Jan Adriaan Hoogendyk (born 28 December 1979), known professionally as Elvis Blue, is a South African musician and songwriter.

Early life

Jan Hoogendyk was born and raised in

Johannesburg Johannesburg ( , , ; Zulu and xh, eGoli ), colloquially known as Jozi, Joburg, or "The City of Gold", is the largest city in South Africa, classified as a megacity, and is one of the 100 largest urban areas in the world. According to Dem ...

South Africa South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the Southern Africa, southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by of coastline that stretch along the Atlantic Ocean, South Atlantic and Indian Oceans; to the ...

. Hoogendyk is a self-taught musician, teaching himself to play the guitar at the age of 16. During his adolescent years, he started writing his own music and gained experience as a busker on the streets of Johannesburg. During high school, he played in several bands but chose to broaden his experience overseas, busking in London and Scotland.

Musical education

Hoogendyk's mother, a classical piano teacher, provided him with exposure to classical music throughout his childhood. When he returned to South Africa, he undertook formal music studies, focusing on piano, guitar, singing and songwriting.

Career

In 2010, Hoogendyk participated in '' Idols South Africa (season 6).'' He won the competition with 64% of the votes and shared his prize money with runner-up Lloyd Cele.

Albums

Hoogendyk recorded four albums before winning ''Idols South Africa'', one of which won an

ATKV The Afrikaans Language and Culture Association (Afrikaans: Afrikaanse Taal- en Kultuurvereniging), ATKV, is a society that aims to promote the Afrikaans language and culture. The association was founded in 1930 in Cape Town. Since its inception ...

Lier Toekening award and another received a

South African Music Awards The South African Music Awards (often simply the SAMAs) are the Recording Industry of South Africa's music industry awards, established in 1995. The ceremony is held annually, usually in late April or May, with the judging process starting in N ...

nomination.

''Elvis Blue''

''Elvis Blue'' was released in November 2010 and received Gold status 29 days after its release, going platinum in 2011. The album features a duet with Lloyd Cele called 'Little Hero'. Elvis Blue performing in 2014 2

Recording began straight after Hoogendyk won ''Idols South Africa'', and was produced by Brian O'Shea, Crighton Goodwill and Jake Odendaal who are all

''Producer of the Year Award'' winners. The album combines original songs by Hoogendyk with those of other songwriters. In April 2012, the double-disc special edition release of ''Elvis Blue'' won the SAMA for ''Best Adult Contemporary Album''.

Journey

Hoogendyk travelled to America to co-write new material for ''Journey'' with

Jeff Franzel Jeffrey B. Franzel is an American, New York-based songwriter and musician. His songs have been featured on albums in several countries. He also performs in a Jazz Quartet in his hometown, New York City. Background He began his career as a jazz ...

, Richard Harris and

Pam Sheyne Pamela Sheyne is a British songwriter, producer, mentor and singer best known for co-writing Christina Aguilera’s global smash debut single "Genie in a Bottle". She has achieved 50+ million record sales and over 100 RIAA Platinum, Gold and Si ...

who together composed the hit single, 'Lifeline'. ''Journey'' received the SAMA award for Best Adult Contemporary Album.

Afrikaans

2013: On the day ''Afrikaans'' was released, Hoogendyk's first

Afrikaans Afrikaans (, ) is a West Germanic language that evolved in the Dutch Cape Colony from the Dutch vernacular of Holland proper (i.e., the Hollandic dialect) used by Dutch, French, and German settlers and their enslaved people. Afrikaans gra ...

album debuted on the iTunes store chart at #3, making him the first Afrikaans artist to reach its Top Ten ranking. Elvis Blue performing in 2014 5

2014: ''Afrikaans'' attained platinum status. 'Seëngebed' (translated from Afrikaans as 'blessing prayer') is Hoogendyk's Afrikaans rendition of

Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika "Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika" (, ) is a Christian hymn originally composed in 1897 by Enoch Sontonga, a Xhosa clergyman at a Methodist mission school near Johannesburg. The song became a pan-African liberation song and versions of it were later ad ...

