More than 20 Elvis impersonators participated in the contest, including from the Philippines, Japan, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia and Australia.

Eddie Lombardo, representing Australia, told the Associated Press news agency why he thought Elvis is still relevant 40 years after his death: "So we try to keep the name of Elvis alive .... we're not trying to duplicate Elvis because nobody can 'be' Elvis. There's only one Elvis, you know? And what we're trying to [do is] bring the memory of Elvis back to people."

Elvis impersonator Jega Theesan is a civil servant and father of four back in Singapore. On stage, he belts out Elvis classics with a bejeweled red jumpsuit and sunglasses.

Jun Espinosa (center) of the Philippines won first place at the first Elvis of Asia singing contest for his rendition of "Burning Love." First prize included a trip to the Elvis mansion in Graceland, Tennessee, in the US. "His music is timeless. Every generation can enjoy his music because it's so natural and it's so awesome and great. That's king Elvis," Espinosa said.

Jun Espinosa of the Philippines performs the rendition of "Burning Love" that won him the championship.

Japan's Yukihiro Nishijima sang "You gave me a mountain." He said impersonating Elvis is incredibly difficult. "Probably more difficult than any other artist because he has a 'rainbow voice' meaning he has seven different voices. Anyone who is a singer would know this," he said.

Elvis impersonator Bongo Jaim Lim of Malaysia points to the crowd as he performs in the finals.

In business since 1980, the costume manufacturer B&K from Charlestown in the US state of Indiana creates Elvis Presley's original design jumpsuits for Elvis tribute artists, fans and collectors. B&K is the only company licensed to do so by the former designers of Presley's original costumes, Bill Belew and Gene Doucette.

One legend runs that Elvis adopted the jumpsuit after he split his pants on stage. Whatever the reason, however, it became an iconic garment. B&K has a 14-to-16-week turnaround for orders. They also do country and western music apparel, but Elvis' jumpsuits are still what people want most.

Some impersonators claim that every time they slip on a replica of one of Elvis' jumpsuits, the King indeed is very much alive. Whether the garments are flattering to every figure is something for everyone to decide for themselves.

The owner of B&K, Butch Polston, punches rhinestones into a belt. Polston himself has never possessed one of the King's costumes. But one can always keep dreaming ...

Polston's wife Kim fits Elvis tribute artist Dave Stovall for a new jumpsuit. Butch Polston has been an Elvis fan all his life. When the music legend died in 1977, Polston tried to collect memorabilia and found out that the prices for costumes were too high to afford ...

... so he started his own business, creating mainly costumes that Presley wore in his "jumpsuit era." Long live the King!