Today, August 16, is the 35th Anniversary of the death of Elvis Presley. He died in 1977 of a heart arrhythmia at his Graceland home in Memphis, Tennessee. As one of the most popular and beloved entertainers of his time, his death came as a shock to his many devoted fans. In honor of Elvis, included here are some interesting facts about the “The King”.
Elvis Aron Presley was born on January 8, 1935 in Tupelo, Mississippi, USA. In 1954, Elvis began his singing career at the legendary Sun Records. His recording contract was sold a year later to RCA records. Elvis had an illustrious career as a singer and an actor. He has been inducted into The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, The Country Music Hall of Fame and the Gospel Music Hall of Fame.
Elvisby ~Melara
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Famous “Elvis” Tradmarks
The famous left-sided grin
His movements, with his pelvis, that gave him the nickname, “Elvis, the pelvis”, which he strongly disliked
Longer and slightly deeper sideburns
White sequined jumpsuits with rhinestones
Onstage karate moves
Peanut butter and banana sandwiches (with bacon)
Two trademark phrases were “Thank ya!” and “Thank ya’ very much!”
Southern accent
Black hair often greased back
Husky voice
“Elvis” Trivia
- Owned a pet chimpanzee called “Scatter”.
- Had 18 Billboard #1 songs, the first being “Heartbreak Hotel” in March of 1956. His 18th and final #1, “Suspicious Minds”, was released in September 1969.
- The book he was reading at the time of his death was “The Scientific Search for the Face of Jesus” by Frank O. Adams, (Psychical Aid Foundation, USA, 1972).
- From the time they met up until his death, Elvis always sent a roomful of flowers to Anne Margaret whenever she opened up a show in Las Vegas.
- After seeing him in concert, Liberace suggested adding flashy costumes into his act. Elvis took the advice, and became famous for his gold lame jackets and jeweled white jumpsuits. He later reserved a seat for Liberace at a majority of his concerts, as his way of saying thanks.
- Died with about $5 million in his bank account.
- Elvis did not like confrontation. He wanted to fire his manager, Tom Parker, many times. He would tell his friends “Tell Parker, he’s fired.” His friends would go tell him, then Parker would say “Tell Elvis to tell me personally”. Elvis never did.
- Once an opera singer attended one of his 1950s concerts and met him backstage. The singer told Elvis that he sang like a hillbilly and needed singing lessons. Elvis replied, “Thanks for the advice, but how many of the thousands of people out there tonight came to hear you sing?”.
- In 1977 alone his personal physician, Dr. ‘George Constantine Nichopoulos’ (usually referred to as “Dr. Nick”), had prescribed at-least 10,000 hits of amphetamines, barbiturates, narcotics, tranquilizers, sleeping pills, laxatives, and hormones for Presley. His medical license was eventually revoked for prescribing such huge amounts of drugs.
- His home Graceland in Memphis is the second most popular private tourist attraction in the United States after the White House, and is estimated to bring in $150 million to the city itself each year.
“Elvis” Quotes
“Some people tap their feet, some people snap their fingers, and some people sway back and forth. I just sorta do ‘em all together, I guess.” -Elvis in 1956, talking about his way of moving on stage.
“The first time that I appeared on stage, it scared me to death. I really didn’t know what all the yelling was about. I didn’t realize that my body was moving. It’s a natural thing to me. So to the manager backstage I said, ‘What’d I do? What’d I do?’ And he said “Whatever it is, go back and do it again.” -From a 1972 taped interview used in MGM’s documentary “Elvis on Tour”
“…the image is one thing and the human being is another…it’s very hard to live up to an image.” -From the press conference prior to his record-breaking Madison Square Garden shows in New York City, 1972
May Elvis forever rest in peace. His legacy will live on as long as we hold him in our hearts and memories.
Related Articles
References
Biography for Elvis Presley. (1990-2012). Retrieved from IMdb.com Inc: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000062/bio
Elvis Presley: The Official Site of the King of Rock & Roll. (2012). Retrieved from Elvis Presley Enterprises, Inc: http://www.elvis.com/about-the-king/
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Grandmother Musings 
Although I was never a big Elvis fan, I remember the day that the bulletin came across the TV. I was feeding my baby (who we can measure in Elvis-death-years to now be 35 years old). The news was surprisingly upsetting to me. I suppose it was an “oh my God, we’re mortal” moment.
