Johnny Harra was cast as the 42 year old “Elvis” in the 1981 docudrama “This Is Elvis”–Warner released the movie on dvd on August 10, 2007. Johnny was one of 5 actors to portray “Elvis” in the movie. The filming took place at Graceland and acting the death scene of Elvis.
Johnny Harra has been featured in many newspapers and magazines, and on national TV shows like Merv Griffin, Johnny Carson and Dick Clark. Johnny has traveled internationally performing his “Profiles of Presley” show.
Past Appearances:
August 16, 1977–Holiday Inn, Gigis’ Club, Dallas Fort Worth
August 29, 1977–Cotton Bowl, Dallas, Texas to a crowd of over 20,000
October 18, 1977–National Examiner, “The closest facsimile they could get to their rock idol, Elvis Presley ”
March 21, 1978–The Star, “This one’s daughter is a look-a-like too.” Johnny Harra is not just another Presley impersonator–his looks, life and family bear a stunning resemblance to the late rock superstar.
1979–Merv Griffin Show
July 1979–The Hot Times, Elvis’ Lookalike: Johnny Harra
July 25, 1980–Las Vegas Mirror Spotlight, “Elvis is gone and yet lives.” “There are several individuals who keep The King’s memory alive, his voice, his moves, his songs and on top is Johnny Harra!
March 10, 1981–Dallas Morning News, “Elvis Clone Has Double” Frisco, Texas–Elvis looks so much like his idol that people constantly stare at him in amazement and wonder “Can that be Elvis”
February 25, 1982–Red Bird Mall, Concert, an estimated 200,000 customers visited the Mall during the 3 day event which generated in excess of $73,000.00 in free publicity in Dallas.
April, 1978-1981–Silver Bird Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada–along with Bobby Morris (Elvis’s conductor)
February 23, 1983–Dick Clark Productions
April 24, 1984-1985–Villa Club, Lubbock Texas – Elvis Impersonator makes hits in city with “King” profiles.
2001-2003–Red River Club, Dallas, Texas
- August 16, 2007 Hailed as “The Best Elvis Impersonator There Ever Was”
- Promoted as BEST “Elvis” impersonator by: Dick Clark, Burt Reynolds and the Jordanaires (Elvis’s back-up singers) for the purpose of “This Is Elvis” Movie.
- Johnny Portrayed “Elvis” in the movie: “This Is Elvis”
While entertainers who did impersonations were popular in the late ’50s and early ’60s, few were putting on full-time Elvis Presley acts, as many do now. When Mr. Harra came to Dallas while in his 30s, he was poised to catch the crest of what would soon become a tidal wave of Elvis impersonators.
He and his band had arrived in Dallas on Aug. 16, 1977, to do a stint of shows at Club Gigi in a Holiday Inn near Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport. That’s the day the world found out that Mr. Presley had died. And that’s the day Mr. Harra started taking care of a whole lot more business.
Hailed as “The Best Elvis Impersonator There Ever Was” by the Dallas Morning News on August 16, 2007(Guide Live).
Johnny Harra was the first of the national “Elvis” impersonators, and paved the road for the hundreds of other impersonators performing “Elvis” today.
He’s been hailed as the forerunner of tribute artists around the world.
So glad to see your website. Josh Deramus told me how to find you. The last time I saw you, you performed at GoodNews Fellowship. It was a great time. Hope you are doing well and would love to see you again. God Bless You
I HAVE TO SAY JOHNNY IS BY FAR THE BEST ETA THERE HAS EVER BEEN OR WILL EVER BE..THERES LOTS OF ETA’S OUT THERE THAT ARE GOOD.BUT IT TAKES MORE THAN SINGING SONGS AND SOUNDING OR LOOKING A LITTLE LIKE ELVIS TO BE THE KIND OF SPECIAL PERSON ELVIS WAS..JOHNNY HARRA IS THAT SPECIAL PERSON.HE IS A PERSON LIKE ELVIS WAS WHO CARES AND LOVES OTHERS LIKE ELVIS DID.I AM PROUD TO CALL HIM A FRIEND AND I KNOW IF ELVIS WAS HERE TODAY HE WOULD BE PROUD TO HAVE JOHNNY IMPERSONATING HIM..GODBLESS JOHNNY HARRA LIKE HE HAS US WITH HIM.
hello there stranger ive known u since i was 11 years old u and ur family lived next door to us on milton street in lewisville tx u used to take me to u r concerts oh how exicted i was riding in u r limo and u singing songs to me i remember u letting me try on u r costumes i hope u remember me yours truely mandy wright 325_267_1873 id love to hear from u
Hello. excellent job. I did not anticipate this. This is a remarkable story. Thanks!
FANTASTIC MOVIE & NOW I INTEND TO GET ME A DVD…THANKS!
TODAY GUYS I FOUND OUT JOHNNY HARRA PASSED AWAY, SO TO ALL I GIVE MY DEEPEST SYMPATHY…WE LOVE YA, JOHNNY
This is wonderful Website! You honor Elvis greatly here and your love and respect for Johnny shows as well, keep it up, I will be sharing this with all my friends!
http://www.iheartelvis.net is amazing, bookmarked!
Ive seen many Elvis sites but http://www.iheartelvis.net is best ever!
There isnt anyone that can live up to Elvis’ image except Johnny. Johnny was really Elvis’ double. He had the natural looks like Elvis, Man, I really thought he was Elvis! In the movie “This Is Elvis” ,he sounded like him a lot.
Well where was I, Ive never heard of this movie…….I will be checking it out for sure, I heard rumors on facebook that this Johnny Harra was Elvis. Makes sense I need to investigate this more, thank you
Johnny was absolutely the best ever! R.I.P Mr Harra
I’ve always been a huge Elvis fan, & saw Elvis in concert 2 times, in 1976. I’ve seen Johnny Harra at least a dozen times, in the Dallas Tx area up until 1987. I do respect Johnny for all his efforts he put into his shows, he was great, not the best, but he was great, I’m just being honest. Even though Johnny had some similarities with “Elvis,” he was “Not Elvis”, okay? I could get into detail here, but I won’t, out of respect for Johnny.
R.I.P. Johnny, you are missed by many.
Hugh I knew Johnny personally, I could get into detail here as well, youre welcome to your opinion, but thats all it is.
Man did I love Elvis when I was little I use to think that I was Priscella bt nw iv growen up an I still find his songs over the top