| Elvis Presley Hollywood film/music legend |
| Elvis...one word does it...no Presley needed. Eevveerryyone knows who is is, even the family dog (hound or not) knows this legendary entertainer. He had charisma, girls, persona, girls, acting and singing talent, girls...yeah, he had the cake, and he did manage to eat most of it during his short lifetime. Elvis Aaron Presley was born January 8, 1935, in Tupelo, Missisippi... (in this house) He was one half of twins, however his twin brother, Jesse Garron, died at birth. This always affected Elvis harshly, and you didn't dare bring it up. He came from very humble beginnings. Elvis was a quite and shy kid who didn't seek out alot of attention early in his life. At the age of 13, Elvis' family moved to Memphis, Tennessee (and lived here) where he worked at Loew's Theater as a movie theater usher. He had a passion for gospel music early in life and in Memphis he found a place where they performed gospel every Friday night. Elvis would show up for every show. The man at the door became familiar with this wildly dressed kid who would show up every Friday night, normally before everyone else. So when two weeks passed and he didn't show, on the third week the man asked why he hadn't been in the last two weeks. Elvis' reply was, "I didn't have any money sir." The man immediatly took him aside and said, "son, from this moment on, you don't need any money to get in here, just meet me at the back door at 7." Elvis did, and his passion for music grew stronger. Even at the time of his his death, Elvis preferred gospel over rock n' roll. Upon graduation from Humes High, Elvis took a job as a truck driver for Crown Electric Company. It was in this truck he drove to a local recording studio called Sun, (cool Sun website here) and with four dollars, recorded two songs for his mother for mother's day. The songs were "My Happiness" and "That's When the Your Heartaches Begin." The head of the studio was Sam Phillips. A big wig record producer that had discovered Carl Perkins, Johnny Cash, and B.B. King. The studio was open to the public to record, but Sam usually never heard what the public recorded. However, when Elvis stepped in the booth and started singing, the recording engineer got goosebumps and forced Sam to hear Elvis. Thus history began. His first recordings, "Good Rockin' Tonight" and "I Don't Care if the Sun Don't Shine" were instant hits in the Memphis area. Before long, Elvis was spreading from station to station like wildfire. Elvis brought to music a twang that was new. It became known as Rock and Roll. On May 13, 1955, his performance in Jacksonville started a riot of women, his first. "Baby Lets Play House" & "I'm Left, Your Right, She's Gone" was released and reached #10 on the national Country & Western chart in July. He now had a manager, Colonel Tom Parker. That September Presley had his first #1 country record "Mystery Train" and "I Forgot to Remember to Forget. By this time Colonel Parker had become increasingly involved with Presley's career and had negotiated for RCA to purchase Presley's contract from Sun Records for $35,000. Presley received a $5,000 advance that he used to buy his mother a pink Cadillac. (though his mom didn't drive, it was the thought that mattered..right?) In March 1957 Presley purchased Graceland, a former church and converted it into a twenty three room mansion. In February "All Shook Up" began an eighteen week stretch at number #1. Elvis popularity was soaring, and it was only a matter of time before Hollywood came knocking. Elvis was the first rock star to crossover into films with consistent commercial success. Loving You, his second film, was released in July 1957 and "Teddy Bear" from it's soundtrack went to #1 on the pop, country, and R&B charts, as did "All Shook Up" and "Jailhouse Rock," the title song from his next movie. Elvis continued to do film after film, closely (of course) monitored by his money monger manager, Colonel, while keeping with his singing carrer. On March 24, 1958 Presley entered the Army. The next months saw number one hits with "Don't" and "I Beg You." A few months later he went on leave to be with sick mother. Gladys Presley died the day after his arrival home in Memphis, on August 14, 1958. Presley would call her death the greatest tragedy in his life. He returned to the Army and was shipped to Bremerhaven, West Germany. In January 1960 he was promoted to sergeant and was discharged that March. After the discharge, and with the death of his mother, and him hating the mortal shit out of his new stepmom, Elvis began gathering more closely around him his friends, employees, and hangers on that would become known as the Memphis Mafia and would accompany him almost constantly until his death. Presley's world would become increasingly insular. After a live performance on March 25, 1961 Presley quit performing and spent the next eight years making movies. Colonel kept him hidden from the public view, and it grew worse. Elvis became isolated, other than the Memphis Mafia around him. His drug addiction grew, and so did his weight. Outwardly, Elvis was more popular than ever and one of the biggest personality cults in modern history was taking hold. Off stage Presley was plagued with self doubt, poor management, and a basic dissatisfaction with his life. He repeatedly threatened to quit show business, but debts and financial obligations to his large extended family, employees, and assorted hangers on made that impossible. June 26, 1977 Presley performed live for the last time in Indianapolis. On August 16, 1977, the day before his next scheduled concert, Presley was discovered by his girlfriend Ginger Alden dead in his bathroom at Graceland. His death was attributed to congestive heart failure. A later autopsy revealed advanced hardening of the arteries and an enlarged liver. Later it was determined that drug abuse may have been a contributing factor. in September 1979 Presley's private doctor Dr. George Nichopoulos was charged by the Tennessee Board of Medical Examiners with indiscriminately prescribing 5,300 and vials in the seven months before his death. He was later acquitted. RIP Elvis! Thank you for sharing your talent with the world! Visit his grave and leave flowers here. TRIVIA Has sold over 1,000,000,000 (1 billion) albums worldwide; more than any other musical artist/group in the world, including The Beatles. The book he was reading at the time of his death was "The Scientific Search for the Face of Jesus" by Frank O. Adams. Mother Gladys bought him his first guitar at age 12. Was one of the first people in the U.S. to own a "Betamax" system VCR. Died with only about $5 million in his bank account. In 2002, a re-mixed version of one his more obscure recordings, "A Little Less Conversation", became a dance club hit, and topped the charts in the United Kingdom. more trivia can be found at imdb.com OFFICIAL SITE HIS SONS SITE??? |
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