Also known as Blelvis Occupation(s) Musician Name Rondy Wooten | Instruments Vocals, | |
Genres Rock and roll, Pop music, Rockabilly, Country, Blues, Gospel music, Rhythm and blues | ||
Blelvis
Blelvis (the "Black Elvis") is the performing name of Rondy Wooten, a Washington, D.C., street entertainer who claims to know the words to every song ever sung by Elvis Presley. He has been referred to as a local legend, and has been profiled by the Washington City Paper and the Washington Post.
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Early life
Wooten is a native of Washington, D.C., born in 1966 at Georgetown University Hospital. He grew up in the Petworth neighborhood of D.C. His parents disapproved of Elvis, believing him to be racist, so he had little experience with him until the age of 11. On August 16, 1977, the day Elvis died, every radio station was playing Elvis tracks in his memory. It was the first time that Wooten heard an Elvis single.
When he was a young man and began asking for Presley albums in the record stores he began to be recognized by the city's historic rockabilly community. Blelvis does not claim to be an Elvis impersonator, but as an "Elvis-ologist".
While continuing his studies in Berlin he spent time doing field research of the various ratzkellars and theaters where Elvis spent time while he was in the service. Since then Blelvis has spent time continuing his studies in Las Vegas; Tupelo, Miss.; Memphis; Coral Gables, Fla.; Hollywood, Calif.; and Honolulu. Blelvis has also spent time researching the times and places that defined the culture that both made and unmade Elvis' reign in London and the Chelsea in New York City. Blelvis continued his research at the University of Texas Austin.
When in D.C. he works for low income housing, a cause he became serious about during his years in seminary. He holds a bachelor's degree in Theology.