tornado survivor
In 1936, one of the largest tornadoes in history occurred in Tupelo, Mississippi, killing more than 216 people. One of the survivors of this terrible tornado was Elvis Presley, who at that time was fifteen months old.
Songs for Mom
Presley dedicated his first recording to his mother. For two songs at Sun Studio, the musician paid four dollars: the songs "My Happiness" and "That's When Your Heartaches Begin" were a gift for his mother.
How much?
On account of Presley, according to various estimates, from 600 to 1200 songs - depending on the accounting for work in progress, alternative versions, bootlegs, etc.
Striving for beauty
At one of the worship ceremonies, two-year-old Elvis escaped from his mother's arms and joined the choir to sing with them.
Old Shep
At the age of ten, Elvis took part in children's show talents with the song "Old Shep". At the competition, he took only fifth place, but everyone who saw his performance did not doubt the talent of the young singer.
fateful gift
One of the gifts from Presley's parents was a guitar. Elvis, aged 11, dreamed of a bicycle, but his parents couldn't afford it and decided to give him a guitar instead.
Presley the janitor
AT adolescence Elvis worked as a doorman at Loew's State Theater in Memphis. Presley was fired because he took candy from a girl, which was reported by his colleague.
Tony Curtis
Presley's idol was Tony Curtis, who had shiny black hair. When Elvis decided to dye his hair for the first time, he used shoe polish. The singer dyed his eyelashes at the same time - which caused him allergies and other ailments.
One password for all
An online poll in the late 1990s found that "Elvis" was one of the most popular passwords among users in the United States.
fatal prediction
Elvis always told his friends and family that he would die at forty-something like his mother. Ironically, on August 16, 1977, the day of his death, Presley was forty-two years old.
10,000 tablets
In the year of Presley's death (1977), the singer had 199 different prescriptions from doctors, which in total amounted to ten thousand pills.
eternal home
Presley, his parents, his grandmother, and his golden palomino horse named Rising Sun ( Rising Sun) are buried together at Graceland.
Sheriff Presley
In the early seventies, Presley pretended to be a police officer, driving around the city with a flashing light, high beam, baton and pistol and stopped people on the road, writing out his autographs instead of fines.
Elvis and Muhammad Ali
When Elvis met boxing icon Mohammed Ali, he gave him a robe with "Champion of all men" embroidered on it. In response, Ali gave Presley a pair of boxing gloves with the words "You are the greatest" written on them.
Thus spoke Zarathustra
In the seventies, Presley began every concert with "Thus Spoke Zarathustra" symphonic poem Richard Strauss and main topic film "Space Odyssey 2001" - the musician liked its rhythm and dynamics.
Tonight
Elvis was a huge Tonight Show fan until Johnny Carson joked that Presley was "40 and fat".
Metabolic disorder
As a young man, Elvis could drop a few pounds for concert tour. With age, his metabolism slowed down, and, according to rumors, he began to weigh more than a hundred kilograms.
Rock and roll matador
While serving in the army, the Germans gave Presley the nickname "rock and roll matador". Also in Germany, the singer developed a passion for thin German cigars.
The King's Favorite Foods
Elvis' favorite foods included cookies, meat gravy, cheese soup with potatoes, meatloaf with mushroom gravy, and beef steak with tomato. The musician hated fish - so much so that he did not allow his wife Priscilla to eat it at home in Graceland.
Okay, I won't
The singer's last words, according to his then-girlfriend Ginger Alden, were "OK, I won't" - he assured her that he would not fall asleep in the bathroom reading a book.
Posthumous record
In August 1992, the American Association record companies awarded Elvis 110 gold, platinum and multi-platinum albums and singles - which was a record in history. Forty years after his death, Presley had 106 gold, 63 platinum and 27 multi-platinum albums - no artist or group has achieved such a result.
Meeting with Nixon
At a meeting with President Nixon in 1970, where one of the most iconic photographs of the twentieth century was taken, the president told the king of rock and roll, "You dress a little strange, don't you?" Presley smiled and answered him in his own style: "Well, Mr. President, you have your show, I have mine." This meeting remained secret until the Washington Post made it public a year later.
imitators
At the time of his death in 1977, Presley had about 170 imitators. Today there are more than 250,000 of them around the world.
Life after death
Elvis' first post-mortem appearance was in Kalamazoo, Michigan - the mother-of-five told Weekly World News that she saw Presley at the grocery store and Burger King.
First rock star
And that's why some fans call Elvis the first real rock star: from time to time he left autographs on the body of his fans - the singer wrote "Elvis" on the left chest and "Presley" on the right.
