ELVIS ARON PRESLEY

A short biography

Chapter One

Life in Tupelo

In the June of 1933 Vernon Elvis Presley married Gladys Love Smith. Vernon was born on the 10th of April 1916 and his wife on the 25th of April. On the 8th of January in a small two-room shotgun shack in Tupelo, Mississippi twins were born. One was named Jessie Garon Presley and the other Elvis Aron Presley. The second name Garon was given in honor of one of Vernon 's relatives. The name Aron was after the head of the local church “The Assembly of God”. In fact the man's name was Aaron but the Presleys made it more similar with Garon and intentionally skipped the first “A”. Unfortunately Jessie was stillborn, his grave site remains unknown. So Elvis was the only child. The Presleys were a poor family and as almost all the southern families very religious. Every Sunday they would attend church. There is a small legend saying that once in the church 2 years old Elvis crawled on the stage and made his first attempt to sing a gospel song. In fact gospel was the first music Elvis was influenced by and his favorite musical genre right till the end. But in Tupelo there were also the black bluesmen Elvis could see and hear in the neighborhood. And country music was all over the radio and one couldn't escape it's influence..

In 1945 Elvis won prize (5$ and a free admission to all the rides) at a fair singing Old Shep, a song he would record later in 1956. The show was broadcasted on WELO radio. For the Christmas of 1946 Elvis wanted a bicycle (by other sources a rifle) but the family couldn't afford it. So Gladys bought him a guitar for 12.95$ at the Tupelo Hardware Company. Elvis learned a few chords from his father and other relatives and spent a lot of time with it. In 1948 he sang a song Leaf On A Tree as a farewell song to his class at Milam Junior High. They packed up all their property in their 1939 Plymouth and left for Memphis, Tennessee in search of better opportunities, like hundreds of other families.

Chapter Two

Hello Memphis !

The Presleys lived in residential areas somewhere in the Northern part. Elvis attended Christine School and then went to Humes Junior High. He took some small jobs to support his family and to buy fancy clothes for himself.  He bought clothes at Lansky's, where many black musicians got dressed up and spent time on the famous Beale Street, that which happened to be the center of blues. In Humes Junior High he had few friends. One of them was Red West – a man who was with Elvis until 1977 and who became one of the authors of “Elvis: What Happened?” considered by many fans a treason and another nail to Elvis' coffin.

Elvis spent hours singing, he attended all-night black and white gospel concerts. He often had no money to buy a ticket and J.D. Sumner who would work with Elvis in 70's helped him to pass. Elvis tried to join the Blackwood Brothers gospel group but he failed. Thank God! Some sources say that Elvis went to take part in Louisiana Hayride (the most famous radio country show) in 1952 and 1953 but in vain. At school in 1953 he sang Mystery Train at a talent show and got more applause than anybody else. After graduating Elvis became a truck driver for Crown Electric Company and started taking courses to become an electrician.

Chapter Three

The Sunrise

“Sun” studio was a small but unique recording label. Sam Phillips the owner was among the first people to see the potential in black music and started to record unknown artists like Rufus Thoma and B.B. King. Elvis entered “Sun” studio and made up a story that he wanted to record a song as a birthday present for his mother Gladys. What Elvis really wanted to do is to take the last chance to become a singer. He wanted to hear how his voice would sound on the acetate. The owner of Sun Records was out that day. The only person to hear him singing was Marion Kaisker who wrote down Elvis name and his friend's phone number misspelling the name Pressley. Elvis sang My Happiness and That's When Your Heartaches Begin. He paid 4$ and left. This acetate wasn't lost it still remains at Graceland .

