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What Made Elvis the Legend We Know Today

Published
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Elvis Fan
on September 30, 2008
in Elvis Presley, Music and Rock 'n' Roll
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The Man From Memphis
There is a mystical aura about people who become legends — that something extra that sets them apart, making them a little more than just mere mortals. With legends, the last name usually does it for recognition like Humphrey Bogart, Marylin Monroe, Frank Sinatra, Marlene Dietrich - but there is one legend who is so well known, so familiar, that we often just refer to him by his first name: Elvis. But what exactly was it that made Elvis Presley such a huge legend?

The man and his music
Contrary to popular belief, Elvis wasn’t the musician who invented rock and roll. However, he is credited for making it intensely and irrevocably popular. What Elvis did wasn’t exactly unprecedented because there were other musicians like Chuck Berry and Bill Haley who were also into the music. However, it was Elvis’ musical and entertaining style that set him apart.

Unlike his contemporaries, Elvis’ music was a mix of country, western, gospel, rhythm and blues; the kind of popular music he grew up listening to. At a time when there was still a racial divide between blacks and whites in America, Elvis took black R&B and incorporated it into his music. During his life and career, he blurred many racial, social and musical barriers, something that many musicians during his time were unable or unwilling to do.

Sex and rock and roll
Clean-cut white rock and roll was the popular music in his era but Elvis took this seemingly tame genre and changed it overnight. With his gyrations, frenzied dancing, vocal styling, sensual good looks and unabashed sexuality, Elvis produced an image of fun and good times with a healthy dose of sensuality. It outraged conservatives but it earned Elvis millions of young fans.

His live performances and TV appearances only cemented his growing popularity. His music was hard, fast and extremely potent. Elvis became a highly commercial success. His records topped the charts, his concerts were sold-out and he even starred in 33 films. Today, his record sales have topped the one billion mark, making him the most marketable artist in history.

The legend of Elvis
Elvis’ legend is multi-faceted, composed of his unique and witty style and image which richly combined his sensuality, appeal and sense of humor. Add to that the numerous stories of his good will and humility. His fame has grown over the years and continues unabated to this day, fed by a strong cult following.

Elvis probably never knew he’d become a legend and he would probably be looking on in amusement if he were alive today, but his impact on popular culture and on the lives of millions has undoubtedly made him the legend we know and love.

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Remembering Elvis

Published
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Elvis Fan
on September 27, 2008
in Elvis Presley, Music and Rock 'n' Roll
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A Part of Us Died at Elvis Presley’s Funeral.

The life and death of Elvis Presley will always be commemorated by his loyal fans all over the globe. They all have different ways commemorating his contribution to the music business. On August 16 every year, Elvis Presley followers do a pilgrimage to Graceland while others play his CDs and listen to his music. Whichever way we honor the King, he will live on for all eternity.

In the afternoon of August 16, 1977, after playing golf, Elvis returned to his room. He was found by his girlfriend Ginger Alden crouched over and lifeless on the bathroom floor. Wearing a blue top and yellow bottoms, Elvis face was bloated and dark.

He was pronounced dead at 3:30 PM when the medical team at Baptist Memorial Hospital couldn’t revive him. The official cause of death was heart failure. However, autopsies showed that his death was triggered by the prescription drugs he constantly took.

The hospital called Vernon Presley to tell him about his sons death. Joe Esposito was supposed to announce it but he was overcome with grief, Vernon announced to the United States and the whole world, My son, Elvis is dead.

Those who were alive on that fateful day remember where they were when they heard the shocking headline, Elvis is dead. Two days after, his funeral turned into a hyped-up circus. Thousands of fans flew to Memphis to pay their respects and final goodbyes to Elvis Presley whom they adored.

On August 18, 1977, after Elvis’ death was a ceremony then a burial. There was a motorcade consisting of a total of fourteen white Cadillac’s. The driver of Elvis’ hearse was Trent Webb. Coming from Graceland, the final destination was Forrest Hill cemetery.

Rev Bradley was the minister who officiated the burial. Those who attended the funeral were his ex-wife Priscilla, his daughter Lisa Marie, his father Vernon, his grandmother Minnie Mae, Ginger Alden, Chet Atkins, Rolling Stone representative Caroling Kennedy, actress Ann-Margaret and Roger Smith, James Brown, George Hamilton, Colonel Tom Parker, Charlie Hodges, Sammy Davis Jr., Linda Thompson just to name a few.

