The whole world over, there is one absolutely obvious, undoubted and undisputed truth, that there has been only one King of Rock 'n' Roll - Elvis Presley. Strange as it may seem, Presley is still probably the most imitated person in the world. Why are all these people doing it? Simply said, this is their way to pay tribute to the King.

Bulgaria, too, has its own Elvis, in the body of Tsvetelin Atanassov, better known as Ceco Elvisa ("Tsetso the Elvis"). Here's what he shared with The Sofia Echo about his interpretation of Elvis, his plans and his life now:

Why Elvis? How did you get started with that image?
I was in the fourth grade when my parents stirred my enthusiasm about it by buying one of Elvis' double albums, The Best, and I started listening to it. As you know, during that time, under the communism, Western bands and musicians could hardly reach the Bulgarian audience. His early songs didn't impress me much, but then there was a documentary on Elvis that I watched at least 10 times. Later I started singing. When my beard began to grow, I started shaping my whiskers and everyone at school would call me "Elvis, Elvis". My mother took me to a tailor and I got my first Elvis-style suit made.

In 1992, I won a competition run by BNT (Bulgarian National Television), called Variant 2, something like the contemporary Music Idol. I left for the States where I won the title of best young Elvis tribute artist in a competition organised by the Graceland Division of Elvis Presley Enterprises. In 1994, together with BNT, we shot a concert in memory of Elvis attended by Michael Bolton, Bryan Adams and Bon Jovi. It was when Michael Jackson had just married Elvis's daughter Lisa Marie and together they hosted the concert.

Why did you continue in this role?
When I came back to Bulgaria, I decided that I had achieved everything possible along these lines. I decided to dedicate myself to performing original pieces by Bulgarian composers but the local songwriters didn't like my suggestions. I guess it is hard once you have raised the bar so high with Elvis.

Now I use the image of Elvis for fun and at parties.

Interpreting the image of Elvis has brought you numerous achievements and recognition, though mainly abroad. Why is that?
That's what happens when the media puts a stamp on you. I have achieved many things abroad because people there know what it is all about. They've seen a lot of interpreters, not imitators or doubles, because I consider myself an interpreter, and appreciate when someone is doing well and is doing his job with love.

At school all my classmates, and all our neighbours in Lyulin, only used to listen to Lepa Brena and stuff like that. We live at a geographical crossroads, and here the kyuchek (belly dancing) will never end and it is hard for Elvis to be esteemed.

For sure, you did not miss the concert of Elvis' band in Sofia, did you?
I saw the band in Die Wiener Stadthalle in Austria on January 25 and they were great. The hall there seats about 2000 people. As we know, our Hall 1 of NDK can seat up to 5000 people; there were probably 3500 at the concert here. Still, the party in Sofia turned out to be much better. During the last song, Suspicious Mind, everyone was standing. Probably Vienna is just used to hearing and seeing them because it was their second performance there.

As a fan and president of the Elvis fan club in Bulgaria, I was very worried how the Bulgarian audience would react because we are a little bit special. But the party was great, the audience called the band to give an encore for 15 minutes.

A lot of people asked me why I was not involved in the concert, why I didn't sing with them. The band itself sent a very thick contract, which read unambiguously that they never work with doubles of Elvis. And that's not hard to understand, after they had once worked with the King. But they liked me very much.

The boy that is singing with them now has a very trained voice. He is does not try to imitate Elvis, either in his way of singing, or in his moves, he just sings his songs.

What are you doing now?
I've decided to release an album with duets. I have already recorded a duet with a very popular Bulgarian singer abroad. Her name is Daniela. She made a hit together with Stars Tattooed, called What a Music, which attracted the attention of Universal France.

We will have more clarity on how to realise it in a month's time because we want to do it right. The song is dance, keeping with all requirements for a contemporary hit. A very popular song is included in the track. We are currently negotiating on the copyrights of it.

This is my current challenge. I do what I like and don't conform to what people here like. What is important is that those who like my music will continue listening to it.

Ann-G also offered to do a duet with me. We are great friends and very similar in character. Now I'm considering her offer.

In addition, I'm preparing a new video for my latest single God is My Ecstasy.

In 2005, my joint project with Deep Zone Project, Tova e Hit (It's a Hit), reached second place on the MTV World Chart Express. My fourth single Chou Li Me (Did You Hear Me?) will also be sent to MTV; we are currently making a documentary about it. The song has held the first position on the 5 ot 5 (Five out of Five) chart of the satellite channel TV Bulgaria for some time now.

My most recent life performance was on February 8 in Plovdiv, when we brought together for the first time in the history of music The Beatles and Elvis on stage. It was a concert by the Austrian doubles of The Beatles. Few people know that in 1965 Elvis invited The Beatles to his studio and they had a one-hour jam session. Unfortunately it was not recorded or repeated ever again.

When will you release your new album?
Well, my first album was released after 15 years on stage, six of them in the US, and it took me nearly two years to release it… and having in mind how much support culture in Bulgaria receives, it is hard to predict. But you'll hear about it.

After our conversation this question may seem pointless, but still, when you are not Elvis, who are you?
I'm a normal guy, positive, very sincere and open. I do what I can to make people around me happy, positive, make them believe in God and follow their dreams, even though everyone around them may be embittered.

I wear normal clothing. If anyone thinks that I wear wide belts and collars, they are very wrong.

I don't suffer from morbid ambitions. I'm simply living my life, having fun.