Elvis Presley is one of the legendary icons of the twentieth century, which is impossible to be indifferent to, no matter how old you are. We hope that these facts from the life of the "King of Rock and Roll" will inspire you to get to know his incredible music more closely.
Elvis' mom was pregnant with twins - two boys. But the second baby did not survive the birth.
Elvis was a believer. As a boy, he attended church services and even sang in the parish choir. And as an adult, I seriously thought about changing my full name- Elvis Aron - on "Aaron", so that it becomes consonant with the Old Testament. By the way, he received all three Grammy awards precisely for music with a religious bias.
The young man did not plan a career in rock and roll. And he came to a cheap recording studio only to record two songs as a gift to his mother for her birthday. The sound engineer was delighted with what he heard and shared his discovery with the owner of Sunrecords Sam Philips. Well, he did not miss the opportunity to promote a handsome white-skinned guy who sings like a real black one.
In the army, from which even his wild popularity did not save the singer, Elvis mastered several martial arts, and in one of the varieties of karate - kenpo - he even received a black belt. Although his main army duty was considered to be service in the tank corps.
Elvis' bodyguards were the West brothers. Moreover, he himself "trained" them, teaching lessons in oriental martial arts. Later, the Wests founded their own school, in which Chuck Norris studied, in particular.
If before the army, the mega-popular Elvis had practically no serious competitors, upon his return he found that the throne was no longer free: Beatlemania was gaining momentum in the world. The Liverpool Four spoiled the king a lot of blood, although they openly confessed their love for his work and numerous influences on their own.
The love of the fans cost the Beatles dearly, but even earlier from being too hot folk love Elvis suffered. Once, during a concert, several distraught female fans jumped onto the stage to him, tore off his shirt and began to tear it to shreds. Elvis chose to save the guitar. During that meeting with the “admirers of talent”, he also lost his shoe, and a particularly hysterical girl tore his leg with her teeth.
The more "grown up" Elvis, the more extravagant became his stage costumes. They amazed not only with flowers, but also with decorations: many overalls were embroidered with gold threads and decorated with semiprecious stones.
Black glasses, which Elvis often wore, are not a tribute to fashion, but a necessity caused by a doctor's prescription. The king suffered from glaucoma in his left eye.
With age, Elvis began to form a panic fear of assassination. And in last years, appearing in public, he always put on a bulletproof vest under his luxurious outfits.
Fabulous wealth did not spoil Elvis: he loved to make expensive gifts and did not forget about charitable donations. The most legendary gift he gave was the Cadillac he gave to his mother, fulfilling a promise he made to her as a child. True, the car was not useful to the parent: she never mastered driving. Presley drove the luxury limousine himself.
The death of the king was the result of an overdose of drugs. Medical experts found particles of 14 drugs in his blood. The musician's personal doctor was even put on trial. At the trial, he stated that he regularly and at the request of the patient prescribed sleeping pills and tranquilizers in large doses. This whole story is reminiscent of the death of another king, but this time of pop music, namely Michael Jackson…
Many continue to make money on Elvis even decades after his death. In 2004, a certain Wade Jones sold on eBay to an unknown buyer several tablespoons of water that Elvis sipped from a glass during his last concert. Huckster bailed out 455 bucks for the lot, and a week later “driven” a photo of the same glass at the same auction, but already at a price of $3,000.
Elvis Presley Rules of Life
Girls are not a hobby. Rather, it is entertainment.
Almost any audience prefers fast songs.
When I started singing, I weighed 153 pounds. And now it’s already 184. I didn’t become higher, I’m just getting fat little by little.
I love pork chops and country ham mashed potatoes and so on. And I eat a lot of jelly. Especially fruity.
I have never tried alcohol.
When I go out in public, I like to dress traditionally, not too flashy. But on stage, everything should be bright for me - so that there is nowhere brighter.
Now my mother comes to town and buys whatever she wants. It makes me terribly happy.
All my life I lived very well. We never had much money, nothing like that, but you know, we never went hungry. For this you should thank fate.
Except on stage, I don't exercise I do not do. If it wasn't for that, I'd have a decent tummy, even though I eat so much.
I got into an unpleasant story only once in my life - in childhood, when I stole eggs. I think I can tell the good from the bad.
What I like about fame is that you have so many friends.
I came to the Sun Records studio, there was some guy sitting there - he wrote down my name and said maybe someday he would call. A year and a half later, I really called, I came and recorded my first song “That’s All Right, Mama”.
Some stamp their feet, some snap their fingers, and some sway back and forth. I just took yes and began to do it all at once.
I look at my viewers and feel that together we are getting rid of something bad. None of us knows why. It is important that we get rid of it and at the same time do not harm anyone.