Kathy Westmoreland sweetly sang the Heavenly Father and Jackie Kahane delivered the eulogy. The pallbearers were George Klein, Joe Esposito, Jerry Schilling, Gene Smith, Billy Smith, Dr. Nicopholous and Lamar Fike. Vernon screamed and lamented that he would follow. Two years after, Vernon died from a broken heart.

President Jimmy Carter said that when Elvis died, a part of the United States died with him.

In the Ghetto by Elvis Presley

Published
by
Elvis Fan
on September 24, 2008
in Elvis Presley, Music and Rock 'n' Roll
. 0 Comments

Elvis Presley, the King of Rock and Roll, continues as a legendary icon still today. His fans continue to love his songs and marvel at the fabulous contributions made in the music industry. He will be primarily remembered for his heightened performances. Yet, it pays to get to know the other side of Elvis Presley, especially the side that gave life to the song In the Ghetto.

Elvis Presley and His Fame

It was in the 1950s that Elvis Presley successfully introduced the whole world to his kind of Rock and Roll. Teenagers and adults alike came to love his music. He then became the king of Rock and Roll. It is worth noting at the same time that he didn’t excel in rock and roll music alone. He also made it to the charts and hall of fame of other music genres like R&B, gospel, blues and pop.

These feats and achievements evidenced the talent and craft of Elvis Presley. These took place in the peak of his career, the time when he was the talk of the town and everybody are going crazy over Elvis and his music.

The Elvis Presley Comeback

After achieving a certain peak in his career, Elvis Presley had a hiatus. He had to attend to some personal matters. Since he had been gone, people feared that he might not be able to make a comeback. It was 1968 when he next released an album known as ‘68 Comeback. However, it was the subsequent album that would make the difference.

In the Ghetto Album

The In the Ghetto album was released in 1969. In this album, Elvis Presley was able to make a turn in his choice of songs. He is still the King of Rock and Roll but in this medium, he chose to give life to songs that he really believed in. The album included the songs Kentucky Rain, Suspicious Minds and In the Ghetto.

The song In the Ghetto was the one initially released as a 45 rpm single. It tells the story of a young boy that lived in the ghetto, grew up stealing and fighting and ended up getting killed. It depicted poverty and despair. With Elvis Presley interpreting the song, the story was given a different perspective. Some were quite apprehensive of the album because of it’s political leanings. Yet, this song was a hit for four years.

How Elvis Died

Published
by
Elvis Fan
on September 15, 2008
in Elvis Presley, Music and Rock 'n' Roll
. 0 Comments

Elvis The King has left the building.

After divorcing his former wife Priscilla in 1973, Elvis Presley’s career slowed down. His financial accounts were depleting and he was gaining weight rapidly. In order to get back the image that he was once famous for, he started taking diet pills and engaged in various diet regimens.

In order for him to completely lose the excess weight, it was best that he completely change his life. Since he was used to his lifestyle, this drastic change wasn’t something he was ready for. Living the celebrity life, he was used to staying up all night, partying, and sleeping all day. His life had little structure which resulted in the health problems he had.

Surroundings didn’t help

The bad influences surrounding him weren’t much help either. The good thing though is that there were still good people who genuinely cared for him. However, these were the ones who witnessed firsthand Elvis self-destructive habits and tendencies. They tried counseling the king to no avail. He ignored them. If they insisted, they were fired.

The End
This unhealthy lifestyle resulted in his untimely death. On August 16, 1977, the King played racquet ball in the morning. He returned to his home and played Unchained Melody in his living room. Then he proceeded to his bedroom. He was found later on his bathroom floor by Ginger Alden, his girlfriend at the time. It was said that he had been face flat and lying there for more than three hours before being discovered.

There were attempts to save Elvis Presley but all these failed. At 3:30 AM in Memphis Hospital (later named Elvis Presley Memorial), he was announced dead by George Nichopoulus, his personal physician.

Exact Cause of Death
An autopsy was done in order to figure out Presley’s real cause of death. The reason for his demise was clogged arteries. But what really killed him were the prescription drugs which he had been ingesting regularly. In the autopsy report, fourteen different kinds of drugs were found in his blood stream. It also included ten times the average dosage of codeine and toxic levels of methoqualone.

Such a waste of talent.

It is 30 years since his death and Elvis Presley fans still wonder whether it was the drugs that killed him, or was it the divorce and his heartache that led to his demise?