MATT DRISCOLL: ROBERT WASHINGTON IS AS GOOD AS IT GETS >>>

Oh, Robert Washington â€" my favorite black Elvis.

Now, the thing about race is â€" either because of guilt, social conditioning or the plague of political correctness â€" we’re not supposed to mention it. It’s like an unmentionable Elephant in the proverbial room, something we all see but have been told we shouldn’t â€" perhaps best characterized by Stephen Colbert’s claims that “he doesn’t see color.” This is the very reason that â€" until after he’d actually won the Presidency â€" no one in the mainstream media seemed to have the balls to bring up the fact that Barack Obama is an African American. I guess they feared that if they even discussed this obvious truth they’d be branded as racists, despite the fact we were in the midst of the most historic, important and barrier-shattering event of our lifetime. Because of our difficulty discussing race, we couldn’t talk about the biggest event most of us will ever see until after it had happened - and that just seems silly.

So, for a moment at least, let’s be honest. Robert Washington is one hell of an Elvis impersonator. His yearly stops in Olympia have been some of the most memorable performances in the town’s recent history. The man is a master of his craft and â€" a fan of impersonators or not â€" you can’t help but be struck by Washington’s skill for replicating the sound and moves of the King. Plus, the man does back flips on stage. What’s not to like?

But, the thing that makes Washington unique - and the thing that turns people’s heads in a world chock full of Elvis impersonator- is his race. People- whether they’ll admit it or not â€" simply get a kick out of seeing a black Elvis. You can try to say I’m wrong, but you know I’m not.

This week, Robert Washington â€" who was made semi-famous in the documentary Almost Elvis, which followed several Presley impersonators in their quest to win the Images of Elvis World Championship in Memphis, Tennessee â€" will play twice in Olympia, first at the Brotherhood tonight, and then again at the Capitol Theater on Friday, Jan. 16. Washington, born in St. Louis in 1958 and a legitimate Elvis impersonator since 1983, was by far the most endearing character the movie highlighted. He’s good at what he does, and the minute he takes the stage he’s the unquestionable center of attention. Though Washington placed third in the year the movie documents, he has since won the outright championship. He’s the King of Kings.

Tonight the King of Kings will be in Olympia. And he’ll still be black.
Washington leaves an impression that’s impossible to forget. See for yourself. â€" Matt Driscoll

[The Brotherhood, 9 p.m., $5, 119 Capitol Way North, Olympia,360.352.4153]
[The Capitol Theater, doors open at 6:30 p.m., show at 7 p.m., $10-$25, 206 Fifth Avenue SE, Olympia 360.754.5378]