So much has been said and written about Elvis, so there is no shortage of reference material. But the bottom line is this:
He was a young kid who did not want to work in a garage. He had a good voice and good looks. He liked the way both the gospel music and the "Negro music" sounded. But his tragic flaw was a desire to be accepted, and he wound up with a con artist named Parker who gave him his dream.
Like most "genie in a bottle" stories, there was a downside. The fame came way too fast for him to handle. (Imagine Bill Clinton in the Oval Office with Monica Lewinsky saying, "Damn, I can't believe I'm doing this. Shazzam!")
His personal physician Dr. Nick was a willing accomplice who gave him every drug he asked for. Often, this was Dilaudid. It killed him as he sat on the toilet in Graceland. His last words were, "Corn?"
But listen to songs like "Teddy Bear" and "Don't be Cruel" and tell me he's not the King. If there's a heaven, he's there with his mom. If not, he died in a trance with no pain. So there's that.
Sources: http://www.elvis-presley.com, http://www.elvispresley.com
Biography: Elvis Aaron Presley, in the humblest of circumstances, was born to Vernon and Gladys Presley in a two-room house in Tupelo, Mississippi on January 8, 1935. His twin brother, Jessie Garon, was stillborn, leaving Elvis to grow up as an only child. He and his parents moved to Memphis, Tennessee in 1948, and Elvis graduated from Humes High School there in 1953.
Elvis' musical influences were the pop and country music of the time, the gospel music he heard in church and at the all-night gospel sings he frequently attended, and the black R&B he absorbed on historic Beale Street as a Memphis teenager. In 1954, he began his singing career with the legendary Sun Records label in Memphis. In late 1955, his recording contract was sold to RCA Victor. By 1956, he was an international sensation. With a sound and style that uniquely combined his diverse musical influences and blurred and challenged the social and racial barriers of the time, he ushered in a whole new era of American music and popular culture.
He starred in 33 successful films, made history with his television appearances and specials, and knew great acclaim through his many, often record-breaking, live concert performances on tour and in Las Vegas. Globally, he has sold over one billion records, more than any other artist. His American sales have earned him gold, platinum or multi-platinum awards for 131 different albums and singles, far more than any other artist. Among his many awards and accolades were 14 Grammy nominations (3 wins) from the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences, the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, which he received at age 36, and his being named One of the Ten Outstanding Young Men of the Nation for 1970 by the United States Jaycees. Without any of the special privileges his celebrity status might have afforded him, he honorably served his country in the U.S. Army.
His talent, good looks, sensuality, charisma, and good humor endeared him to millions, as did the humility and human kindness he demonstrated throughout his life. Known the world over by his first name, he is regarded as one of the most important figures of twentieth century popular culture. Elvis died at his Memphis home, Graceland, on August 16, 1977.
Discography:
During his career, he also released dozens of singles and EPs. Numerous compilation albums have been released since he died.
Elvis Aaron Presley is a resident of Tagish a small community 30 minutes west of Whitehorse, Yukon Territory. He drives a pink Cadillac which has a collection of plastic cherubic angels epoxied to the hood. He divorced from his wife several years ago after a domestic dispute (see below). Elvis Aaron Presley is also a landscape painter and his pieces can be purchased at the Yukon Art Gallery in Whitehorse. He has not recorded any recent albums.
Mr. Presley was not always known as such in his community. Sometime in the early 1990's Mr. Presley constructed a log cabin out of discarded telephone poles, these being free and readily available. It is rumored that these are coated with a protective layer of harsh chemicals and toxins and that the inhalation of these during the cold winter months might have had some affect on Mr. Presley ensuing mental health.
During this winter, Mr. Presley claims to have been abducted by aliens. This is not unusual since many people at that time were allegedly being abducted throughout North America. However, Mr. Presley's real identity was revealed to him during one of these abductions. He was informed that in the 1970's he had been hypnotized to believe that he was someone else by the CIA or the FBI (some wonder if not the SPCA) and sent to live his new identity in the small, isolated community of Tagish.
At the winter's end, he had his name legally changed (back) to Elvis Aaron Presley. This name is proudly and boldly painted onto all of his canvases.
In 1996, Mr. Presley was involved in an argument with his wife. During this dispute he tried to shoot her, but fortunately missed. He was arrested by local RCMP (Royal Canadian Mounted Police) officers. It was suggested to him at this time by one of these officers that he should consider seeking professional help.
In 1997, Mr. Elvis Presley sued the RCMP for the above comment which he felt was defamatory. The trial lasted the summer of 1997 and was written up in papers across the nation and, indeed, throughout the world. Mr. Presley represented himself and each day arrived at the court in polyester and sequins. Mr. Presley sought one million dollars in damages, but was asked to pay the court $10 at the end for "wasting everyone's time".
To view a photo of Mr. Elvis Aaron Presley go here: http://yukonweb.com/community/identify.htmld/
Also please refer to The Colorful 5 Percent.