I don’t remember what I was doing. I just remember feeling very sad. It seems, even today, such a waste of a great talent. 🙂
Of course it was in my generation that Elvis first appeared and I did love to watch and listen to him perform. I think he just became ‘too big’ and with the drugs he ended up taking…it took him into a lifestyle that he would not have been able to maintain…and the Lord took him out of it….Diane
I remember watching “Live from Hawaii” with my parents. They were very excited about seeing Elvis on TV. And, I think you are right. There was no way Elvis was going to continue on such a lifestyle. I think he is lucky he lived as long as he did. 🙂
His rendition of “I Can’t Help Falling in Love With You” is SOOOOOO gorgeous! 🙂
Yes, I love that song. My all-time favorite Elvis song is “Loving You”. Every once in a while I will play Elvis for the day. Timeless music. 🙂
my mom is a huge fan,in about 1974 or ’75 me and my sister wrote our names in the rock and mortar fence surrounding graceland. excellent article!
How cool that your sister and you were able to have your names inprinted on the Graceland fence. Your names are visited often. Thanks for commenting. 🙂
Beautiful Blogger Award waits for you to accept over on my posting lol Congrats and ENJOY!
Thank you nutsfortreasure. It was kind of you to think of me. I will pick up the award and work on it asap. Thanks, Again. 🙂
you are very welcome of course!
ahhh i see MY nominator got to you already 🙂
🙂
Yes, I have been nominated by nustsfortreasure, but thank you so much for thinking of me. Congratulations on your nomination. 🙂
I can’t say that I know a whole lot about Elvis, so those are some interesting tidbits you’ve listed.
Thanks, Nicole. 🙂
Thanks, Nicole.
I am going to say something that still sounds strange to me, but very intriguing and will sound strange to you as well. For a long time there has been a rumor circulating in European news that Elvis is not dead, he was found a few years ago in Brazil old and uncultivated. It has been said that in his casket there was another person and not him. In fact he was not seen in an open casket at his funeral. His death was orchestrated to allow him to leave the country. The reason seems to have been his involvement with actress Ann Margaret in the killing of Marilyn Monroe, who was a KGB spies. Every few years this news is regurgitating again and again in Europe, articles have been written about it, but for some reason no one seem to be able to come up with the truth, or the truth is suppressed on purpose. The same news came out again on the day of Elvis’s death anniversary. It is a disturbing news and if it is true, it would overthrow our believes of our idols and we might have to rewrite history.
I don’t think it is strange. I have heard similar rumors throughout the years. It sure would be interesting if that were the case. I have heard similar rumors about Michael Jackson. It is interesting that Pricilla and Lisa Marie were at Graceland this year for the anniversary. I guess that was unsual for them to be there. It could be that they purposely keep the rumors going to keep interest high. High interest brings more people to Graceland, and they make more money. But, who really knows?
It is fun to speculate about Elvis. 🙂 Jamie
Like every mystery in politics, history and all the likes, the truth cannot be revealed unless all the parties involved are dead, so no one can hurt them. We will never know it in our lives.
So true. Even years later, we still don’t know the whole truth about many things. The Kennedy’s is a mystery I would like to see solved. But, I don’t think that story will ever happen.
I would like to see that mystery solved as well. What about the Beatles? For many years now has been said that Paul McCartney of today is not the original. Paul McCartney died in 1969 in a car accident and in one of the song you can hear the phrase “Paul is dead” along with many symbols on the front cover giving away the story. I believe the cover in question is Sgt. Pepper.
Oh, now that is a story I have never heard before… That is quite interesting. How would they have replaced Paul? Look a like? Hmmm… very interesting. 🙂
He might not be a look alike, plastic surgery perhaps? There are a couple of songs that have hidden messages and if you play one backward you will hear it very clearly. The Beatles could not disclose the news then, it would have destroyed the group in the hight of its success. It just gives me goose bump, just to talk about it.
🙂 Wow! I am going check this out.