Elvis Presley: Difference between revisions
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Apart from these relationships to women, Elvis spent most of his time with men from the so-called "Memphis Mafia", among them Sonny West, Red West, Billy Smith, Marty Lacker, and Lamar Fike. They used to hang with Elvis all day and night. Similar to the real [[Mafia]], there was a code of silence within the group during Elvis's lifetime, and they protected his name and image. After the death of Elvis, several Memphis Mafia members wrote books on his life. |
Apart from these relationships to women, Elvis spent most of his time with men from the so-called "Memphis Mafia", among them Sonny West, Red West, Billy Smith, Marty Lacker, and Lamar Fike. They used to hang with Elvis all day and night. Similar to the real [[Mafia]], there was a code of silence within the group during Elvis's lifetime, and they protected his name and image. After the death of Elvis, several Memphis Mafia members wrote books on his life. |
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''Elvis: The Hollywood Years'', a [[2002]] biography by [[David Bret]], claims Presley was [[gay]]. Bret, who has made a career on sensationalized claims of [[homosexuality]] of deceased male celebrities, says Colonel [[Tom Parker]] "held secret information about a [[homosexuality|homosexual]] affair between Elvis and actor [[Nick Adams]] over his head like a sword. ... That is why Parker had so much control over him." According to Bret, many journalists' attempts to "out" Elvis in the past were thwarted by his manager. In her manuscript book ''The Intimate Life and Death of Elvis'' and an unfavorable article in the [[National Enquirer]], Dee Presley, Elvis's stepmother, also says that Elvis had sexual encounters with men and mentions his affair with Nick Adams. Other testimonies have also been said to point to homosexuality. In ''Elvis by the Presleys'' (2005) his ex-wife, [[Priscilla Presley]] claims that Elvis was not overtly sexual towards her and that they did not have sex until the night of the wedding. Parts of the lyrics to the song "Jail-house Rock" may also be interpreted as being homo-erotic. Despite these statements, just about every other author, writing in the vein of the worldwide Elvis industry which has a tendency toward supporting only a 'favorable' view of the singer, believes that Elvis was heterosexual. |
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Following Elvis' death, many women claimed they had children by the entertainer after one night stands. These claims, proved to be nothing more than claims. |
Following Elvis' death, many women claimed they had children by the entertainer after one night stands. These claims, proved to be nothing more than claims. |
Revision as of 01:21, 6 July 2005
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6b/Elvis_Presley.jpg/220px-Elvis_Presley.jpg)
- Elvis redirects here. For other persons and things named Elvis, see Elvis (disambiguation).
Elvis Aaron Presley (January 8, 1935 – August 16, 1977), also known as The King of Rock and Roll, or as just simply The King, was an American singer who had an effect on world culture rivaled only by The Beatles . Early in his career he was referred to as The Hillbilly Cat and was soon nicknamed Elvis the Pelvis because of his sexually suggestive performance style. In terms of sheer record sales, Elvis' impact is utterly phenomenal and eclipses any other recording artist.
Birth & Childhood
Presley was born in a one-room house in Tupelo, Mississippi, to Vernon Elvis Presley and Gladys Love Smith Presley. He was raised both in Tupelo and later in Memphis, Tennessee, where his family moved when he was 13. He had a twin brother (Jesse Garon Presley) who died at birth. They would move to Lauderdale Courts public housing development in 1949. It was here where Elvis would be near Memphis music and cultural influences like Beale Street, Ellis Auditorium, Poplar Tunes record store with Sun Studio about a mile away. It is said that Elvis was a fan of the comic book superhero Captain Marvel, Jr. as a boy, and modeled what would later become his trademark hairstyle on that of the comic book character.
The young Elvis took up guitar at 11 and would practice in the basement laundry room at Lauderdale Courts. He would play gigs in the malls and courtyards of the Courts with other musicians that lived there. After high school he worked at Precision Tool Company and then drove a truck for the Crown Electric Company.
Music
Sun Records
In the summer of 1953 he paid $4 to record the first of two double-sided demo acetates at Sun Studios. The demo consisted of "My Happiness" and "That's When Your Heartaches Begin," popular ballads of the time. While Presley claimed to have recorded the demo as a birthday present for his mother, this is probably untrue, since Gladys Presley's birthday was in April and he recorded the acetate in July. Sun Records founder Sam Phillips and assistant Marion Keisker heard the discs and, recognizing Presley's nascent talent, called him in June 1954 to fill in for a missing ballad singer. Although the session did not prove fruitful, Sam put Elvis together with local musicians Scotty Moore and Bill Black to see what might develop. During a rehearsal break on July 5, 1954, Elvis started fooling around with a blues song written by Arthur Crudup called "That's All Right". Philips liked the record and released it as a single backed with Elvis' hopped-up version of Bill Monroe's bluegrass song "Blue Moon Of Kentucky." The record was a huge local hit in Memphis after WHBQ aired it two days later, and regular touring started to expand his fame beyond Tennessee.
