Elvis Blue goes platinum

Cape Town – Former Idols winner Elvis Blue has recently been chosen as an ambassador for the 46664 bangle initiative and is keeping busy with his own community projects.

The bangle initiative takes its inspiration from Nelson Mandela's legacy and aims to create over 4 000 jobs and raise R1.1bn for charity over the next 16 years.

This achievement comes just as Universal Music South Africa announced that the sales of Elvis' self-titled album have officially crossed the platinum mark, making him the first South African Idols winner to ever have a platinum-selling album.

'Thrilled and humbled'

"Elvis' success is largely due to a combination of his passionate relationship with his fan-base, enduring hit songs like Lighthouse, Save Me and Things my father said, dynamic live performances and his professional hard work ethic," said Universal's Benjy Mudie.

Elvis, who is currently on the road touring, said: "It is an incredible honour to be recognised as a musician and to know that my fans like my music this much. I am thrilled and humbled."

The singer meanwhile is planning to movie his music academy for less privileged children from Alexandra where it is presently based to Zandspruit. Other plans for the school also include a planned concert in which he will perform alongside his students in George.

Before he was crowned the winner of Idols, Elvis Blue gave guitar lessons at a music school in George. He believes the youth need a helping hand in order to empower themselves.

Blue is currently working on his new album which is set for release early in 2012.

"I have written a lot during the past year and next year I will choose the best ones for the new album," he said.