Monthly Archive for December, 2009

Elvis Presley On A Stint in the Army

Published on December 31, 2009 in Elvis Presley Biography. 0 Comments

The man known as Elvis Presley is the legendary king of rock. His music brought rock music to a different level. He brought Rock and Roll to its peak. What most people don't know about Elvis Presley was his stint in the army.

Elvis King of Rock

The king of rock, Elvis Presley, had this signature look of wearing an all-white get-up with his guitar in hand. This signature look is what people always imagine when the name Elvis Presley comes into discussion. However, very few people are aware that Elvis Presley was also in the army. Can you imagine the king of rock in an army uniform?

It was in the middle of the 1950s when Elvis Presley rose to stardom. He recorded songs that hit the charts big. He had performances that awed thousands of audiences. He also made movies. He was really at his peak for some time. However, it was equally remarkable that Elvis Presley responded when he was called to service in the United States Army.

Elvis Presley in the Army

GI Elvis Presley did his stint in the army. It was far from being onstage. It was December 20, 1957 when he received notice that he had been drafted into the army. He was filming a movie at that time. He was allowed to simply finish the movie and by 1958, he was called to training and he entered the service.

He took on the role of being part of the 1st Battalion, 32nd armor. He was lauded for doing the same duties that the rest of the drafted members did. He didn't seek the refuge of being afforded special treatment. He performed ordinary tasks and even served as a driver in the army.

Despite the stay in the army, Elvis Presley received continued coverage from the media. Even if he was forced to miss his career for two years, his producers made efforts to cover the hiatus. They recorded singles and albums ahead to cover the period that Elvis would be in the service.

Conclusion

Elvis Presley in the army sounds like just another scene from a movie, but it really took place. This puts the king of rock in the perspective that he was very much human. He was more than a star that demanded special treatment. He was a remarkable individual that did what he was called to do for his country.

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Elvis Family Life One For The Money and Nothing Like The Show

Published on December 28, 2009 in Elvis Presley Biography. 0 Comments

Elvis Presley wasn't just loved by his fans. He wasn't just The King on stage; he was also a man with a family. His life was a classic rags-to-riches story; but as money accumulated, it seemed that he and his family were yet again on a sudden spiraling descent, only this time it was more on the emotional than financial side.

Good or bad, there was no denying that Elvis was and still is among the most famous men who ever lived. And the only way to understand his ways is to take a peak at the various chapters of his family life.

Early Family Life

Elvis' family came from a long line of German, French, Scottish and Cherokee descent. Vernon Presley, his father, was a sharecropper and a truck driver who hailed from Fulton, Mississippi. Gladys Love Smith, his mother, was a sewing machine operator who came from Pontotoc County, in Mississippi. Elvis' family started when his parents married on June 17, 1933.

Elvis Presley was born in Tupelo, Mississippi. He had a twin named Jesse Garon who was stillborn. Having only one child, Elvis' family lived just a little over the poverty line. The family attended a church called Assembly of God located in East Tupelo.

Although Elvis' family wasn't considered dirt poor, it is said that they lost their home when they weren't able to pay the money they borrowed to build it. The eviction came at a time when his father was serving a prison sentence due to forgery of a check for only $8. The sentence was for eight months; even so, this incident left a big mark on the Elvis' family.

Elvis' Family At Graceland

At the age of 13, Elvis' family moved to Memphis. It was in the latter part of the 1940's but life here wasn't much different from when they were in Mississippi. They lived in a public housing unit.

Only when Elvis' career surged, which wouldn't happen for yet another nine years, did the family start to live comfortably. At age 22, Elvis had acquired enough money to buy a mansion from a doctor for $100,000.

Married Life

In May 1967, Elvis married Priscilla Ann Beaulieu in Las Vegas, Nevada. They had a daughter, Lisa Marie, who was born in 1968. The couple separated on February of 1972 and they shared custody of little Lisa. Eventually in 1973, Elvis and Priscilla were granted a divorce.

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Elvis in the Movies

Published on December 25, 2009 in Elvis Presley Biography. 0 Comments

Top Elvis Movies to Rent This Weekend
Elvis Presley was better known as a singer and entertainer but he also worked in films. In his lifetime, Elvis made 33 films; 31 were feature films and 2 were documentaries about his life as a performer. Although most of his films were box office successes, almost all of them were panned by many critics. But really, who cares? If you're watching an Elvis film, would you really mind? Here are some of the top Elvis movies you might want to rent on video night:

Viva Las Vegas
Elvis means Vegas and Vegas, of course, means Elvis. 'Viva Las Vegas' is arguably the best of the films Elvis made after he was discharged from the Army. This is pure Vegas entertainment; glitzy, glossy and full of bubble gum fun. Elvis plays a race car driver opposite Ann Margaret's character. The plot is lean (it's an Elvis movie, remember?) but just sit back and enjoy the songs, dance, race car scenes and the incomparable Elvis-Ann Margaret chemistry.

King Creole
If you want the film that had the least bad reviews, this is the Elvis movie you should watch. In fact, this is probably the movie that gave us a peek at the talent behind the emerging legend that is Elvis. Originally intended for James Dean, the lead role that Elvis played showed his acting prowess best. It is another musical (we're not sure if the studio was playing it safe at the time or merely capitalizing on what Elvis did best) but it has its great moments. Based on the novel 'A Stone for Danny Fisher' by Harold Robbins, King Creole can be a little bit over-the-top at times but it is an enjoyable movie starring Elvis in a serious role.

Jailhouse Rock
Elvis goes to jail! If you want the raw '56 or '57 Elvis with the pencil pants, this should give you a good look at a man during the first precious stages of his entertaining ability and good looks. He plays Vince Everett, a young man who goes to prison for accidentally killing another man in a brawl. The prison is where Vince learns to sing and play the guitar, with a little help from his cellmate.

After his release, he decides to use his new-found talent and become a professional singer and performer. This is the movie with that famous 'Jailhouse Rock' and 'You're So Square' musical performances. You'll love the songs in this film and Elvis, of course, along with his equally pretty lead actress. Although you'll find a colorized version of the film, try the black and white version to appreciate the original effect.

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