Elvis Presley Birthday: How The King Of Rock N'Roll Spawned An Industry Of Impersonators (PICTURES)

How The King Of Rock N'Roll Spawned An Industry Of Impersonators (PICTURES)
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Had he lived, today would have been the 78th birthday of Elvis Presley.

Despite his early death in 1977, the king of rock n' roll's legacy lives n - not least in a booming market of impersonators.

This weekend, Birmingham hosted the European Elvis Championships - a competition which is, according to its website, "often copied, but never equalled". Not unlike the great man himself, of course.

From tiny hound dogs (hound puppies?) to great big hunks (o' love), check out some of the contestants and more in our slideshow of pictures from the championships...

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European Elvis Championships
European Elvis Championships - Birmingham(01 of18)
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John Paul Melling aged 6 alias Johnny B Goode from Billinge, waits to perform during the under-14 European Elvis Championships at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole hotel, Birmingham. (credit:PA)
European Elvis Championships - Birmingham(02 of18)
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Elvis tribute artist Pat Bryne poses for pictures as he waits to perform during the European Elvis Championships in Birmingham, central England, on January 6, 2013. The championship brings Elvis fans and tribute artists from around the world to celebrate the King of Rock and Roll around his birthday on January 8. AFP PHOTO/BEN STANSALL (Photo credit should read BEN STANSALL/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
European Elvis Championships - Birmingham(03 of18)
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Elvis tribute artists Carl Ryder (left) from Birmingham and Steve Storm from Manchester pose as they wait to perform during the final of the European Elvis Championships at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole hotel, Birmingham. (credit:PA)
European Elvis Championships - Birmingham(04 of18)
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Elvis tribute artist Micky Vegas poses for pictures as he waits to perform during the European Elvis Championships in Birmingham, central England, on January 6, 2013. The championship brings Elvis fans and tribute artists from around the world to celebrate the King of Rock and Roll around his birthday on January 8. AFP PHOTO/BEN STANSALL (Photo credit should read BEN STANSALL/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
European Elvis Championships - Birmingham(05 of18)
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Elvis tribute singer Ben Thompson performs during the European Elvis Championships in Birmingham, central England, on January 6, 2013. The championship brings Elvis fans and tribute artists from around the world to celebrate the King of Rock and Roll around his birthday on January 8. AFP PHOTO/BEN STANSALL (Photo credit should read BEN STANSALL/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
European Elvis Championships - Birmingham(06 of18)
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Andrejus Rascinski, aged nine, from Birmingham, waits to perform during the under-14 European Elvis Championships at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole hotel, Birmingham. (credit:PA)
European Elvis Championships - Birmingham(07 of18)
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(Left - right) Elvis tribute artists Patrick Byrne from Essex, Nicky Vegas from Hinckley and Andy Wood from Leeds pose as they wait to perform during the final of the European Elvis Championships at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole hotel, Birmingham. (credit:PA)
European Elvis Championships - Birmingham(08 of18)
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Elvis tribute artist Carl Ryder from Birmingham performs during the final of the European Elvis Championships at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole hotel, Birmingham. (credit:PA)
European Elvis Championships - Birmingham(09 of18)
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Elvis tribute artists Patrick Byrne from Essex looks at his reflection in a mirror before performing during the final of the European Elvis Championships at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole hotel, Birmingham. (credit:PA)
European Elvis Championships - Birmingham(10 of18)
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Elvis tribute artists Carl Ryder from Birmingham and Steve Storm (right) from Manchester make final adjustments to their costumes in front of a mirror as they wait to perform during the final of the European Elvis Championships at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole hotel, Birmingham. (credit:PA)
European Elvis Championships - Birmingham(11 of18)
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Nicky Vegas from Hinckley on his way to perform during the final of the European Elvis Championships at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole hotel, Birmingham. (credit:PA)
European Elvis Championships - Birmingham(12 of18)
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Elvis tribute artist Pat Bryne poses for pictures as he waits to perform during the European Elvis Championships in Birmingham, central England, on January 6, 2013. The championship brings Elvis fans and tribute artists from around the world to celebrate the King of Rock and Roll around his birthday on January 8. AFP PHOTO/BEN STANSALL (Photo credit should read BEN STANSALL/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
European Elvis Championships - Birmingham(13 of18)
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Andrejus Rascinski, aged nine, from Birmingham, waits to perform during the under-14 European Elvis Championships at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole hotel, Birmingham. (credit:PA)
European Elvis Championships - Birmingham(14 of18)
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(Left - right) Elvis tribute artists Patrick Byrne from Essex, Nicky Vegas from Hinckley and Andy Wood from Leeds pose as they wait to perform during the final of the European Elvis Championships at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole hotel, Birmingham. (credit:PA)
European Elvis Championships - Birmingham(15 of18)
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Elvis tribute artist Fisher Stevens performs during the final of the European Elvis Championships at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole hotel, Birmingham. (credit:PA)
European Elvis Championships - Birmingham(16 of18)
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A memorabilia stall at the European Elvis Championships at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole hotel, Birmingham. (credit:PA)
European Elvis Championships - Birmingham(17 of18)
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A memorabilia stall at the European Elvis Championships at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole hotel, Birmingham. (credit:PA)
European Elvis Championships - Birmingham(18 of18)
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A memorabilia stall at the European Elvis Championships at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole hotel, Birmingham. (credit:PA)