Nothing really affected me until I heard Elvis. If there hadn't been an Elvis, there wouldn't have been the Beatles. -- John Lennon Elvis Aaron Presley is not only my hero he was a superhero! Not to mention his good looks, gorgeous voice, and his level head in spite of the fame; Elvis acted in 31 full feature films, served his country in the military, helped bring racial integration, was an eighth degree black belt in Karate and a secret agent for the United States government. Eat your heart out, James Bond. He started his life as a poor southern boy from Tupelo, Mississippi and rose to become one of the largest personalities of the 20th century. His influence on music is more profound than anyone can rationally comprehend. Buddy Holly, John Lennon, Bob Dylan, Joe Cocker, Paul Simon, Elton John, Isaac Hayes, Huey Lewis, Bono and countless more cite Elvis as their inspiration. There is no doubt that Elvis will live on in legend and lore for many years to come. Every great superhero has an origin. Elvis's beginnings were pretty humble. He was born on January 8, 1935 and grew up in poverty. His father, Vernon Elvis Presley, had a hard time holding down a job and occasionally had run-ins with the law. They moved to Memphis, Tennessee when Elvis was thirteen because of one such run-in. Despite his impoverished upbringing, Elvis grew up to have a deep respect for people because of the influence of his mother, Gladys Love (Smith) Presley. Though they didn't have much, his mother taught him to appreciate the things they did have as well as the good manners of a southern gentleman. There was something just bordering on rudeness about Elvis. He never actually did anything rude, but he always seemed as if he was just going to. On a scale of one to ten, I would rate him eleven. -- Sammy Davis Jr. Nearly everyone who came in contact with Elvis said he was one of the nicest people they ever met. Though he was a superstar in two professions, music and film, industries known for their divas and prima donnas, Elvis was always polite and cordial. He never forgot his modest beginnings and tried to help anyone and everyone he could. He was known for giving away Cadillacs but most of Elvis's philanthropy went unheralded; he didn't do it for the headlines, he did it because he thought it was the right thing to do. Elvis always fancied himself as a white hat. As a boy he would read comic books and imagined himself as the hero. Every kid that reads comic books has his favorite hero (mine is Spidey). Elvis's was Captain Marvel, Jr. It was common for children and teens who read comics to bring the morals taught by the Comics Code with them into adulthood. This was certainly true when it came to Elvis. He had a great respect for law enforcement, religion, charities, and the other do-gooders of the world. Likewise, he loathed the evildoers; racists, con artists, drug dealers, the mafia, etc. Also, it would seem Captain Marvel, Jr. influenced the way Elvis dressed, with high collar capes, jumpsuits, and big boots. It is fascinating to compare pictures of the 1940s comic book hero with those of the King of Rock 'n' Roll. He was an integrator, Elvis was a blessing. They wouldn't let black music through. He opened the door for black music. -- Little Richard Elvis's unique style of music, combining white country and gospel music, black Rhythm & Blues and gospel, and white pop music, coupled with his odd manner of dress, his hairstyle and sideburns, struck something in the hearts of teenagers of the time. In January of 1956, only two years after he had begun pursuing a singing career, Elvis became insanely popular with the release of Heartbreak Hotel. The single sold 300,000 copies in its first few weeks and quickly became a number one hit. For the first time, people in cities were listening to the same song as people in the country; whites were listening to the same song as blacks. The social barriers in the nation seemed to melt away where Rock 'n' Roll was concerned. Though racial integration had a long fight ahead, Elvis took this first step in helping people realize their common links through music. Throughout 1956, Elvis continued to release four more number one hits and two number one albums. He made an extraordinary amount of television, radio, and public appearances and acted in his first blockbuster movie, Love Me Tender. His sudden rise to superstardom was historically unprecedented. At the end of 1957, with his career in full swing, Elvis was drafted into the US Army. Though his fans and management were upset, Elvis was anxious for the opportunity to serve his country and on March 24, 1958 he reported for service. The Army has Special Services for celebrities. They told Elvis he could sing and make television appearances for the Army during his time but he turned it down. He didn't want any special treatment. He served as a normal soldier and was assigned to a tank battalion as a gunner. Elvis liked guns, and the gun on a M4 Sherman was about as big as they came. He was shipped off to Germany and was looking forward to a break from his fame. But much to his dismay, he found two thousand screaming fans had shown up to meet his ship at port. Some people, including Elvis, believed that spending the two years in the Army, outside the public arena, would end his career. However, Elvis's manager, Colonel Tom Parker, kept him on the charts by slowly putting out unreleased recordings over the two years. He was discharged on March 5, 1960 at the rank of sergeant. While in Germany, Elvis became interested in Karate. His first teacher was a German shotokan stylist. Elvis became so fascinated with marital arts he would spend his leave in Paris training under one of the top Japanese shotokan stylists, Tetsugio Murakami. Once he was discharged and moved back to the States, Elvis started to train under Ed Parker. Though Parker thought Elvis was a talented student, he was afraid to test him for his black belt. Bac
Nothing really affected me until I heard Elvis. If there hadn't been an Elvis, there wouldn't have been the Beatles. -- John Lennon
Elvis Aaron Presley is not only my hero he was a superhero! Not to mention his good looks, gorgeous voice, and his level head in spite of the fame; Elvis acted in 31 full feature films, served his country in the military, helped bring racial integration, was an eighth degree black belt in Karate and a secret agent for the United States government. Eat your heart out, James Bond.