, South Africa's national anthem, and was performed with Afrikaans singer, Coenie de Villiers.

Community upliftment

Hoogendyk supports a variety of community upliftment projects in South Africa. * ''Rays of Hope'', a community outreach project by Rosebank Union Church, which is a child-headed households project which supports households of children raising younger siblings within the

Alexandra Township Alexandra, informally abbreviated to Alex, is a township in the Gauteng province of South Africa. It forms part of the City of Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality and is located next to the wealthy suburb of Sandton. It is commonly known as ...

in northern Johannesburg. * ''Bethesda'' in

George, Western Cape George is the second largest city in the Western Cape province of South Africa. The city is a popular holiday and conference centre, as well as the administrative and commercial hub and the seat of the Garden Route District Municipality. It is na ...

, which provides medical, rehabilitative, developmental, spiritual, psycho-social and family support. * ''Life Community Services'' which assists the disadvantaged community of

. * ''Elvis Blue Music Academy'', in partnership with ''Life Community Services,'' provides musical training for children who are unable to afford musical instruments and music tuition. Elvis Blue at the All Star Theater 2014 2

Elvis Blue at the All Star Theater 2014 2

Elvis Blue at Paul Culver Amphitheatre 3

Awards and nominations

Discography

Singles

*2010: Things My Father Said *2011: Lighthouse *2011: Save Me *2012: Right Here, Right Now *2012: Lifeline *2012: That's What We Do *2013: Not Gonna Say Goodbye *2013: Rede om te Glo (Reason to Believe) *2013: Spore (Footprints) *2014: Toe Ons Jonk Was (When We Were Young) *2014: Mooi (Beautiful) *2015: Shine

Albums

2010: ''Elvis Blue''

Track Listing *1. Save Me *2. Lighthouse *3. I'm on Fire *4. Things My Father Said *5. Only Wanna Be With You *6. Little Hero *7. Lightly Tread *8. Lately *9. Right Here, Right Now *10. Lover *11. Stay *12. Believe *13. To Make You Feel My Love

2012: ''Journey''

Track Listing *1. Glory Road *2. Lifeline *3. That's What We Do *4. Anchor *5. Not Gonna Say Goodbye *6. Be More *7. Journey *8. All You Need To Know *9. Come Alive *10. Closer *11. Be The One *12. Never Give Up on You *13. Home

2013: ''Afrikaans''

Track Listing *1. Toe Ons Jonk Was *2. Rede Om Te Glo *3. Mooi *4. Horison *5. Dromer *6. Vriende *7. Hoop in Die Donker *8. Liefling *9. Spore *10. Steel *11. R20 000 *12. Hillbrow

Gallery

Elvis Blue4.jpg, Elvis Blue at K-Day 2012 Elvis Blue Kday.JPG, Elvis Blue at K-day 2012 Elvis Blue at Paul Culver Amphitheatre 2.JPG, Elvis Blue at Paul Cluver Amphitheatre 2013 Elvis PC1.JPG, Elvis Blue at Paul Cluver Amphitheatre 2013 Elvis PC3.JPG, Elvis Blue at Paul Cluver Amphitheatre 2013 Elvis Blue PC6.JPG, Elvis Blue at Paul Cluver Amphitheatre 2013 Elvis Blue at Paul Culver Amphitheatre 1.JPG, Elvis Blue at Paul Cluver Amphitheatre 2013 Elvis Blue PC.JPG, Elvis Blue at Paul Cluver Amphitheatre 2013 Elvis Blue at the All Star Theater 2014 1.JPG, Elvis Blue at the All Star Theater 2014 Elvis Blue at the All Star Theater 2014.JPG, Elvis Blue at the All Star Theater 2014 Elvis Blue at the All Star Theater 2014 3.JPG, Elvis Blue at the All Star Theater 2014 Elvis Blue performing in 2014 1.JPG, Elvis Blue performing in 2014

References

External links

*
Elvis Blue Music Academy

Elvis Blue YouTube Channel
{{DEFAULTSORT:Blue, Elvis 21st-century South African male singers Idols South Africa winners 1979 births Living people