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Mar. 9th, 2011 10:50 amI keep hearing ads on the radio for different Casino-rama shows, a lot of them tribute bands: Beatles impersonators, and I think there was mention made of a Michael Jackson impersonator. Every time, I wonder if there were, say, Mozart impersonators in the 1790s, or maybe Paganini impersonators* in the 19th c.
I suspect, however, that this phenomenon is dependent on the existence of recording media – for there to be a market for an imitation, you have to have a large number of people living outside the tour range (geographical or chronological) of the actual performer, but who are familiar enough with his/her sound and appearance to appreciate a good resemblance.
*ETA – admittedly, impersonating Paganini would’ve been difficult – apart from being talented and flamboyant, he was double-jointed. Really double-jointed. As in, ‘I think he may have inspired an X-Men story’ double-jointed.
FETA - I stand corrected - here's someone impersonating Paganini (in a still photo) a few decades after his death.
I suspect, however, that this phenomenon is dependent on the existence of recording media – for there to be a market for an imitation, you have to have a large number of people living outside the tour range (geographical or chronological) of the actual performer, but who are familiar enough with his/her sound and appearance to appreciate a good resemblance.
*ETA – admittedly, impersonating Paganini would’ve been difficult – apart from being talented and flamboyant, he was double-jointed. Really double-jointed. As in, ‘I think he may have inspired an X-Men story’ double-jointed.
FETA - I stand corrected - here's someone impersonating Paganini (in a still photo) a few decades after his death.