The first car I bought was the most beautiful car in my life. It was used, but I put it in front of my hotel the same day I bought it. And he didn’t sleep the whole night - he just looked at her, that’s all.
If you want to draw a crowd, you must put on a show for the people. If you just stand there and sing and don't even lift a finger, then people will say: what the hell, I could stay at home and listen to his records. You must put on a show for them.
If they ask me for an autograph, I will definitely give it.
I do not argue with those who like golf and tennis, but I myself love the harsh sports: boxing, football, karate, and so on. Playing football is my cherished dream.
I don't read books that others read. I read a lot of philosophy and sometimes poetry. I'm interested in such things.
If you bring me, I can boil great.
As you get older, you start to look at things a little differently.
It is important to try to have people around who can give you a little bit of happiness - after all, you only live once, my friend.
You may know him as "Flash in Memphis", "King of Hillbilly", "King of Rock and Roll" or just King; Elvis Presley is one of the greatest (if not the greatest) cultural icons of the past seventy years. Forty years after his death, he remained the best-selling solo artist of all time - more than 600 million (and according to the RCA record company, more than a billion) of his records have been sold worldwide. His manner of moving on stage and great images quickly made Presley a fashion legend and the main sex symbol of the whole world, for which all women went crazy, as soon as he appeared on stage or on television.
His influence on contemporary music and pop culture was best described by the magazine Rolling stone: "Elvis made rock and roll the international language of pop," and John Lennon once said: "There was nothing before Elvis." But who was Elvis Presley? Who was hiding behind the identity of the singer, who was admired by billions of people around the world and worshiped him more than religious figures, politicians and presidents? It's time to find out. Introducing 25 amazing facts about Elvis Presley - the King of rock and roll.
tornado survivor
Tupelo tornado could have claimed the life of 1-year-old Elvis Presley
In 1936, one of the largest tornadoes in history occurred in Tupelo, Mississippi, killing more than 216 people. One of the survivors of this terrible tornado was Elvis Presley, who at that time was fifteen months old.
Songs for Mom
Presley dedicated his first recorded songs to his mother
Presley dedicated his first recording to his mother. For two songs at Sun Studio, the musician paid four dollars: the songs "My Happiness" and "That's When Your Heartaches Begin" were a gift for his mother.
How much?
According to one estimate, the number of Elvis Presley songs reaches more than a thousand
On account of Presley, according to various estimates, from 600 to 1200 songs - depending on the accounting of works in progress, alternative versions, bootlegs, etc.
Striving for beauty
Presley aspired to the stage since infancy
At one of the worship ceremonies, two-year-old Elvis escaped from his mother's arms and joined the choir to sing with them.
Old Shep
At the talent competition, 10-year-old Presley took only fifth place
At the age of ten, Elvis took part in a children's talent show with the song "Old Shep". At the competition, he took only fifth place, but everyone who saw his performance did not doubt the talent of the young singer.
fateful gift
Parents gave Elvis a guitar instead of a bicycle - and no one regretted it
One of the gifts from Presley's parents was a guitar. Elvis, aged 11, dreamed of a bicycle, but his parents couldn't afford it and decided to give him a guitar instead.
Presley the janitor
Presley was not the most responsible doorman
As a teenager, Elvis worked as a doorman at Loew's State Theater in Memphis. Presley was fired because he took candy from a girl, which was reported by his colleague.
Tony Curtis
Black hair Elvis owes love to Tony Curtis
Presley's idol was Tony Curtis, who had shiny black hair. When Elvis decided to dye his hair for the first time, he used shoe polish. The singer dyed his eyelashes at the same time - which caused him allergies and other ailments.
One password for all
The most popular password in the USA in the 90s was the name Elvis
An online poll in the late 1990s found that "Elvis" was one of the most popular passwords among users in the United States.
fatal prediction
Presley seemed to foresee the year of his death
Elvis always told his friends and family that he would die at forty-something like his mother. Ironically, on August 16, 1977, the day of his death, Presley was forty-two years old.
10,000 tablets
Perhaps the pills affected the singer's condition not for the better.
In the year of Presley's death (1977), the singer had 199 different prescriptions from doctors, which in total amounted to ten thousand pills.
eternal home
Presley was buried with his family at Graceland.
Presley, his parents, grandmother, and his golden palomino horse named Rising Sun are buried together in Graceland.
Sheriff Presley
Not a single violator was in a hurry to hide from such a policeman
In the early seventies, Presley pretended to be a police officer, driving around the city with a flashing light, high beam, baton and pistol and stopped people on the road, writing out his autographs instead of fines.
Elvis and Muhammad Ali
Muhammad Ali often referred to Elvis as his best friend.
