Alphonso King Jr.

Originally from Tampa, Florida, Alphonso King Jr. moved to New York City in 1992 after a failed audition for the character "Dill" in "The Crying Game" in 1990. Upon his arrival he became a DJ at a transsexual/drag bar called Sally's (as mentioned in Jenny Livingston's documentary "Paris Is Burning"). After meeting and working with Dorian Corey, Angie Xtravaganza, Pepper LaBeija and Willie Ninja from the documentary, King revived his drag career and became known as Jade Elektra. In that same year of 1992, he formed a drag revue called "The Illusions" which featured Harmonica Sunbeam, Sybil Barrington, Tyra Colbaire and Victoria Lace. The Illusions performed weekly at a soul food restaurant in Harlem called "Copeland's" on Thursday evenings. Their closing show was August 3rd, 1994 at The Cotton Club. In 1996, King started working with longtime friend Calvin Roberts who lived in Baltimore at the time on material for a dance single called "Why Are You Gaggin'?". This would be Jade Elektra's first single on Progressive High Records (a division of Atlantic Records) in 1997. This would begin King's recording career as his alter-ego. Tracks like "Bitch You Look Fierce", "How Do I Look", "Karma", "Come Get This Education" and a cover of Carl Bean's Gay Pride anthem "I Was Born This Way" are all considered Underground Club hits around the world. King was also a background vocalist for MJ White and Donald Sheffey. Jade Elektra has signed with Filthy Bitch Records (UK), Ber'lin Records (US) and Posse Up Records (Canada). All though King only has film credits here for "Jane Doe" and "Too Wong Foo, Thanks For Everything Julie Newmar" he was also an extra in "Stonewall (1995)" and "Party Girl (1995)". King also did extra work for the television show "NY Undercover". But gained a small following for his appearances on Trash TV shows like "Maury Povich" (1 episode) and "The Richard Bey Show" (13 episodes). In 2008, King wrote and produced a pilot for a drag competition called "Showgirl 101" (which can be found on YouTube). It was shopped to Logo but was passed up for RuPaul's "Drag Race".King also spend his years in New York City building a following as DJ Relentless (Producer/Remixer/Club DJ). After meeting his future husband John Allan in 2005 during a gig in Montreal, King decided to come out as HIV+ publicly. After moving to Toronto to marry John Allan, the two became out HIV / AIDS activists when they created a monthly social event and fundraiser for local organizations like ACT and PWA called "POZ-TO". King became a very outspoken advocate for Toronto's HIV+ Community. King and Allan formed Relentless Entertainment which produced many club nights like "Club Lite Fridays", "Sunday Night Fever", "Milk Sundays" and "Mixology Fridays". The two also produced a La Cage type drag revue called "Faux Girls" in the spring of 2016 which featured Toronto performers such as Amanda Roberts, Anastarzia Anaquay, Farra N. Hyte, Jasmine Black and of course Jade Elektra.