Robert Washington is widely known as “Black Elvis”— a legendary Elvis Tribute Artist whose life and career are deeply intertwined with the legacy of Elvis Presley. Born on August 16, 1958, Robert grew up in St. Louis, Missouri, and today resides in Lewiston, Maine. Robert’s connection to Elvis began early. In 1974, he attended an Elvis Presley concert that left a lasting impression. On August 16, 1977, the day Elvis Presley passed away—and Robert’s 19th birthday was at Marine Corps boot camp. Robert went on to serve honorably in the United States Marine Corps until 1981.
Following Elvis’s death, Robert began singing informally for family and friends, discovering a natural ability to channel both the sound and spirit of Presley. He considers 1983 to be his first true professional stage appearance, after which he began competing in Elvis tribute contests. His repertoire focuses primarily on Elvis Presley’s 1968–1977 era, widely regarded as the King’s most powerful and mature period. By August 2001, Robert had competed in ten “Images of the King” contests, the world’s premier annual Elvis Tribute Artist competition held in Memphis, Tennessee.
In 2003, Robert made history by becoming the first African American to win the World Champion Elvis Tribute Artist title—an extraordinary and groundbreaking achievement in Elvis tribute history. In 2007, Robert toured Europe with a production titled “Original Elvis Tribute,” earning enthusiastic reviews from audiences and critics alike. His global recognition continued in December 2013, when Elvis fans voted him Number One, awarding him the Online Viewer’s Choice Award on the Elvis World Championships website. Over the years, Robert has performed extensively throughout Europe, the Far East, and all across the United States, with frequent appearances in Memphis and Las Vegas.
Robert’s career also includes numerous appearances in film and television. He was featured in the 2000 documentary Elvis and the Men Who Would Be King, followed by 2001’s Almost Elvis. In 2004, he appeared in the acclaimed feature film The Notebook. He later starred in the short film Baby Let’s Playhouse (2008) and the feature film The Faithful: The King, the Pope, the Princess in 2016.
Robert was interviewed in 2021 in a groundbreaking program called “Black Elvis Matters.” https://www.thedavidrossshow.com/episode/black-elvis-matters
Elvis Presley would undoubtedly be proud, honored, and deeply flattered to have Robert Washington stand in his place for the 50th Anniversary of his only Maine concert, held on May 24, 1977, at the Augusta Civic Center. Robert Washington is not only a tribute to Elvis—he is a living testament to Elvis’s enduring impact on music, culture, and generations of fans worldwide.
