Elivs, rock and roll and me...

Until I got my first glimpse of Elvis, I used to watch Liberace on TV. I kid you not. My favorite singers were all country stars or gospel singers. Late one evening, I was about eleven years old, my aunt who was 21 years old came over to our house (across a dirt alley) and said 'you've got to come see this guy singing. He's gorgeous!' And so he was anc very, very sexy. I fell in love on the spot. It was about 11:30 p.m., and I have no idea what show he was on. He was not famous yet. He wore black leather pants and something else. :) To the day of his death, I purchased every record he ever made, saw every movie... several times. As Trisha Yearwood would sing many years later... 'She's in love with the boy.' Soon enough, I began to like a lot of rock and roll singers but none like Elvis.

My collection of Elvis pictures, record covers, etc. grew so large that my uncle Charles built me a huge cork board that covered one entire wall in my room. That's where I posted everything so I could see Elvis first thing in the morning and last thing at night. ;)

When his first movie, Love Me Tender, arrived, there was a 'sneak preview' on a Wednesday night. The theatre was so crowded, I had to sit on the floor in the aisle. I didn't care. I am not a 'screaming' type fan, but many girls were. I just sort of hyperventilated a lot. lol

Many memories in my life are tied to Elvis songs. My first Christmas away from home was in 1960. I went to our office Christmas party (Welch, WV) and danced most of the night with a nice young man. The song we played the most was Elvis' 'Are You Lonesome Tonight.' I wore a winter white dress of velvet with gold and silver jewelry. It was a magical night.

More to come....