Elvis Presley and his imitators - Terry Stafford +2

I think Ral Donner was the closest, with his Girl Of My Best Friend and You Don't Know What You've Got in 1961. Terry Stafford was another sound-alike, with Suspicion in 1963.
Ray Smith and Conway Twitty were not imitators but notice how these songs copy Elvis' style.

1) Elvis sings I Want You With Me on his 1961 Elvis For Everyone album.
2) Terry Stafford sings Playing With Fire on his Suspicion album. Another great Ben Weisman composition.
3) Ray Smith - I Guess I Better Move Along. a non-hit
4) Conway Twitty - Comfy 'n Cozy. 1962 non-hit in the style of Good Luck Charm. Written by Otis Blackwell and Winfield Scott.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Elvis
• Presley
• rock
• 1960s
• Twitty
• oldies

[goldfinger1003]

Ray Smith id the only one who really sounds like Elvis.

[GeoSilverAway]

Unfortunately I don't have a good source for Playing With Fire. It should sound better.

[wfd57fatman]

I'm not so convinced that these performers were directly imitating one another. I believe it was more just the popular style of entertainment for their time. And Elvis happened to be the lucky one to make this style most popular. Elements of this music go way back before any of these guys. It's a combination of hill-billy western, black gospel, black folk blues, big band, and the once very popular Puerto Rican street look.

[GeoSilverAway]

Whether they were imitating or just sounded like imitations, they sounded similar. I think they were conscious of it when they recorded.

[maqsad1]

Didn't Terry Stafford write Suspicion before Elvis sang it?

[GeoSilverAway]

No it was written by Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman, and Elvis first had it on his 1962 LP "Potluck". Early 1964 came Terry. Later in 64 RCA released two of the Potluck songs on a 45 - this and Kiss Me Quick. All of these were great.

[ELVISFREE1977]

None can campare to ELVIS PRESLEY he was that UNIQUE

[Cordeiro757]

@thumper549 Yes, he took so many things from Chuck Berry. But he was also copied by Michael Jackson, who used the Breack Dance, and Elvis body expressions. Elvis is still the singer who was more copied ever. There are thousands of singers trying to be like the King, but there was one, and only King...

[countrydude03]

@stancupz wrong

[countrydude03]

@xxVenusianArtistxx Terry had girl singers to sing Suspicion. Elvis sang Suspicion. Elvis was hella alot better. plus Elvis can sing without impersonatin anybody. God's voice

[countrydude03]

@maqsad1 no, google it if ya wanna know

[ElvisPresleyLand]

Genuine THANK YOU for video and "description" info. This is why we are here at YouTube, to discuss and share. I appreciate some of what ETAs do; but, admiration for Elvis is sort of like why I drink CocaCola exclusively rather than just any soda ..... it is THE REAL THING ..... Many fellas have tried to imitate "the Elvis sound" and some come close ..... BUT NOBODY, NOBODY, can imitate what Elvis had IN HIS GUT which made him unique and stand alone with "reaching" souls.

[ElvisPresleyLand]

@carmellabe Just wanted to give you an honest and sincere "finish" to your comment. THEY thought whatever they did would generate sales ..... THEY did not have "IT." Elvis Presley has "IT" in great abundance. THEY sold a few records ..... after Elvis sang their songs. Elvis was criticized, even death threats, for how he moved to the music. FOOLISH HATRED AND JEALOUSLY ..... Elvis simply "moved as everybody did AT HIS CHURCH, because they were filled with HOLY SPIRIT, and oh yes, the music.

[GSMovieMemories]

@carmellabe Interestingly, Conway started in Country in the mid-50s. He had a #1 Country hit in 1955. I'll have to look into that more. There's a lot of stuff at iTunes that needs to be figured out.

[carmellabe]

EVERY ARTIST IS INFLUANCE BY OTHER SONGS, PEOPLE IN THE MUSIC FIELD,RADIO, TV, MOMS, DADS, FRIENDS FROM CHURCH SCHOOLS.IT JUST HAPPENS. ELVIS, CHUCK BERRY,LITTLE RICHARD,BILLY HALEY ALL HAD THEIR STYLE AND PRESENTING IT TO THE PLUBIC THE WAY THEY THOUGHT WOULD GENERATE RECORD SALES..

[carmellabe]

CONWAY STARTED IN ROCK AND ENDED UP IN COUNTRY BIG TIME.

[nicktesla45]

Heyyy Sometimes it's just co-incidence that some singers sound very much alike !! Example : I have been told that I sound a lot like Julio Iglesias when I sing BUT the fact is that I have had this style years before Julio was even discovered , So I say ---> No !! I don't sound like Julio , Julio Sounds like ME !! ------------> Angel

[JAARNO88]

@thumper549 there isnt an entertainer in this world who didnt benifit from those who went before them! but what matters is ,did they bring something of their own to the world, and elvis certainly did. If elvis had just been another wanna be copycat, then he wouldnt have been remembered they way he is. Elvis is gonna be around for a long,long time.