Sondra Hernandez Staff writer June 3, 2024

Jordan Smith’s black pompadour and matching sideburns often cause Conroe residents to stop and do a double take. 

Smith, 23, of Conroe is an up-and-coming Elvis tribute artist and often “The King’s” style and swagger seep into his everyday life around town. 

He said the hair and chops are real. People do notice him and often ask for a picture, which he is happy to do. In his day job, he is a molding operator making parts for endoscopies and biopsies. But one day, he would like to be a professional Elvis tribute artist. 

“Elvis was a legend,” he said. “He had the voice and the charisma and the looks. He put heart and soul into his performances, and you can hear the emotion in his songs.” 

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Singing Elvis songs at karaoke

Smith was born in the Houston area and moved around before finally settling in Conroe more than a decade ago. He was in the choir at Conroe High School and graduated in 2018. 

As a boy he learned about Elvis and his songs from his grandfather and great-grandfather and then his older sister. 

Even though he was a member of a younger generation, the older music appealed to him more than today’s tunes. 

He would sing Elvis songs at karaoke night at the now closed George’s Bar and Grill in Conroe. He developed a fan base and group of friends who enjoyed the tunes. 

Tribute to his mother

His ailing mother was the one to sway him to beginning his career as an Elvis tribute artist. 

“She died of cancer on March 21, 2021. The night before she died, I sang Elvis’ ‘Peace in the Valley’ to her,” he said. “She told me I should really go to nursing homes and retirement centers and perform there.” 

He obtained a white jumpsuit from eBay in the aloha style Elvis wore in the 1970s and carried out her suggestion. 

“It has brought me a lot of joy and them a lot of joy as well,” he said. He said the first white aloha suit was pretty “rinky dink,” but he kept it as a memento as he upgraded outfits. 

He’s since gone on to perform at events and open mics around Conroe and had his most recent show in Richmond.

Re-creating Elvis on stage

Smith sticks to the ’70s era, but his favorite Elvis tunes to sing are “Polk Salad Annie” and “Suspicious Minds.” His mentor is Houston-area Elvis tribute artist Vince King. 

“Once I’m in the jumpsuit, I am Elvis,” he said. “Sometimes I catch myself outside of the jumpsuit talking like Elvis and I don’t even notice.”

He met local drummer Chris Martinez outside the Corner Pub watering hole in downtown Conroe a few years ago.

Martinez saw the Elvis jumpsuit and waved him over with “Hey, Elvis.” Martinez and his friends ended up taking pictures with Smith. He was intrigued to see a 20-something guy as Elvis. 

Smith has gone on to play open-mic nights at the Corner Pub where Martinez also often plays. 

“When we finally convinced him to do an open mic at the Corner Pub, he floored the place,” Martinez said. “It was refreshing to see somebody as young as him doing an Elvis thing. He’s got a lot of gumption. People love what he does. Not only does he have the outfit but he’s got the voice to back it up.”  

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Traveling to Graceland

Smith credits his wife, Chelsea Macha, with making the shows a success, as she assists during the shows and is a major supporter of his career. 

“People will come up to me after a show and say, ‘Man, you were really great,'” he said. “But it’s not just me, it’s her, too.” 

Later this month, the couple will make their first trip to Graceland, Elvis’ home. 

He expects to be like a kid in a candy store. 

“I’m super excited about it. It’s a once-in-a-blue-moon experience,” he said “I don’t know about her, but I’m really stoked about it.”

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