RCA
Elvis signed with RCA Records on November 21, 1955. On January 27, 1956 the single "Heartbreak Hotel" / "I Was the One" was released. It was the sixth single of his career. Unlike the previous singles, this one did chart, reaching #1 in April 1956.
Over the next twenty-one years, until his death in 1977, Elvis had 146 Hot 100 hits, 112 top 40 hits, 72 top 20 hits and 40 top 10 hits; all of these are the most anyone has yet achieved. "Don't Be Cruel" and "Hound Dog" topped the pop, black and country charts in 1956. A string of hit records followed as the public's desire for his product seemed insatiable.
Comeback
The 1960s saw the quality of Presley's recorded output drop, although he was still capable of creating records equal to his best and did so on the infrequent occasions where he was presented with decent material at his movie recording sessions. In 1960 the album Elvis is Back was recorded. This, like his first two albums, Elvis Presley and Elvis, are considered by many of his fans to be his best work. With this drop-off, and in the face of the social upheaval of the 1960s and the British Invasion spearheaded by The Beatles, Presley's star faded slightly before a triumphant TV comeback special on NBC (aired on December 3, 1968) that saw him return to his rock and roll roots. His 1969 return to live performances, first in Las Vegas and then across the country, was noted for the constant stream of sold-out shows, with many setting attendance records in the venues where he performed.
His most successful concert was the Elvis Aloha Concert in Hawaii, which was broadcast worldwide via satellite in January 1973. It was a milestone for Presley's career and his biggest audience to date.
Gospel music
Presley was deeply religious, raised in the Pentecostal faith. Therefore, he loves the Southern gospel tradition and spent many hours singing hymns with his friends. Throughout his career, gospel played a prominent part of his repertoire. He recorded several gospel albums. His three Grammy awards are all for gospel music. He even angered Ed Sullivan by insisting on performing "Peace in the Valley" on one of his shows despite Sullivan's instructions not to. Gospel sensibilities can also be found in some of his hits, for instance, "You'll Never Walk Alone" and "In the Ghetto". In his later years, his live stage performances almost always included a rendition of "How Great Thou Art."
Film & Television
On January 28, 1956 Presley made his national television debut by appearing on The Dorsey Brothers Stage Show, beginning his transition to teen idol. Now recording for RCA, and under the management of (honorary) Colonel Tom Parker, Elvis entered the Billboard Hot 100 chart for the first time on February 22 with "Heartbreak Hotel" and on April 21 that year the same song hit number one. His June 5, 1956 introduction of his next single, "Hound Dog", on The Milton Berle Show, scandalized the audience with his suggestive hip movements. Elvis was obliged to explain himself on a local New York City TV show, "Hy Gardner Calling," and appeared shortly thereafter on The Steve Allen Show, billed as "the new Elvis Presley," in a tuxedo, singing "Hound Dog" to a basset hound, an experience Elvis found humiliating. After a string of other TV appearances, he made his first appearance on the top-rated Ed Sullivan Show on September 9, earning the show a record 52–60 million viewers (82.6% of viewership that night). Presley had dyed his sandy blond hair jet black by the time of his second Sullivan performance on October 28 of the same year. On his third and final Sullivan appearance (January 6, 1957) Sullivan bowed to pressure from "moralists" and ordered Presley to be filmed only from the waist up due to his customary suggestive hip movements.
Motion pictures
In late 1955, Presley made his earliest known film appearance in a documentary entitled The Pied Piper of Cleveland, a look at the career of disk jockey Bill Randle. The film, which reportedly included performance footage of Elvis as well as Bill Haley and His Comets and other acts, was shown in its entirety only once (in Cleveland) and was never released commercially. The film is currently considered "misplaced" and some Presley researchers maintain it never existed, although there is ample evidence to suggest it did.
Beginning with Love Me Tender (opened on November 15, 1956), Presley starred in 31 motion pictures, having signed to multiple long-term contracts on the advice of his manager. These were usually musicals based around Presley performances, and marked the beginning of his transition from rebellious rock and roller to all-round family entertainer. Elvis was praised by all his directors, including the highly respected Michael Curtiz, as unfailingly polite and extremely hardworking.
The movies Jailhouse Rock (1957), King Creole (1958), and Flaming Star (1960) are widely regarded as his best among film critics. Among fans, Blue Hawaii (1961) and Viva Las Vegas (1964) are highly praised.
