Elvis Blue

Although Elvis Blue came to national prominence in 2010 when he won the coveted Idols SA title, this gifted musician had dozens of professional performances and various releases to his name even before his participation in the thrilling and popular MNet production.   The humble artist who today has the whole country at its feet with original songs like Things My Father Said, Lighthouse or Save Me, as well as covers like Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah, elicits a wave of emotion from even the most stoic listener.

Elvis started performing as a young boy, singing in school choirs and busking in the streets of Joburg and Scotland.  After a stint overseas as a street musician, Elvis returned to South Africa where he decided to study contemporary music.   After appearing in numerous bands, Elvis developed a project where he sang under the name MONO, releasing three albums under this time.  He then did two Afrikaans albums under his real name Jan Hoogendyk , and received an ATKV Lier Award, as well as a 2010 SAMA nomination.

In November 2010, Elvis Blue released the album simply titled Elvis Blue, his first album as SA’s newly crowned Pop Idol, and one that would consolidate all his years of hard work as a musician.  The album shot up the radio and sales charts upon release, and reached Gold status. The first two singles Things My Father said and Lighthouse were massive hits, with the third single, Save Me, being playlisted across the country.  A highlight for Elvis in 2011 was to support James Blunt on his Some Kind of Trouble tour.

The success Elvis Blue over the past few years enabled himself to invest in something very near and dear to his heart – The Elvis Blue Music Academy. The Academy was started by Elvis to teach underprivileged children the joy of music. The organisation provides instruments and instruction in a safe, warm environment. “Music has the ability to heal,” Elvis says. “This venture is living proof of that.” The Elvis Blue Music Academy operates in George in the Western Cape, and is rolling out in Alexandra in Gauteng in the near future.

The name Elvis Blue comes from an experience very dear to the artist.  At a hospice and children’s home in George where he used to play guitar for the patients, he met a little boy whose dream was to be a keyboard player. His name was Elvis Blaauw, and when he passed away in 2009, as a tribute to this amazing young man, Jan Hoogendyk adopted his name and Elvis Blue was born.