S.A. Confidential: Hispanic Elvis has tourists all shook up

Hispanic Elvis performs during a Cinco de Mayo celebration in Market Square. He has become a favorite of visitors to downtown San Antonio. Hispanic Elvis performs during a Cinco de Mayo celebration in Market Square. He has become a favorite of visitors to downtown San Antonio. Photo: Edward A. Ornelas / San Antonio Express-News Photo: Edward A. Ornelas / San Antonio Express-News Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close S.A. Confidential: Hispanic Elvis has tourists all shook up 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

San Antonio — Hispanic Elvis refuses to reveal his real name, age or how much he makes so as not to ruin his mystique. For the past four years, the Elvis Presley impersonator has been spotted in many of San Antonio’s most popular tourist destinations. His favorite spot is Mi Tierra Café y Panadería’s restaurant, where he’s often in the lobby posing for photos that show up all over Instagram feeds.

He’s in costume almost every day, riding his bike from his West Side home and taking a bus downtown.

He’ll only say that his friends call him J.J. when they don’t call him “The King,” he was born and raised on the West Side and he worked at a paint and body shop before donning the sideburns full time.

Q. Why?

A. Because Elvis was the one and only. I do five things: I do space walk; guitar spin; slide — which is my favorite; fancy footwork; and one I call pull-up. I’m not a professional. I just remembered how he did it and made a few adjustments. Put me up on that stage, and I’ll cook up a storm for you. I don’t know how to read and write so well, but I can perform.

Q. How did you know you had this talent?

A. It’s a gift from God. I’m on YouTube, Internet, Facebook, Google, website, email, I’m worldwide famous. I got my picture in Australia, Argentina, Canada, China . . . (at this point, Hispanic Elvis continues to list countries in somewhat alphabetical order.) I didn’t know I was in the computer until my brother told me I was worldwide famous. I didn’t have much education, but you don’t have to be educated to be smart, and you don’t have to be tall to make it big.

Q. How tall are you?

A. 5-foot-1.

Q. Why do you correct people whenever they call you “Mexican Elvis?”

A. I get called Mexican Elvis or Latino Elvis a lot, but I’m Hispanic Elvis. I was born and raised in San Antonio.

Q. How much time do you spend on your hair every morning?

A. Only about five minutes. It’s always like this. I don’t need to exercise and I don’t need to practice either, because every day I know what I have to do.

Q. How many Elvis costumes do you have?

A. Twenty to 25. I buy all the clothes, and I mix and match them a lot. My plastic guitar was given to me, but I decorated it with stickers and this money.

Q. What’s your typical day like?

A. I have no exact hours. I’m at Mi Tierra’s early sometimes, or I’ll be somewhere else in Market Square. I like I go to Rivercenter mall, Ripley’s Believe it or Not or Main Plaza, too. That’s my playground.

Q. You don’t always have music, either.

A. I don’t even need music; what I do, I do naturally. Sometimes my friend brings a boom box with “Jailhouse Rock,” “Hunk of Burning Love,” all the songs. Sometimes I’ll dance with the mariachis at Mi Tierra’s.

Q. What’s your favorite Elvis song?

A. “Jailhouse Rock.” I call it the rock ’n’ and roll national anthem.

Q. Why do you think tourists love you so much?

A. When I dance, I become flexible. I’m not a professional, but I know what I have to do and I’m very confident in myself. I won’t try the splits. They say they enjoy what I do and say I have very good ideas; sometimes they think I’m a mannequin when I’m posing. I don’t ask for money. They just give it to me.

Q. Do you do it to make people happy?

A. It keeps me happy, too. Every day is a new challenge for me. When I’m unable to dance anymore, I’ll just pose. That’s why I do two things. I can dance and pose.

lchan@express-news.net