Elvis imitator brings Jewishness to job

Elvis imitator brings Jewishness to job

Britain's Martyn Dias gives up his well-paid IT job to become world's only professional Jewish Elvis impersonator, 'Elvis Shmelvis'

jn1.tv

Published:  08.16.13, 07:54 / Israel Culture

VIDEO – The United Kingdom may be more than 4,000 miles from Memphis, Tennessee, but that hasn’t stopped one British man paying his own unique tribute to the King of Rock 'n' Roll.

 

Martyn Dias gave up his well-paid job in IT to become a full-time Elvis impersonator, but with a twist – he’s the Jewish Elvis, "Elvis Shmelvis."

 

Video courtesy of jn1.tv

 

Elvis lives – well, sort of. Martyn Dias does such a convincing version of the King, he threw away a respectable job to put on his blue suede shoes and follow his dream. Now he says he’s the world’s only professional Jewish Elvis impersonator.

 

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Martyn is a committed member of his local synagogue and a larger than life character. His act is now so successful that he’s performed before tens of thousands of people in London’s Trafalgar Square.

 

But he admits that living the life of a semi-celebrity does have its challenges, particularly since the Elvis hairstyle and sideburns, which are a permanent feature of his appearance, mark him out wherever he goes.

 

And just what do his family make of his hip-swiveling antics? “It’s really weird having an Elvis for a dad, to be honest," says Michal Dias.

"A lot of people have asked me this and obviously he’s been doing it for quite a while, but I really love it. It's great that he’s being someone who so many people like.”

 

Perhaps not surprisingly, Martin has become a popular figure in the UK, appearing on many top-rated British TV shows.

 

With his Elvis career continuing to go from strength to strength, Martin is one man who dreamed the impossible dream and made it work.

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4403120,00.html