Between 1956 and 1969, Presley starred in 31 films. For details, see the List of Elvis Presley films.
Military
On December 20, 1957 Presley received a draft notice for a 2-year duty with the United States Army. He received no special treatment. He sailed to Europe on the USS General George M. Randall, and served in Germany as an ordinary soldier. He was honorably discharged on March 5, 1960. Many have since wondered why an only child – by then the sole support of his parents and grandmother – was drafted during peacetime, since his services were clearly not critical for the defense of his country. It has long been suspected that Elvis' draft notice was either politically instigated to shunt his "dangerous", "race-mixing" influence, or encouraged by his manager in order to keep the increasingly world-wise Southern lad under his thumb. While in the army, he received a black belt in karate and attained the rank of Sergeant.
Relationships
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/41/Elvis-nixon.jpg/220px-Elvis-nixon.jpg)
From the beginning of his career, Elvis was a sex symbol who sent legions of women swooning. He had a string of girlfriends, before and after he became famous, including celebrities such as Mamie Van Doren, Natalie Wood, Tuesday Weld, Cybill Shepherd and Ann-Margret. He lived with Memphis girfriend Anita Wood until he met Priscilla Beaulieu while stationed in the U.S. Army base in Germany. His platonic girlfriend Judy Spreckels was his companion, confidante and keeper of secrets in the early days of his career.
On May 1, 1967 he married Priscilla Anne Beaulieu at the Aladdin Hotel in Las Vegas. Priscilla had been the step-daughter of Presley's commanding officer in Germany during his Army stint. Incredibly, Elvis managed to talk Priscilla's mother and step-father into allowing the underaged girl to live with him at Graceland. In her autobiography, Priscilla recounted how Elvis would stay up all night and sleep most of the day; if he wanted to go out, he'd rent out the venue so no fans would bother him. Although he would spend hours alone with her in her bedroom, Priscilla wrote that Elvis never made any advances toward her. Indeed, their wedding night was the first time they were intimate; their daughter, Lisa Marie, was born exactly nine months later on February 1, 1968.
After their divorce in 1973, Lisa lived with Priscilla but spent a great deal of time with Elvis. Elvis then began a relationship with Linda Thompson, a memphis beauty queen, who moved into Graceland almost immediately and stayed there for four years, being Elvis' constant companion and the most favoured girlfriend among Elvis' group of friends. Finally in 1976 Linda, after saving Elvis' life on at least two occasions after his breathing become very slow and deep, decided to leave the Rock and Roll lifestyle, though her and Elvis remained close friends. Elvis then picked up with Ginger Alden in late 76' and was seeing her at the time of his death. Some people claim the two were engadged, but members of Elvis' inner circle refute that claim.
Apart from these relationships to women, Elvis spent most of his time with men from the so-called "Memphis Mafia", among them Sonny West, Red West, Billy Smith, Marty Lacker, and Lamar Fike. They used to hang with Elvis all day and night. Similar to the real Mafia, there was a code of silence within the group during Elvis's lifetime, and they protected his name and image. After the death of Elvis, several Memphis Mafia members wrote books on his life.
Elvis: The Hollywood Years, a 2002 biography by David Bret, claims Presley was gay. Bret, who has made a career on sensationalized claims of homosexuality of deceased male celebrities, says Colonel Tom Parker "held secret information about a homosexual affair between Elvis and actor Nick Adams over his head like a sword. ... That is why Parker had so much control over him." According to Bret, many journalists' attempts to "out" Elvis in the past were thwarted by his manager. In her manuscript book The Intimate Life and Death of Elvis and an unfavorable article in the National Enquirer, Dee Presley, Elvis's stepmother, also says that Elvis had sexual encounters with men and mentions his affair with Nick Adams. Other testimonies have also been said to point to homosexuality. In Elvis by the Presleys (2005) his ex-wife, Priscilla Presley claims that Elvis was not overtly sexual towards her and that they did not have sex until the night of the wedding. Parts of the lyrics to the song "Jail-house Rock" may also be interpreted as being homo-erotic. Despite these statements, just about every other author, writing in the vein of the worldwide Elvis industry which has a tendency toward supporting only a 'favorable' view of the singer, believes that Elvis was heterosexual.
Following Elvis' death, many women claimed they had children by the entertainer after one night stands. These claims, proved to be nothing more than claims.