When Elvis met boxing icon Mohammed Ali, he gave him a robe with "Champion of all men" embroidered on it. In response, Ali gave Presley a pair of boxing gloves with the words "You are the greatest" written on them.
Thus spoke Zarathustra
One of my favorites musical works Presley was Strauss' poem "Thus Spoke Zarathustra"
In the seventies, Presley began every concert with Thus Spoke Zarathustra, a symphonic poem by Richard Strauss and the main theme of the film 2001: A Space Odyssey - the musician liked its rhythm and dynamics.
Tonight
Presley was a fan of the show until it featured hurtful joke to his address
Elvis was a huge Tonight Show fan until Johnny Carson joked that Presley was "40 and fat".
Metabolic disorder
Presley's infamous overweight was due to a metabolic disorder.
As a young man, Elvis could drop a few pounds for a concert tour. With age, his metabolism slowed down, and, according to rumors, he began to weigh more than a hundred kilograms.
Rock and roll matador
While serving in Germany, Elvis became addicted to German cigars
While serving in the army, the Germans gave Presley the nickname "rock and roll matador". Also in Germany, the singer developed a passion for thin German cigars.
The King's Favorite Foods
Presley loved meat and hated fish
Elvis' favorite foods included cookies, meat gravy, cheese soup with potatoes, meatloaf with mushroom gravy, and beef steak with tomato. The musician hated fish - so much so that he did not allow his wife Priscilla to eat it at home in Graceland.
Okay, I won't
The last words of the singer were the phrase "OK, I won't"
The singer's last words, according to his then-girlfriend Ginger Alden, were "OK, I won't" - he assured her that he would not fall asleep in the bathroom reading a book.
Posthumous record
Presley managed to set a record sales record even after his death
In August 1992, the Recording Industry Association of America awarded Elvis 110 gold, platinum and multi-platinum albums and singles - a record in history. Forty years after his death, Presley had 106 gold, 63 platinum and 27 multi-platinum albums - no artist or group has achieved such a result.
Meeting with Nixon
At a meeting with President Nixon in 1970, where one of the most iconic photographs of the twentieth century was taken, the president told the king of rock and roll, "You dress a little strange, don't you?" Presley smiled and answered him in his own style: "Well, Mr. President, you have your show, I have mine." This meeting remained secret until the Washington Post made it public a year later.
imitators
Elvis has more and more clones every year
At the time of his death in 1977, Presley had about 170 imitators. Today there are more than 250,000 of them around the world.
Life after death
After the death of "Elvis" was seen in the supermarket and Burger King
Elvis' first post-mortem appearance was in Kalamazoo, Michigan - the mother-of-five told Weekly World News that she saw Presley at the grocery store and Burger King.
First rock star
Presley is called the first rock star for a reason.
And that's why some fans call Elvis the first real rock star: from time to time he left autographs on the body of his fans - the singer wrote "Elvis" on the left chest and "Presley" on the right.
Elvis Presley is one of the legendary icons of the twentieth century, which is impossible to be indifferent to, no matter how old you are. We hope that these facts from the life of the "King of Rock and Roll" will inspire you to get to know his incredible music more closely.
Elvis Presley it's not only greatest musician but also an amazing personality. Here are some interesting facts you may not know about him:
1. In 1977, when Elvis died, there were 170 imitators of him. Today there are about 250 thousand of them.
2. In 1965, Elvis, manager Jerry Schilling, future wife Elvisa Priscilla Beaulieu and hairdresser Larry Geller decided to try LSD. Schilling once recalled the surrealism of that night. "Elvis and I started the conversation just laughing," he said. "I looked at Elvis and it seemed to me that he was turning into a child."
3. Elvis was going to make a martial arts movie. His passion for it was so strong that sometimes he would interrupt shows in Vegas and change into a karate suit. Once, to demonstrate his skills, he even accidentally interrupted a Tom Jones concert.
The plot of his film was quite simple, and it was supposed to end with an epic scene - on a remote hill close-up grabs Elvis when he gets into a fighting stance.
4. Surprisingly, Elvis once wrote a message to President Nixon asking him to be given the authority of the Federal Drug Enforcement Agent. The amazing meeting between Nixon and Elvis took place in the Oval Office in 1970.
Interesting motivation. In addition to wanting to contribute to society, Elvis needed the missing federal agent badge for his collection. It is believed that he received it.
5. When one of the journalists gave Elvis the laudatory title of "King of rock and roll", he refused the crown and gave this title to the musician Fats Domino.
6. Many music video Elvis on the 1957 single Jailhouse Rock is considered the first ever music video, while others credit Tony Bennett and his Stranger in Paradise video as a trailblazer.
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