contest at the Memphis Hard Rock Café; STEPHEN FREEMAN, a former police officer and detective, winner of the Fans’ Choice Poll; KEVIN MILLS, who made 3rd place in the 2009 Ultimate ETA contest, winner of the Tupelo Elvis Festival; DWIGHT ICENHOWER of Ohio, winner of the Pechanga Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest; VICTOR TREVINO, JR., winner of the Hollywood Casino Baton Rogue Ultimate ETA Contest; DANNY VERNON, winner of the Chinook Winds Casino Ultimate ETA Contest; TIM HENDRY of Ontario, Canada, winner of the Collingwood Elvis Festival; MATT CORDELL of southwest Tennessee, winner of Harrah’s Cherokee Ultimate ETA Contest; JUSTIN SHANDOR, winner of the Las Vegas Ultimate ETA Contest; and JAY DUPUIS of Baton Rogue, Louisiana, winner of the Silver Slipper Ultimate ETA Contest.
      The thirteen other ETAs who competed in the 2010 Elvis Week were:  EDDIE MILES, TED TORRES, YUICHI TATSUMI, JAY ZANIER, PAUL FENECH, GINO MONOPOLI, RICK LENZI, ERIC “ERock” HAWS, MARK ANTHONY, VINCE KING, TODD BODENHEIMER, CHRIS AYOTE and JIM BARONE. -Zena     XXX

By ZENA SULTANA

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