Elvis Blue

Early career

Elvis Blue was born and raised in Johannesburg, South Africa. His passion for music was already evident in his childhood when he listened to his mother’s cassettes on his Walkman until the batteries gave up the ghost. After failing miserably as a waiter he started creating music when he was 16 years old. He bought a guitar and learned to play off the internet. Singing on the streets of Johannesburg (busking) for pocket money through high school was also a great way to raise money for overseas adventures. In his school years he played in several bands. He matriculated from Linden High school and travelled overseas, busking on the streets of London and Scotland.

On his return, he studied contemporary music at Allenby Campus. He focused on piano, guitar, singing and songwriting. He recorded his first CD in 2001. Since then Elvis has performed alongside, and collaborated with, many well known South African artists such as Just Ginger, Karen Zoid, Heinz Winkler, Tree 63, Coenie de Villiers and John Ellis. He has recorded and released 7 albums of which 2 reached Platinum status. Two of those albums were recorded using the name "Mono". Mono was also signed to Gallo record company and the Album "Mono in stereo" was recorded and released in 2003. Elvis has also recorded two Afrikaans albums using his real name "Jan Hoogendyk"; "Diep Riviere" in 2006 and "Ontskemer" in 2009. "Ontskemer" was nominated for 2010 SAMA (South African Music Award) in the category "Best Gospel Album" and "Diep Rivier" received an"ATKV Lier" award in 2007.

Idols SA

In 2010, Elvis Blue took part in 6th season of the reality show, Idols South Africa and was announced winner during the final held on 2 November 2010. He won with 64% of the votes. Elvis made Idols history by sharing his winnings with runner up Lloyd Cele. His cover of Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah, which he performed during the Finals was also included on his debut album.

2010 – 2012 Debut album: Elvis Blue

Elvis' self-titled album Elvis Blue was released in November 2010. It immediately shot up the charts and received gold status 28 days after its release. The album went platinum in 2011. Universal Music South Africa stated that Elvis is the first South African Idols winner to have ever released a platinum-selling debut album.

The album features the hit singles "Things my Father said" (Originally written and performed by Black Stone Cherry {Folklore and Superstition, Album} blackstonecherry.com ), "Lighthouse", "Save Me" and "Right here, Right now", as well as songs written for his wife – "Dangerous", "Lately", "Believe", "Lover" and "Lightly Tread" – and his daughter "You". It also features the song "Little Friend", a duet with Idols runner-up L'loyd Cele.

The recording of the album kicked off immediately after Elvis' Idols win with two sets of studios and producers and engineers working around the clock. All three producers, Brain O'Shea, Crighton Goodwill and Jake Odendaal, are SAMA (South African Music Award) Producer of the Year Award winners. The material for the album was a combination of songs written by other songwriters (Pam Sheyne, Jeff Franzel and Richard Harris) and Elvis' original material (Lately, Believe. I'm on Fire, Dangerous, You, Ligtly Thread, Lover, Running, Stay). The album was released 30 days after Elvis' Idols win, making him the first Idols winner world-wide to record and release an album within 30 days of winning Idols. In April 2012, Elvis took home the SAMA for Best Adult Contemporary Album for the double-disc special-edition of his self-titled album, “ELVIS BLUE”

2012 – 2013 2nd Album: "Journey"

In late 2011 Elvis began work on his second album “JOURNEY”. He travelled early 2012 to America to co-write with New York-based Jeff Franzel, the man behind the massive adult contemporary hit single “LIGHTHOUSE”, and LA hit-maker Pam Sheyne. The result was the stellar smash Number One hit single “LIFELINE”, and an album peppered with evergreen favourites.

The second single “THAT’S WHAT WE DO” followed “LIFELINE” right into the charts. “ NOT GOING TO SAY GOODBYE”, also co-written by Franzel, knocked the lights out between no less than three 2013 SAMA nominations. Male Artist Of The Year, Album Of The Year ( “JOURNEY”) and Song Of The Year (“LIFELINE”). Elvis Blue "That's what we do" the 2nd single from "Journey" was released in September 2012.

