Velvet Elvis

A Velvet Elvis is a painting of Elvis Presley on velvet. It is sometimes known as a Velvis, which is a portmanteau originally coined in 1984 by David Knechel. It is typically a costumed torso of Elvis holding a microphone, painted on black, navy blue, red or purple velvet. This iconic velvet painting is considered an archtypical example of kitsch.

A brief history of black velvet paintings is presented by Pamela Liflander in Black Velvet Artist, a booklet published by Running Press, Philadelphia in 2003, and included in an art kit by the same name. Liflander also details the life of Edgar Leeteg, "the father of American black velvet kitsch," whose "raucous and bawdy" life was previously captured by James Michener in Rascals in Paradise (1957).

Velvet was a popular medium for artists on the streets of Tijuana, reaching a height of popularity in the 1970s.^[1]

Cultural references

Lists of miscellaneous information should be avoided. Please relocate any relevant information into appropriate sections or articles. (November 2007)

• An entire level of the video game Psychonauts, known as Black Velvetopia, is dedicated to such velvet paintings.
• In the PC Game Fallout, a Velvet Elvis portrait can be found in the crashed UFO encounter, on the alien skeleton that had the blaster.
• "Weird Al" Yankovic recorded "Velvet Elvis", a whimsical ode to such a painting. The song is a pastiche of the musical style of The Police.
• "Velvet Elvis" is the name of a synth band from the 80's.
• "The Velvet Elvis" is the former name of a bar in Savannah, Georgia located at 127 West Congress St. It is now known as The Jinx.
• "Velvet Elvis" is the name of an 1980s rock group based in Lexington, Kentucky. The group originally consisted of Dan Trisko (guitar, vocals), John Clark (bass, vocals), Sherri McGee (drums, vocals) and Doug Carman (keyboards, guitar, vocals). Scott Stoess (bass, vocals) and Jeff Yurkowski (keyboards, vocals) later replaced Clark and Carman. Velvet Elvis released two self-produced albums in addition to one for Enigma Records that was produced by Mitch Easter.
• Velvet Elvis is a book written by Rob Bell of Mars Hill Bible Church and published by Zondervan Publishing in 2005. Rob Bell was the lead singer of the colle-rock band _ton bundle in 1990 and wrote a song of the same title.
• Jonny Barber, known as "The Velvet Elvis", is an Elvis Tribute Artist based in Denver, Colorado, voted Colorado's Best Elvis by the Westword weekly.
• The Stray Cats song "Elvis On Velvet" makes reference to the intense commercialization of Elvis following his death, suggesting that 'The King' would find such items (particularly the paintings) disrespectful.
• The song "Black Velvet" by Alannah Myles is about Presley.
• Alan Jackson's song "Little Man" mentions a store selling velvet Elvis
• Switchfoot's song "Poparazzi" mentions velvet Elvis's being sold "on the 90210".
• The song "Sidewinder" by Lard contains the lyrics "Slither into town/In the velvet Elvis night"
• "The Velvet Elvis" is a bar and live music lounge located in Oshawa, Ontario.
• "Elvis" is a song by Sister Hazel about a Velvet Elvis
• "Velvet Elvis" is a song by Ralston Bowles about the painting.
• "Velvet Elvis" is a Roswell, Georgia rock 'n' roll band based voted Best Party Band by Willow Springs HOA.
• Hampshire College students have a tradition of a "Velvis" that is publicly displayed, stolen, and then re-displayed.
• The "Velvet Elvis" was a theater and all-ages music venue, founded by Deborah Crohn and Phillip Endicott, located in Seattle's historic Pioneer Square. The venue's awning can be found on display at Seattle's Experience Music Project near the famous Space Needle at the base of Queen Anne hill.
• Velvet Elvis is the name of a bar in Glasgow on Dumbarton Road, Partick.
• On an episode of the television series Pawn Stars Rick tells Chumlee He'd "Have a Velvet Elvis over his fireplace" after he buys a fake etching without Rick's permission.

References

http://www.enotes.com/hampshire-college-guide/traditions

1. ^ "The Rise and Fall of Velvet Elvis". OJR. http://www.ojr.org/ojr/spike/1040196203.php. Retrieved 2006-05-23. 

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