"Elvis has left the building" announcer killed in car crash

Al Dvorin, who coined the phrase "Elvis has left the building", has been killed in a car accident as he returned from an Elvis convention in California.

Dvorin, 81, first met Elvis Presley in 1955 and worked with him for 22 years, organising his tours, reports Telegraph. News.

The former Chicago band leader and talent agent met Elvis in 1955, after working for his manager Colonel Parker.

But he was never paid for recordings of his words, and was bitter towards the multi-million pound Elvis Presley Enterprises run by daughter Lisa Marie.

In the early 1970s, Colonel Parker asked Dvorin to inform fans at a gig that Presley would not be appearing for an encore.

He took the stage and announced: "Ladies and gentlemen, Elvis has left the building. Thank you and goodnight."

The phrase - first used by announcers early in Presley's career - became a staple at Elvis concerts thanks to Dvorin's idiosyncratic delivery.

His voice was captured on many recordings of Elvis' performances and the phrase has been subsumed into popular culture, informs BBC News.

According to Guardian, Sid Shaw, owner of the memorabilia shop Elvisly Yours in London, and a friend of Mr Dvorin, said: "Of all the people I have met associated with Elvis he was the nicest, funniest, smartest and most honest.

"But after Elvis died he kept a low profile because of his friendship with Col Parker and because he didn't want to be seen cashing in on Elvis's death. It was only after the Colonel died he decided to attend Elvis events."

A spokesman for the Presley estate in Graceland said: "He was a fixture in Elvis world. He'll be greatly missed."

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