D o you ever wonder how insects, birds, bats and even flying fish, all have the ability to fly, yet they are such different and unrelated organisms? Or how the platypus, a mammal, has what looks just like a duck bill? Did you know that koalas have evolved fingerprints that are indistinguishable from ours? All of the above are examples of convergent evolution-- the process by which organisms that are not closely related independently evolve similar traits because they live in similar environments or niches. The wings of the insects, birds, and bats, the duckbill of the platypus, and the koala’ s fingerprints are all known as analogous structures, which are direct results of convergent evolution. Because these traits are not inherited from a common ancestor, they are not homologous structures. So, birds and bats’ abilities to fly do not make them close relatives; their abilities to fly evolved independently of each other despite their shared functions and resemblance.
People have claimed that there are more Elvis impersonators in the world than there are for any other celebrity. Two Elvis impersonators attending the Ultimate Elvis Contest are likely to share many common traits- the clothes they wear, their voices. But of course, the similarities between the two Elvis impersonators do not come from one common origin. The two impersonators may come from two completely different sides of the country and have no relations whatsoever. This month, Vogue had the privilege of bringing in two of the 2013 National Finals Winners of the Elvis Extravaganza Impersonator Contest- Cody Wise and Jerome Jackson- for an interview on their convergence. The annual event took place on February 16, 2013 in Tampa, Florida. Impersonator Jerome Jackson won the“ Best Overalll,”“ Best Sound-A-Like,” and“ Fan Favorite” titles, while Cody Wise won“ Best Look-A-Like.” Unfortunately, Garyelvis Britt, the other finalist and winner of the“ Outstanding Performance” title was not able to join us this month.
Talia Liu: Congratulations to both of you on your wins at the Elvis Extravaganza Impersonator Contest! We are so excited to have you here!
Cody Wise and Jerome Jackson: Thank you for having us! We’ re so honored.
TL: So we wanted to start off by asking both of you where you’ re from; you obviously aren’ t from the same area and aren’ t related...
JJ: Well, I was born in Dothan, Alabama. My mama- yeah, I just said mama!- she’ s also from there, but my daddy was originally from South Carolina. We moved to Columbus, Georgia, then to Germany, and then finally settled in the Daleville area.
CW: I’ m from Franklinton, Louisiana, and I’ ve lived there all my life.
TL: How and when did you start learning about or discovering Elvis?
CW: Well I know for me, I was introduced to him at a very young age- thanks to my parents, especially my mother! It didn’ t take me long since then to become absolutely inspired and curious about such a different lifestyle and career.
JJ: My family isn’ t really musical- no one played any instruments or sang. I discovered Elvis’ s voice when I was eight, while living in Columbus. There was just something about that voice that struck me... this was even before I knew what Elvis looked like or what he was all about. I didn’ t really begin singing until I was about thirteen.
TL: How did you learn how to sing so well?
18 VOGUE JUNE 2013