Elvis Blue

Often referred to as “the gentleman of South African music,” Elvis Blue is known for heartwarming, arena-ready adult contemporary songs that blend pop, rock, folk, and other genres while straddling between lyrics in English and his first language, Afrikaans. Born Jan Adriaan Hoogendyk in 1979, the self-taught musician played in multiple bands in school, then later busked in the streets of his hometown of Johannesburg before traveling to London and Scotland, where he continued to busk and sharpen his skills as a performer. But his breakthrough followed his 2010 Idols South Africa victory, after which he released his platinum self-titled English album that included the song “Little Hero,” a duet with 2010 Idols SA runner-up Lloyd Cele with whom Blue chose to split his prize money. Given the country’s complicated history with race, both the song and gesture offered moments of unity. Elvis Blue has continued to play the role of unifier on albums that—whether sung in English or Afrikaans—are packed with more anthemic and uplifting songs.