Later he was called to Sun again by Sam Phillips for a session with two other musicians a guitarist Scotty Moore and bass player Bill Black. They started from well known ballads but nothing special happened. During a break Elvis, Scotty and Bill started jamming with Arthur Crudup's That's Alright Mama. Their interpretation was faster seemed like it was going to explode. Sam was quick to press the Record button and very soon the song became Elvis' first single together with Blue Moon of Kentucky. When the song was to appear on the radio for the first time Elvis went to the movies. He was afraid that the audience wouldn't like it. But his parents came and said it was a sensation. A local sensation of course. Elvis had five singles on Sun Records and all of the were pretty popular in Memphis and some other towns. While touring in the South Elvis was noticed by Colonel Tom Parker the manager of Hank Snow and Eddy Arnold. Parker watched Elvis for some time finally offered him a contract with RCA records one of the largest recording companies. He was lucky that Sam was experiencing financial troubles, so getting Elvis was easier.

Chapter Four

The Crowning

Elvis starts to tour with Parker as a warm-up for Hank Snow. In February, 5 he makes his first record at RCA, the legendary Heartbreak Hotel. The song immediately jumps on the top of the national charts. Other hits follow songs like Blue Suede Shoes, Tutti Frutti, Rip It Up, I Want You I Need You I Love You and many others. Two albums are released Elvis Presley an Elvis. His biggest selling single is Don't Be Cruel/Hound Dog. Elvis makes his first appearance at the Dorsey Brothers Stage Show. His movements cause a wave of criticism, especially after Milton Berle Show. Every here and there he is criticized for his sexual movements and singing “black” songs. The mixture of country, R&B, blues and gospel under the name of ROCK'N'ROLL is a genuine dynamite for the conservative American society of the 50's. He tours around the country and his concerts are framed by the police. Elvis breaks every possible record on album or single sales. The teenagers go crazy for Elvis the Pelvis.

In 1956 Elvis made his first movie. It was to be called The Reno Brothers, but was renamed into Love Me Tender. Elvis appears on some other shows. The most popular show in the USA was the Ed Sullivan Show. Mr Sullivan said he'd never let that Presley perform in his show but Elvis' incredible popularity forces him to invite Elvis. He got into the history of rock'n'roll for shooting Elvis from the waist up. Elvis was a success as usual and Sullivan said in the end that Elvis was a decent, fine boy. Two movies followed one another Loving You and Jailhouse Rock both with amazing songs are a success.

A Christmas album was released. The Colenel sure knew how to make money on his boy. A great variety of merchandising products could be found at the shops. In 1958, Elvis prepares to shoot in King Creole but the sudden news that he should go to the army strikes him. A vacation of two years could damage his career as nothing more. So the movie was shot in a shorter period and a studio session was held. On March 15 Elvis performed two shows in Memphis they are to be his last ones until 1960. After that Elvis left for the army.

Chapter Five

Serving Uncle Sam

On March 24, 1958 Elvis Presley was inducted into the U.S. Army at the Memphis Draft Board and was assigned serial number 53310761. All his relatives were present at that day. After the induction he took on a bus and left for Fort Chaffe , Arkansas where he got his hair cut and became a real GI. On 29 th he arrived at Fort Hood , Texas . That is where he would spend six months training. Elvis's parents moved to an apartment near the base. In June, he took his first leave and did his last (until 1960) recording session. The material was to remind the audience about Elvis while he was away. Soon Gladys became ill and was hospitalized in Memphis . Elvis took an emergency leave and returned to Memphis on August, 12th. On the 14 th, she passed away. The biggest tragedy in Elvis' life. And the pain would remain until his death. Some sources say that during the funeral Elvis tried to jump into the grave. He invited Blackwood Brothers to sing at the funerals because they were Gladys' favorite band.

Elvis spent 10 days at Graceland and returned to Fort Hood . On October he arrived at Bad Nauhem, West Germany . There he met a 14 year old girl Priscilla Ann Beaulieu and they became friends.

In 1959 an album A Date With Elvis was released. With a photo of a GI Elvis on the cover. In the army, Elvis sees Karate for the first time and falls in love with that art. (He had 8 th degree dan black belt). In 1960 Elvis returned home. The event was a sensation.

