Scott is competing in the Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest, sponsored by Elvis Presley Enterprises. “Elvis Week” always falls on the week Presley died in 1977.
“It’s a pretty tough competition with a lot of marquee players. That’s one seal of approval everybody vies for,” he said.
Scott had not made the cut at a qualifying round at the Hollywood Casino in Lawrenceburg, Ind., in late July.
Even so, Scott still has another shot with the last-chance qualifying round at the Hard Rock Cafe in Memphis. The final part of that competition is today, Aug. 9.
Whoever wins this round will compete in the semifinals, and will potentially win official recognition by Elvis Presley Enterprises and a cash prize of $20,000.
Although Scott came up short last month, he has competed in a number of Elvis contests and knows how unpredictable they can be.
“You never know how it’s going to go. It’ll be young Elvis and old Elvis all against each other. A guy can win a competition, and two weeks later, finish second to last. It’s anybody’s ballgame,” he said.
He plans to sing “My Way,” “How Great Thou Art” and “The Wonder of You” — provided none of the other 21 competitors has played them. No songs are allowed to repeat.
Even if Scott doesn’t come through in the contest, he’ll keep a philosophical outlook.
“Even though Chris Daughtry didn’t win ‘American Idol,’ look what he’s gone on to do in his singing career,” Scott noted.
He has a number of local fans, including retired judge Anthony Valen of Middletown, who recruited Scott to perform at fundraisers for the Veterans Memorial Scholarship Fund.
“He put on a finale that was so patriotic it had people crying in the audience,” Valen said.
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