2013 – 2014 3rd Album: "Afrikaans"

Elvis launched the 1st single, "Rede om te Glo" (Reason to Believe,) from the forthcoming album on 22 July 2013 at the Huisgenoot Tempo Awards, held at the Lyric Theatre at Gold Reef City, Gauteng.

Elvis Blue's much anticipated 3rd Album, simply titled "Afrikaans" was released on 27 September 2013. On the day of its release the Album debut at the # 3 spot on the iTunes Charts, making Elvis the first Afrikaans artist to scale the Top Ten of the iTunes Store chart .

On 19 October 2013, the 1st single of the album, Rede om te Glo (Reason to Believe) reached the number 1 spot on the Kia Top 20 charts, beating Katy Perry's Roar to the top spot. In November 2013, a mere two months after “AFRIKAANS” was released, the album was certified as a Gold-selling album. Elvis as well as the album received 5 Ghoema nominations in 2014 and walked away with Ghoemas for BEST MALE ARTIST as well as ALBUM OF THE YEAR, the highest honours in Afrikaans music. In September 2014 the album "AFRIKAANS" reached platinum status.

"Spore" (Footprints), the 2nd single from the album was released on 6 November 2013. "Seëngebed", another single which is featured on the album, is actually an Afrikaans translation of the South African National Anthem, Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika, performed with Afrikaans singer Coenie de Villiers. "Toe ons jonk was" (When we were young), the 3rd single from the album was released in June 2014. "Mooi" (beautiful), the 4th single from the album was released on 20 October 2014.

In the 12 December 2013 issue of Heat Magazine South Africa it was announced that Elvis was voted by the readers as the 2nd Hottest celebrity on the Heat Hot 100 list for 2013. This list consist of both International and Local Celebs. The no 1 spot went to a woman, so this also makes Mr Blue the Hottest Male Celeb of 2013 for the Heat Hot 100. He beat local and international favourites like Ryk Neethling, Lady Gaga, Miley Cyrus, Katy Perry, Bonang Matheba, Adam Lambert and Johnny Depp,

In the 11 December 2014 issue of Heat Magazine South Africa it was announced that Elvis was again voted by the readers as the 2nd Hottest celebrity on the Heat Hot 100 list for 2014. This list consist of both International and Local Celebs. The no 1 spot went to Beyonce, making Mr Blue again the Hottest Male Celeb of 2014.

2015 – New single "Shine"

Elvis released his first English single since 2013, "Shine" on 26 January 2015 independently. The single entered the Kia Top 40 iTunes download charts at #33 on release and shot to the #6 spot on the charts within 2 days, making "Shine the highest ranking single by a South African artist on the Official Top 100.

Personal life

Elvis is married to Chireze Hoogendyk. The couple have 2 daughters, Lila and Jua.

Charities

Elvis is a patron of Rosebank Union Church community based outreach project Rays of Hope. It is a child-headed households project that focuses on helping households of children raising younger siblings within the Alexandra Township, Northern Johannesburg.

In October 2011 Elvis cycled 90 km as part of a 3-day cycle tour, to raise funds for this project.

The Elvis Blue Music Academy

Prior to his Idols Season 6 victory in 2010, Elvis Blue already had a heart for orphaned and vulnerable children. Based on this, and his passion for music, he became involved with the Non Profit Organisation Life Community Service (LCS) that operates in the disadvantaged community of the George area in the Western Cape. He spent hours every week tutoring orphaned and disadvantaged youths in guitar and building into their lives through volunteering and relationship building. The Elvis Blue Music Academy was born out of this initiative, as well as his relationship with LCS. The Academy is still running in George today. In partnership with his older sister, Kona Brown acting as coordinator, the music academy was also successfully piloted in the Alexandra Township in 2011.

Singles

2010: "Elvis Blue"

Track Listing

2012: "Journey"

Track Listing

2013: "Afrikaans"

Track Listing