Noted NJ Elvis performer Ted Prior dies at 68

[May 16, 2011]  GALLOWAY TOWNSHIP, N.J. (AP) -- Ted Prior, who spent 50 years performing the music of Elvis Presley before adoring fans throughout southern New Jersey, has died. He was 68.

Prior's manager, Neil Regina, said Prior died Sunday morning.

Prior had never missed a show before being diagnosed with cancer last fall. His streak of nearly 10,000 performances ended when he was forced to miss a New Year's Eve show.

His career path began at age 14, when at a party he picked up a cheap guitar he had no idea how to play and sang along to a record of "Stuck On You."

A friend yelled out, "Hey Ted, you sound just like Elvis!"

Prior soon began taking guitar lessons, grew out his hair and started learning every Elvis song he could.

[Associated Press]

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