Archive for the 'Elvis Presley Biography' Category

Elvis Presley The Social Butterfly

Published on March 10, 2010 in Elvis Presley Biography. 0 Comments

Being a rock legend like Elvis Presley is just as normal as we think it was, for he also had his own share of misgivings and happiness in his intimate relationships. He was able to establish ties with various kinds of people, from his family, to other celebrity peers and of course his controversial relationships with several women in the movie industry.

The first woman
Elvis Presley just like most of us looks up to the first woman in our lives, and more often than not that woman is no less than our own mother. In fact, Elvis himself admitted that his closeness with his mom was highly incomparable for he considered her the no. 1 woman in the world.

The close relationship of Elvis, an only child, and his mom lead to his mom's deterioration after he left home. As a mom she would perhaps be the first person in the world who would want Elvis to succeed in his chosen career, and she never interfered. However, for her, along with his accomplishments came the unwelcome realization that he would be apart from her.

Some think due to her despondency, she started to wallow into alcohol and eventually begun to gain weight at a fast rate. She degenerated to a degree which lead to her death, which, according to many reporters left Elvis crying dementedly.

The girls he has loved before
Elvis was branded as a womanizer by many critics, due to his 'inclination' to date several different women a night. A list of all the women that he had a 'special moment' with might end up being several volumes of books. Among them were Judy Spreckels and June Juanico who were known as his early girlfriends.

It was of course inevitable in his case to have relationship rumors with his co-stars in some of his movies and some women from the industry, such as Julie Parrish, June Wilkinson, Peggy Lipton, Cassandra Peterson, Ann-Margaret, and Lori Williams. The reason behind their 'dates' are quite vague up to now, but some people say that Elvis had a habit of dating women for publicity purposes only.

Men in his life
Incidentally, Elvis also had lots of male friends in the industry. As a matter of fact he was known for having late night chitchats with employees and several friends which led them to be called the Memphis Mafia,. This group was composed of Marty Lacker , Red West, Billy Smith, Lamar Fike and Sonny West.

Being Elvis Presley was truly more exciting than you may have thought it was, especially upon learning that he lived amidst such a big social circle.

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Things You May Not Know about Elvis Presley

Published on March 7, 2010 in Elvis Presley Biography. 0 Comments

Elvis Presley is one of the most celebrated singers and actors in history. But how well do you really know him?

Music

1. He is one of the very few artists who was inducted to the Country Music Hall of Fame and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
2. In 1977, Elvis was considered to be the number one touring act in the U.S.
3. Heartbreak Hotel was the no.1 country song in 1956.
4. Hound Dog was recorded 33 times. He once performed with a Bassett Hound, but it wasn't too fun since the dog was in heat and grouchy.
5. Selling 30 million copies, It's Now or Never, Elvis's single recorded in 1960, was the best-selling song of all time.
6. Concerts during June 19-21, 1977, were videotaped by CBS for the Elvis in Concert special. It displayed the stars worsening condition. It was only shown on October 3, after his death.
7. Elvis's singing career was viewed as a means to survive; his ultimate dream was to be an actor.

Personal References

1. Rumors have it that Elvis was forced by Priscilla's father to marry her, or else, he would reveal that she was a minor when they both started an affair. Elvis was then 24.
2. President Jimmy Carter is Elvis's distant cousin. Isaiah Harrison, great-great grandfather of Abraham Lincoln, was his direct descendant too.
3. Elvis was a notorious woman lover, dating his co-stars before he married Priscilla.
4. He used to work odd jobs before he began singing. He worked as an usher and a truck driver.
5. Elvis was sick with chronic asthma and was prescribed very addictive sleeping pills which a lot believe caused his tragic death.
6. Elvis loved football and racquetball. He usually had three televisions running at Graceland to watch football games.
7. Elvis was once in the audience of Connie Francis. He left abruptly when she sang Mama an Italian song, which reminded him of his mother who had recently died.

After His Death

1. Elvis was known to be very generous, and his fans continued this tradition. One of them, Elvis Matters, invited a 17-year-old paralyzed girl named Michael Stroobans to their annual pilgrimage to Graceland with expenses all paid by the club.
2. Elvis's body was almost stolen in August 29, 1977. However, the plan failed. The adjustment board of Memphis granted Vernon the permission to move Elvis's and his mothers body behind Graceland, in the Meditation Garden.
3. Elvis graced a Swedish postage stamp in 2004.
4. A number of TV shows and films showcased Elvis's life, including Elvis, a telefilm. He was portrayed by Kurt Russell.

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Life of Elvis Presley in a Glance

Published on March 4, 2010 in Elvis Presley Biography. 0 Comments

Nothing could be more interesting than the life of the King of Roll & Roll. He rose from a simple boy from Mississippi, became a singer and an actor, established a family, and died tragically because of a drug overdose.

Early Life

Elvis Presley was born in Tupelo, Mississippi, to Vernon Presley and Gladys Love Smith. He was of Scottish, French, Jewish, and German descent. He had an identical twin named Jesse Garon who was stillborn.

His first public performance was when he was ten, in a singing competition of a dairy show. The young Elvis, so short, reached for the microphone using a chair and sang Old Shep by Red Foley. He was the second runner-up.

Celebrity Career

It was in 1954 that he started singing for the well-known Sun Records in Memphis. The following year, he found himself at RCA Victor, when his contract was sold. In 1956, he was already a very big star. Because of his distinct voice and style that perfectly combined different kinds of musical influences that transcended racial barriers, he introduced a new type of American pop culture and music.

Along with his music, he also started acting, appearing in 33 box-office films. He also made history with his television specials and appearances. He held great acclaim for his record-breaking concerts in Las Vegas and other tours.

His records have sold billions all over the world and garnered him gold multi-platinum recognitions that 149 singles and albums. He was nominated in the Grammy's 14 times and was named TOYM of the Nation in 1970.

Military Service

Elvis became part of the 1st Battalion, 2nd Armor when he was drafted into the military on December 20, 1957. He was assigned to Friedberg, Germany. He requested for no special treatment and was respected for not participating in Special Services, where he could avoid specific duties. It was in Germany, however, that he was introduced to amphetamines by friends. Because almost all were into it, he himself began taking them.

He went back in March 2, 1960, to the United States and was given a sergeant ranking. He then continued his recording sessions after almost three years of hiatus.

Death of Presley

During the 1970s, Presley began to decline. He was often criticized for veering away from rock and pop music. Added to that were the marital problems with his wife, Priscilla, and his womanizing ways. He also started to gain weight and drugs slowly started taking control of his health. His last performance should have been in Market Square Arena in Indianapolis. A day before, however, he was found dead in the bathroom by his fiance, Ginger Alden.

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