Chapter Six

Elvis In Hollywood

Elvis guest starred in Frank Sinatra's show called Welcome Home Elvis. They even sang a duet. Elvis locks up in the studio and starts to work. The result was among the best albums and singles Elvis ever cut. It was called Elvis Is Back. Such songs as Stuck On You, It's Now Or Never, Are You Lonesome Tonight, Surrender and Fever became greatest hits of the time. Elvis gave gives two charity shows in Memphis and Hawaii . One for various charity organizations, the other to built a U.S.S. Arizona memorial for victims of Japanese bombardments. Elvis's first movies after the return from the army were smash hits. Especially G.I. Blues and Blue Hawaii . And the Hollywood period of Elvis begins. Shortly Priscilla arrives to spend some time at Graceland . On May, 1 1967 they would marry. In nine months Elvis only child Lisa Marie would be born. Some say Hollywood era was the worst period of his career. I agree that the most of the movies were terrible but there were diamonds among them too. Some had good script (Flaming Star, Change Of Habit) others great soundtracks (Blue Hawaii, Live A Little Love A Little) although there were some which lacked both (Easy Come, Easy Go). The albums in the 60's were still successful ( How great Thou Art brought Elvis his first Grammy) but the soundtracks after 1963 become worse and worse until 1967. And in 1967 the comeback starts.

 

Chapter Seven

The Comeback

It will be fair to divide the comeback into three parts. The famous sessions with Chips Momen at the American Sound  Studio, the Legendary Comeback Special and Elvis' return to live performances in Las Vegas . In 1967 Elvis made some great records at The American Sound Studio in Nashville . Songs like U.S. Male and Guitar Man were success. In 1968 Parker decided to make a show with NBC. A show where Elvis would sing some Christmas songs. But the director Steve Binder knowing Elvis' potential made a totally different thing. The ELVIS NBC TV special or simply The Comeback Special. Elvis sang on a small stage clothed in black leather suit. He sang his old and new songs. I don't think that there's anything more fantastic than the show. The show had a storyline based on the Blue Bird of Happiness, it was well staged and remained classics. The last song was Elvis' first social song, where he expressed his ideas about a number of crucial things. Elvis was at his best and the show became the best viewed program of 1968. Elvis' last Hollywood movie Change of Habit was released in 1969. And the King took off to Las Vegas . Having a contract in Kirk Kirkorian's International Hotel or Hilton as it was renamed in 1972 Elvis returned to live performances. He was a total sensation with his new style and hits like Suspicious Minds and In The Ghetto. Elvis sang with an orchestra and two back vocal bands The Sweet Inspirations an The Imperials (which soon would be changed for J.D. Sumner and The Stamps). Whatever Elvis did in 1969 it is a success.

Chapter Eight

The Final Years

The King retured to Vegas in 1970 and despite of some skepticism he was a success again. That's when Elvis made his first documentary called That's The Way It Is. It contained concert material of Elvis' shows in Vegas and for the first time we have a chance to see Elvis at the studio and at the rehearsals. The album That's The Way It Is was another success. Elvis his famous visit to president Richard Nixon and became an FBI drug enforcement agent. In 1971 and up to 1972 Elvis toured around the country accompanied by the Memphis Mafia. Group of friends, every one of them had special duties. In 1971 he received an award as one of Ten Outstanding Young Men of the USA . In 1972 Elvis filmed his second documentary Elvis On Tour. It received an award as the best documentary of 1972. Elvis divorced Priscilla soon. 1973 was an important year for Elvis. He becomes the first artist whose concert would be broadcasted worldwide. The famous Aloha From Hawaii. Elvis worked hard and the concert brought him even more fame. He was so much on top that no-one before him had ever gone. Over a billon of people tuned in to see the King. Unfortunately the show wasn't on in USSR . Elvis keeps touring and touring and it slowly tired him down. He had to use more and more medications to keep the ball rolling. He gave an enormous quantity of  concerts. In 1976 he didn't want to go to studio any more so the studio came to him. The famous Jungle Room Sessions were held at Graceland . And we got material for two albums. His last tour was filmed by CBS in order to make a show On August 16 th 1977 The King Of Music passed away at his home at Graceland .

   

Instead of an Epilogue

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. Without any of the special privileges his celebrity status might have afforded him, he honorably served his country in the U.S. Army. His incredible voice, 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. And “He well always be the king no matter what”