JJ ELVIS
“Living in Someone Else’s Blue Suede Shoes”
This is a story about JJ Elvis, a 73-year-old bachelor, who has been living someone else’s life, instead of his own. Since he was 11 years old, JJ has idolized Elvis Presley. From the first time, he laid eyes on him singing on the ‘Ed Sullivan’ show in 1956. He began to dress like him and to perform his songs, eventually becoming an Elvis Tribute Artist in his 20s. He started off playing clubs in Upstate NY, then eventually moved to Tucson, Arizona, and West Palm Beach, Florida, where he peddled a cart through town, in his red studded jumpsuit and black pompadour, selling ice cream and singing Elvis songs. His modest one bedroom home in Schenectady is filled with memorabilia and even though he is on a limited income, he continues to collect custom Elvis costumes and the latest merchandise. These days he’s a bit of a homebody but, still religiously practices his routine. Occasionally, JJ Elvis gets out to perform at a karaoke night in his hometown, but what he really lives for is performing at Elvis Week, every summer, in Graceland. He said, “It’s a place where the fans really appreciate me and my lifelong dedication to the King”.