1969 onward
After seven years off the top of the charts, Presley's song "Suspicious Minds" hit No. 1 on the Billboard music charts on November 1, 1969. This was the last time any song by Presley hit #1 on the US pop charts while he was still alive, although "Burning Love" got as high as #2 in September 1972. He still reached #1 on charts around the world. For example, "The Wonder Of You" reached #1 in the UK in 1970. Way Down was racing up the American Country Music charts shortly before Presley's death in 1977, it hit #1 on that very chart the week he died. It also topped the UK pop charts at the same time. The mid-1970s saw Elvis becoming increasingly isolated, battling an addiction to prescription drugs and the resulting toll on his appearance, health and performances. Elvis made his last live concert appearance in Indianapolis, Indiana at the Market Square Arena on June 26, 1977. Between 1969 and 1977 he gave over 1,000 sold out performances in Las Vegas and On Tour. He was the first artist to have 4 sold out shows in a row at New York's Madison Square Garden. It is estimated that he is one of, if not the, most photographed person of all time, however his voice has been heard by more people in more countires than any other individual in history.
Death and burial
He died at his home Graceland in Memphis, Tennessee on August 16 , 1977. He was found on the floor of his bedroom's bathroom ensuite by girlfriend Ginger Alden who had been asleep in his bed. He was transported to Baptist Memorial Hospital where doctors pronounced him dead at 3.30pm. He was only 42 years old.
Presley was originally buried at Forest Hill Cemetery in Memphis next to his mother but after an attempted theft of his body, his and his mother's remains were moved to Graceland.
Elvis' autopsy results are not public domain and wont be untill 50 years after the singers death. Although at a press conference following his death, the medical examiners declared that he had died of a heart attack. Heart disease was very prevelent, especially on his fathers side of the family, with many male members especially dying before they reached there 50th birthday from the illness. Elvis' father Vernon also died of heart failure in 1979.In an interview for the BBC television programme Hard Talk in 1999, Sam Phillips offered a slightly different explanation, based on his thirty year friendship with the Presley family. He believed that the cause of Elvis death was due to kidney failure. He believed that members of the Presley family had a genetic weakness in their kidneys and he cited similarities between the death of both Elvis and his mother Gladys. Phillips remarked that some six to eight weeks before each of their deaths, they suddenly and inexplicably became bloated, which he put down to a problem with their kidneys. According to popular legend, however, Elvis did not die in 1977, and may continue to be alive (see Elvis sightings).
His international influence
Elvis Presley spawned rock and roll interest in Europe; his name was even known by people behind the then-Iron Curtain. Presley paved the way for other American rockers whose records sold in Europe and who began to tour there. Teenagers around the world began copying his "Ducktail" hair style, and the demand for transistor radios exploded so much so that Sony went from a small Japanese telecommunications company making radios to a giant global conglomerate. And, through his new look with black slacks and loose open-necked shirts, he created a huge demand for new lines of clothing. Presley's influence created a generation of teenagers who, for the first time, became an economic powerhouse through their spending capacity. Also, there are a number of Elvis impersonators worldwide.
In 1977 President Carter was quoted to say "Elvis Presley's death deprives our country of a part of itself. He was unique and irreplaceable. His music and his personality, fusing the styles of white country and black rhythm and blues, permanently changed the face of American popular culture. His following was immense and he was a symbol to people the world over, of the vitality, rebelliousness, and good humor of his country. Or as James Brown once put it, 'He taught White America to get down.'"
Enduring legacy
Now, more than 25 years after his death, Presley remains the foremost pop icon of the 20th century. His image, especially his trademark forelock, is instantly recognizable. He is still the gold standard against which modern notions of fame are measured. At least one modern recording artist, Elvis Costello, borrowed Presley's first name to help his fledgling career.
But all too often Elvis Presley's kitsch appeal and the industry which has grown up around it, chronicling his dietary and chemical predilections and the trappings of his celebrity, have tended to obscure the vibrant and vital music he made as a young man, the vocally-influential recordings of his later career, and the lasting influence both he and his music had on popular culture. Connected with this is a continuing urban myth that Elvis is still alive. "Elvis sightings", in which Presley is reported to have been located (frequently in mundane and out-of-the-way places, such as a supermarket in South Dakota), are common events, and one of the staples of supermarket tabloids.
![Elvis 30 #1 Hits](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/3/3a/Elvis_30hits.jpg)
However, interest in his music returned during the buildup to the 2002 World Cup, when Nike used a Junkie XL remixed version of his "A Little Less Conversation" (credited as Elvis Vs JXL) as the background music to a series of TV commercials featuring international soccer stars. The remix hit Number 1 in over 20 countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia (it was also his first top 10 hit in the UK for nearly 22 years, and his first #1 there for nearly 25 years). At about the same time, a compilation of Presley's US Number 1 hits, ELV1S: 30 #1 Hits, was being prepared for release. "A Little Less Conversation" (remix version) was quickly added as the album's 31st track just before its release in October 2002. Nearly 50 years after Presley made his first hit record and 25 years after his death, ELV1S: 30 #1 Hits reached number 1 on the charts in the US, the UK, Australia and many other countries. A re-release from the album, "Burning Love" (not a remix) also made the Australian top 40 later in the year.
