Al Dvorin
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Al Dvorin (c.1923 - August 22, 2004) was the announcer who during an Elvis Presley concert in the 1970s coined the famous phrase "Ladies and gentlemen, Elvis has left the building. Thank you and goodnight.".
While working as a talent scout in Chicago in 1955, Dvorin met Elvis through his friend Colonel Tom Parker, who was Elvis' manager. He organised his tours for 22 years, including the final tour in 1977. After Elvis' death on August 16, 1977 he kept a low profile and did not attend conventions because he did not want fans to think he was cashing in on Elvis' death. He began attending conventions only after Colonel Parker died.
The Elvis Empire, run by Lisa Marie Presley, never gave him any royalties from recordings of his famous phrase causing him to hold some animosity towards the organisation.
He was killed in an automobile accident near Ivanpah, California on the way home from an Elvis impersonator convention. The car was being driven by Ed Bonja, an Elvis photographer, and missed a curve on a remote highway. Bonja was also hurt but his injuries were not life threatening.
[edit] External link
- Obituary / news story from CNN