Some of the nicest people I've met are Elvis. And some of the most fascinating.

There has always been something about the whole Elvis subculture that grew up after he died that fascinates me. I love the velvet paintings, the campy souvenirs, and most of all the impersonators.

It's not that there are so many of them. It is that while some of the impersonators look exactly like Elvis Presley, other couldn't look less like him, or even sound like him. Yet all these entertainers earn a living paying tribute to the same man, Elvis Presley. The variety is astounding.

I have interviewed many different types of Elvis entertainers in preparation for a new book I am writing tentatively called "The Hall of Kings". It is this variety I am focusing on.

To wet your appetite here are a few of the more interesting Elvi I have found.

Enid Butler wears a wig, a sequined jumpsuit, and hands out scarves to the audience just like other impersonators. But this Elvis is a woman living in Whitby, England who sounds remarkably like Elvis Presley. Last summer she beat 45 male performers to win the "Spirit of Elvis" award at Elvis Fest 2000 in Ontario, Canada. She has a delightful sense of humor and would like nothing more than "to live the American Dream".

Renelvis lives and performs in the Charlotte, NC area. Originally born in the Philippines, he looks nothing like Elvis. When he sings you can often be convinced that you are listening to the real thing. Renelvis likes to write his own songs in the style of Elvis. The money he makes from his Elvis shows go toward the medical bills for his daughter who is autistic and has Downs Syndrome.

Miss Cybelvis Monroe is an original. Picture Marilyn Monroe impersonating Elvis Presley with accordion backup. The two sex symbols in one body give a very funny and delightful performance. Cybelvis has been entertaining the Portland, OR area for many years.

Some fans may believe artists like these are making a mockery of Elvis's memory. I couldn't disagree more. I believe they are keeping the memory of Elvis and the genre of the Elvis impersonator fresh and alive. Who wants to see a thousand copies of the same thing? I know I don't.

If you would like to learn more about these Elvi and over 30 more, including Gary Hill and Bill Lorge, check out my website at www.biboland.com.

Oh, and don't forget to buy the book, "The Hall of Kings". I'll let you know when it finally comes out.

If you haven't yet, read the the front page article.