Liz Holland and Gray Hughes | Salisbury Daily Times

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Norman Webb, the man best known for strolling the Ocean City Boardwalk with a boombox and belting out Elvis Presley songs, died Saturday morning, a family member confirmed.

"Today our community has lost a true legend and an iconic figure," said John Webb Jr. "To most he was known as Boardwalk Elvis but to his family he was known as Norman Webb, a brother, an uncle and a cousin. I’m truly overwhelmed by the outpouring of support, love and kindness that so many people have shown Norman during his illness and now at his passing."

Webb — better known as Boardwalk Elvis — was 78 and had been in poor health.

“He’s definitely an icon,” said Melanie Pursel, executive director of the Greater Ocean City, Maryland, Chamber of Commerce.

The post by Webb Jr., a nephew, garnered over 1,000 likes and 400 comments by Saturday afternoon. Many shared memories and prayers.

"The number of lives my uncle touched with his smile and outgoing personality is uncountable," Webb Jr. said. "Just one aspect of his ability to draw people to him is the over 7,900 members that follow the page created for him on Facebook. He will be missed and remembered forever."

'Truly a Boardwalk icon'

For decades, Webb rode his bicycle from his home in Showell to Ocean City where he would serenade tourists while strolling up and down the Boardwalk dressed as Elvis.

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He was honored on May 25 by Ocean City Mayor Rick Meehan who gave Webb with the key to the city in a presentation ceremony under the Boardwalk arch.

“Just to see the smile on his face was pretty special,” said Jessica Waters, spokeswoman for the resort town.

Meehan posted photos of the May event on Facebook. “Norman has been interacting with people on the boardwalk for over 50 years! Today was declared Norman J Webb Day in Ocean City!” the mayor said in a post.

On Saturday, Meehan recognized Webb as a staple figure of the resort.

"RIP Norman J Webb aka 'Boardwalk Elvis'. You truly are a boardwalk Icon!" Meehan posted the morning Webb died.

Becoming an Ocean City staple

View | 13 Photos

Photos: Boardwalk Elvis throughout the years

Mike Beatty, who is known as DJ Batman, said he has known Webb for years.

“You couldn’t come to Ocean City and not see Norman,” he said. “He is just the greatest character.”

Beatty said he first met Webb when he was known as "Ninth Street Norman."

Later, Webb acquired a boombox and “an absolutely atrocious lime-green leisure suit” and began singing along to Elvis songs as he walked the length of the Boardwalk, Beatty said.

During the 1990s, Ocean City was featured in a Time Magazine story and the publication ran a photo of Boardwalk Elvis, Beatty said.

“The City Council was so impressed by this, that the town of Ocean City arranged Greyhound bus fare, and a couple of nights lodging, and sent Norman and a friend to Graceland,” Beatty said. “It was near the top of the many nice things this great town has ever done.”

Singing up until the end

In 2011, Webb, who was then 72, took a break after his commutes to the resort via bicycle became more difficult, but he still made appearance at Whiskers Bar & Grill in Ocean Pines, where he sang Elvis's "All Shook Up," and "Under the Boardwalk" by The Drifters.

Around that time, a Facebook group Boardwalk Elvis is Alive was created where people posted photographs of Boardwalk Elvis sightings. The page now has more than 7,500 followers.

Even as he slowed down in recent years, Webb could still be seen traveling on Route 589 as he left his Showell home — the same one he was born in — and headed to town.

Webb was hit by a car on Route 589 in 2013 and the 73-year-old suffered some bruises and sore ribs. His electric bike didn't fare as well, so Beatty called local radio hosts at Ocean 98.1 for help.

Mike Beatty image

“Before I even hung up the phone, he was on the air,” Beatty said.

The hosts shared Webb’s story with their listeners, and raised close to $800 in just under half an hour. It was enough to buy Webb a new electric bike, back-up battery and lights.