Elijah J

“It was downright uncanny! As an 11-year-old, Michael Jackson wowed the world with his fancy footsteps, dazzling dancing and super singing. So it was only appropriate at the weekend tribute concert to the King of Pop on what would have been his 51st birthday that the spotlight shined on another 11-year-old wonder.
Pint-sized Elijah Johnson performed Michael’s hit “Dancing Machine” at the show and simply outshone all the other Strip performers. Don’t think for a minute that all the other stars weren’t terrific, because they were all marvelous. However, Lil’ Elijah, who portrays Young Simba in The Lion King at Mandalay Bay, is a superstar in the making, maybe even a future Michael Jackson phenomenon.” - Las Vegas Deluxe Web Blog - Robin Leach

I pulled rank as the producer of the MJ show to have the first serious interview with Elijah Johnson since he exploded on stage in the Pearl. Tomorrow I should have video to show those of you who weren't there what we all witnessed, but until then, here's this week's show with the revelation that Johnson leaves the cast of Lion King in October because he's outgrown the role. Seriously. His dad says the contract says he can't grow more than 2 inches. (!?!) Also, thanks MUCH to Dave McKee of Las Vegas Advisor for filling in for Miles at such short notice as co-host
If you were at the Palms on Saturday for the Michael Jackson tribute benefit, you might want to put your ticket stub in a safe place. Years from now, the concert may very well be remembered in the same light as Motown 25, a magical moment when the world witnessed the birth of a major talent. This time, it was Elijah Johnson, the 11-year-old star of the Lion King at Mandalay Bay, who flew onto the stage in a burst of energy and confidence and sang and danced with an exuberance that now has the Tonight Show calling. Johnson, who leaves the cast of Lion King in October, joined us this hour with his father in the studio to discuss that magical moment last weekend and what it could mean for his future. - Vegashappenshere.com Blog-Steve Friess

Leave it to an 11-year-old wunderkind to remind us why we are still so fascinated with Michael Jackson.
Earlier today, the child genius who is Elijah Johnson assumed the spirit of Jackson, hearkening a period when Jackson eclipsed performers decades his senior, when he was the Jackson offspring who launched the Jackson 5 to international fame and became one of the most celebrated (and famously troubled) entertainers in history. Elijah goes by the stage name -- yes, he’s 11 and has a stage name -- Lil’ Elijah. He’s one of the Young Simbas in “The Lion King” in the Las Vegas version at Mandalay Bay. Not sure it’s fair to say Lil’ Elijah stole the show at the “Las Vegas Celebrates the Music of Michael Jackson” benefit show at The Pearl Concert Theater in the Palms. The lineup of Vegas entertainers was peppered with great talent, including Mosaic, Human Nature, casts of “Phantom -- the Las Vegas Spectacular,” Terry Fator, Earl Turner and Lani Misalucha, “Jersey Boys,” Clint Holmes and Kelly Clinton Holmes, a collection that won’t be overshadowed by any kid.
But if any of the acts in the nearly two-hour show before a suitably occupied theater embodied Jackson’s brilliance, it was this wiry child with adult skills and stage presence beyond his years. He simply killed “Dancing Machine,” singing in his own joyous voice and uncorking all of Jackson’s famous moves -- he moonwalked as effortlessly as he front-walked. As a member of the backing band told me after the show, during rehearsals young Elijah was the performer others in the show stopped to watch. Given the mercurial path Jackson’s career took after he and the rest of the Jackson 5 burst on the scene, when he was the same age Elijah is today, it was great to remember what all the fuss has been about. As show co-producer Steve Friess said from the stage, the production raised more than $100,000 for the Clark County Public Education Foundation to help fund fine arts programs in Las Vegas schools. It’s a charity effort that will help other kids realize their dreams of performing for wowed audiences, like the 11-year-old we watched today. - Las Vegas Sun Times-John Katsilometes

“Elijah Johnson from the local production of the Lion King was a real show stopper. He did some Michael Jackson dances and really stunned the crowd. It was a lot like watching Michael when he was a kid. And yes, yet another standing ovation when he was done.” - CasinoGuide.com

The brightest stars in Las Vegas were front and center for a Michael Jackson tribute at the Palms last week. And the brightest star, according to all reports, was the youngest star. Elijah Johnson, the talented 11-year-old who plays Young Simba in the Lion King at the Mandalay Bay performed the Jackson 5 hit "Dancing Machine" to a stunned audience. His performance was a true channeling of Michael Jackson at precisely the age Elijah currently is. He had the voice and moves that reminded everyone in the audience why they were there--to honor one of th - Vegasinsider.com Blog

The professional, four-camera HD-quality video from "Las Vegas Celebrates The Music of Michael Jackson" remains out of reach for the moment as Erich needs to make time to go work with the company that shot it on post-production, but demand has been quite high for some -- any! -- quality video of Elijah Johnson's stunning performance in last Saturday's show at the Pearl. Well, thanks to KLAS-TV's willingness to provide their raw footage, we now have this. You can download it from TheStripPodcast.Com or watch it on YouTube - Vegashappenshere.com Blog-Steve Friess