He started his life as a poor southern boy from Tupelo, Mississippi and rose to become one of the largest personalities of the 20th century. His influence on music is more profound than anyone can rationally comprehend. Buddy Holly, John Lennon, Bob Dylan, Joe Cocker, Paul Simon, Elton John, Isaac Hayes, Huey Lewis, Bono and countless more cite Elvis as their inspiration. There is no doubt that Elvis will live on in legend and lore for many years to come.
Every great superhero has an origin. Elvis's beginnings were pretty humble. He was born on January 8, 1935 and grew up in poverty. His father, Vernon Elvis Presley, had a hard time holding down a job and occasionally had run-ins with the law. They moved to Memphis, Tennessee when Elvis was thirteen because of one such run-in. Despite his impoverished upbringing, Elvis grew up to have a deep respect for people because of the influence of his mother, Gladys Love (Smith) Presley. Though they didn't have much, his mother taught him to appreciate the things they did have as well as the good manners of a southern gentleman.
There was something just bordering on rudeness about Elvis. He never actually did anything rude, but he always seemed as if he was just going to. On a scale of one to ten, I would rate him eleven. -- Sammy Davis Jr.
Nearly everyone who came in contact with Elvis said he was one of the nicest people they ever met. Though he was a superstar in two professions, music and film, industries known for their divas and prima donnas, Elvis was always polite and cordial. He never forgot his modest beginnings and tried to help anyone and everyone he could. He was known for giving away Cadillacs but most of Elvis's philanthropy went unheralded; he didn't do it for the headlines, he did it because he thought it was the right thing to do. Elvis always fancied himself as a white hat.
As a boy he would read comic books and imagined himself as the hero. Every kid that reads comic books has his favorite hero (mine is Spidey). Elvis's was Captain Marvel, Jr. It was common for children and teens who read comics to bring the morals taught by the Comics Code with them into adulthood. This was certainly true when it came to Elvis. He had a great respect for law enforcement, religion, charities, and the other do-gooders of the world. Likewise, he loathed the evildoers; racists, con artists, drug dealers, the mafia, etc. Also, it would seem Captain Marvel, Jr. influenced the way Elvis dressed, with high collar capes, jumpsuits, and big boots. It is fascinating to compare pictures of the 1940s comic book hero with those of the King of Rock 'n' Roll.
He was an integrator, Elvis was a blessing. They wouldn't let black music through. He opened the door for black music. -- Little Richard
Elvis's unique style of music, combining white country and gospel music, black Rhythm & Blues and gospel, and white pop music, coupled with his odd manner of dress, his hairstyle and sideburns, struck something in the hearts of teenagers of the time. In January of 1956, only two years after he had begun pursuing a singing career, Elvis became insanely popular with the release of Heartbreak Hotel. The single sold 300,000 copies in its first few weeks and quickly became a number one hit.
For the first time, people in cities were listening to the same song as people in the country; whites were listening to the same song as blacks. The social barriers in the nation seemed to melt away where Rock 'n' Roll was concerned. Though racial integration had a long fight ahead, Elvis took this first step in helping people realize their common links through music. Throughout 1956, Elvis continued to release four more number one hits and two number one albums. He made an extraordinary amount of television, radio, and public appearances and acted in his first blockbuster movie, Love Me Tender. His sudden rise to superstardom was historically unprecedented.
At the end of 1957, with his career in full swing, Elvis was drafted into the US Army. Though his fans and management were upset, Elvis was anxious for the opportunity to serve his country and on March 24, 1958 he reported for service. The Army has Special Services for celebrities. They told Elvis he could sing and make television appearances for the Army during his time but he turned it down. He didn't want any special treatment. He served as a normal soldier and was assigned to a tank battalion as a gunner. Elvis liked guns, and the gun on a M4 Sherman was about as big as they came.
He was shipped off to Germany and was looking forward to a break from his fame. But much to his dismay, he found two thousand screaming fans had shown up to meet his ship at port. Some people, including Elvis, believed that spending the two years in the Army, outside the public arena, would end his career. However, Elvis's manager, Colonel Tom Parker, kept him on the charts by slowly putting out unreleased recordings over the two years. He was discharged on March 5, 1960 at the rank of sergeant.
While in Germany, Elvis became interested in Karate. His first teacher was a German shotokan stylist. Elvis became so fascinated with marital arts he would spend his leave in Paris training under one of the top Japanese shotokan stylists, Tetsugio Murakami. Once he was discharged and moved back to the States, Elvis started to train under Ed Parker. Though Parker thought Elvis was a talented student, he was afraid to test him for his black belt. Bac
