Nestled deep within the heart of the mountains of Boone County, West Virginia reigns a King. The King - Jesco White, The Dancing Outlaw. Jesco is a living legend. The last of the Mountain Dancers, his style is unique to the mountain culture. Resembling tap dancing, it's a tradition passed down from father to son - as were his dancing shoes. His dance floor? An 8 by 4 piece of plywood or the roof of his canine companion Duke's doghouse.

His venue? The front yard, the den of Jesco's and Norma Jean's trailer, or any place the spirit moves.

But dancing isn't the only phenomenon that emanates from the cabin. On quiet nights, legend has it, you can hear the echoes of vintage Elvis tunes careening off the walls of Jesco's Elvis room and through the mountains of Boone county. Jesco belts out Elvis tunes as only a true King can. It's a beautiful thing, man.

Jesco's unique mountain wisdom and talents (and tattoos) have not gone unnoticed. His jewels of wisdom are downright profound. His talents have made him the subject of two documentary films and scored him an appearance with Dweezil Zappa ("Weezil" as Jesco puts it) as a country cousin on the "The Roseanne Show." (The tattoos were a big hit, just ask Tom Arnold.)

 Jesco & his sister Mamie's  portraits courtesy of Ron at Cafe Mojo in Richmond, VA.

Jesco's Jewels of Mountain Wisdom:

• "I enjoyed myself from within myself on behalf of myself"

• "My past is coming up into my future and messing with my good life"

                 Finally! Both Dancing Outlaw Videos for Online Viewing!

Here's Jesco's swingin' bachelor pad. The trailer in the documentary was burned. Jesco thinks someone who was jealous of his fame did it. He lost almost all of his Elvis stuff.

Jesco's yard decor.   

It was Jesco's birthday. I took him a card with some cash tucked in it. He put on a tape & "hit me a lick".

He was even gracious enough to reenact the famous "doghouse dancing segment" of the documentary.

I never did get the story on the "Jesus with two firecrackers" tattoo.

When Jesco went to Hollywood to be on the sitcom Roseanne, she immediately noticed the swastika tattoos on the back of both hands. Even though I doubt Jesco even knew why they found it offensive (they are Jewish) he agreed to have them covered before proceeding with the show. According to Jesco himself, they sent a limo for him that took him to the tattoo parlor where he had roses applied to cover the swastikas.

Of course I look giddy! It's Jesco, for Heaven's sake!