The black Elvis vote

As the Obama campaign basks in the Kennedy glow, chief rival Sen. Hillary Clinton picked up an endorsement today from a larger-than-life southern entertainer known for his sideburns and white rhinestone-studded jumpsuit.

The name isn’t Elvis Presley, it’s Dwayne Turner, known locally as “Belvis, the Black Elvis.”

Whoa who whoa! Hold the phone! There is a "Black Elvis" out there, and he may end up endorsing Hillary in the primaries--I can't honestly say for sure. But his name isn't Belvis, it's Blelvis. And he's not from Arkansas, he's from D.C. He spends his evenings crooning at pedestrians up here in Adams Morgan, sometimes for money, often just for the fun of it. In fact, he's memorized the entire Elvis catalog and turned it into a pretty damn impressive schtick.

Seems to me like these campaign reporters ought to spend less time embedding with the candidates and more time hanging out and getting drunk with the hoi polloi here inside the Beltway.

Update: A profile.

Comments

Is Blelvis on break? I used to see him, like, weekly, but I haven't in like five months. And I walk from Mt. Pleasant to Adams-Morgan and back a lot.

Posted by: SDM on January 30, 2008 05:48 PM

If blelvis is on a break, that would certainly be good news for car owners. Unless he is simply on a break from panhandling to focus solely on breaking into cars and smoking crack. I've known and dealt with blelvis for nearly 15 years, he may seem charming initially, but he is no hero he is simply a nuisance.

Posted by: cath on January 30, 2008 06:01 PM

Over 9 or 10 years of acquaintance, I've never known Blelvis to be anything but respectful. Then again, I don't own a car.

Posted by: Ivan on January 30, 2008 06:25 PM

I know Andrew (Blelvis) personally as well. While he's not adverse to a beer or seven, I've absolutely no reason to believe he's a crack smoker or thief. The last few times I saw him around he was doing some work with a contractor. There's somewhere between hero and nuisance, you know, like, regular guy (who happens to know every Elvis song) trying to get by.

Posted by: Jamie on January 31, 2008 08:58 AM

This is Blelvis. I drink. I don't smoke crack. And I don't steal cars. Whoever tried to play me like a hound dog, y'all got suspicious minds.

"Sind Sie einsame diese Nacht, Sie vermissen mich heute abend? Sind Sie wir trieben auseinander traurig?"

Posted by: Blelvis on January 31, 2008 09:32 AM

I think you might be wrong. Blelvis and the Belvis reported on are two different people-watch the video and let me know: http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalradar/2008/01/belvis-the-blac.html

The campaign reporters you speak of spend plenty of time drinking in the Beltway-trust me.

Posted by: Ro on January 31, 2008 10:24 AM

So people actually think there can only be one black man who sings Elvis songs? Yeah, okay. I know this is DC, but it might be healthy to get out of your bubble every now and then.

Posted by: JB on January 31, 2008 01:04 PM

I just watched the video. That other guy in Arkansas is an idiot. Is that the only song he knows? And he definitely don't know it well.

I'm ashamed for black Elvises everywhere

Posted by: Blelvis on January 31, 2008 05:34 PM

I just met this guy - he is the real deal....for sure......I am all shook up! He took our beer, not are car and didn't even ask for our crack.

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