His renewed fame continued with another remix in 2003 (this time by Paul Oakenfold) of "Rubberneckin'", which made the top 3 in Australia and top 5 in the UK. This was followed by another album called 2nd to None, a collection of his hits that just missed out on the number 1 spot, including the "Rubberneckin'" remix.
In mid-2004, to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Presley's first professional recording, "That's All Right", the recording in question was re-released, and made the charts around the world, including top 3 in the UK and top 40 in Australia.
In early 2005 in the United Kingdom, RCA began to re-issue his 18 UK #1 singles as CD-singles in the order they were originally released, one of them a week. The first of these re-issues, "All Shook Up", was ineligible due to its being sold together with a collector's box which holds all 18 singles in it (it actually sold enough to be #2). The second of these re-releases, "Jailhouse Rock", was the number one in the first chart of 2005, and "One Night"/"I Got Stung", the third re-release in the series, replaced it on the January 16 chart (and thus becoming the 1000th UK number one). All of these have reached top 5 in the official charts, with three number 1s, eight number 2s, four number 3s, one number 4, and one number 5. These re-releases have made Elvis the only artist so far to spend at least 1000 weeks in the British top 40.
Among his many accomplishments, Elvis Presley is only one of two singers (Roy Orbison being the other) to ever have two Top 5 albums on the charts simultaneously. He has been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (1986), the Country Music Hall of Fame (1998), and the Gospel Music Hall of Fame (2001). In 1993, Presley's image appeared on a United States postage stamp.
CBS recently aired a TV miniseries, "Elvis," starring Irish actor Jonathan Rhys Meyers as the legendary singer.
A life-sized bronze statue of "Elvis at 13" was very popular as a photo opportunity during the recent Elvis Festival in Tupelo Mississippi. http://www.irelandtoo.blogspot.com
Named one of the top 100 Americans, following a vote organized by Discovery Channel. In the vote, Presley ranked 8th, behind Presidents Clinton, Bush, Lincoln, Washington and Reagan, as well as Martin Luther King and Benjamin Franklin.
Musical milestones
During his lifetime, Elvis Presley:
- recorded 104 singles that hit the Top 40 of the Billboard pop chart.
- had 18 number 1 Billboard hits, including four singles in 1956 that occupied the top of the charts for a cumulative total of 25 weeks. The total (18) is surpassed only by The Beatles, who had 20 number 1 hits.
- had 38 Top 10 Billboard hits. This total is currently unchallenged; the closest competitor, Madonna, has 35. (The Beatles had 34 Top 10 hits during their career.)
Until the record was broken by Boyz II Men's "End of the Road" in November 1992, Elvis Presley's double-side "Don't Be Cruel/Hound Dog" was the undisputed champion of singles in terms of weeks spent at number one. The record spent 11 weeks at the top starting on August 18, 1956.
These are other records set by Presley's recordings:
- From March 1956 to November 1959, every week there was at least one Elvis song on the singles chart.
- From 1956 to 1962, Elvis set the record with 24 consecutive top 5 hit singles (singles listed with B-side songs and original U.S.A. release dates):
- "Heartbreak Hotel" / "I Was the One" - released 1/27/56
- "I Want You, I Need You, I Love You" / "My Baby Left Me" - 5/4/56
- "Don't Be Cruel" / "Hound Dog" - 7/13/56
- "Love Me Tender" / "Any Way You Want Me" - 9/28/56
- "Too Much" / "Playing For Keeps" - 1/4/57
- "All Shook Up" / "That's When Your Heartaches Begin" - 3/22/57
- "Teddy Bear" / "Loving You" - 6/11/57
- "Jailhouse Rock" / "Treat Me Nice" - 9/24/57
- "Don't" / "I Beg Of You" - 1/7/58
- Elvis also charted 9 consecutive #1 singles:
- "Wear My Ring Around Your Neck" / "Doncha' Think It's Time" - 4/1/58 (the first single to debut on the chart in the top 10)
- "Hard Headed Woman" / "Don't Ask Me Why" - 6/10/58
- "One Night" / "I Got Stung" - 10/21/58
- "A Fool Such As I" / "I Need Your Love Tonight" - 3/10/59
- "A Big Hunk O' Love" / "My Wish Came True" - 6/23/59
- "Stuck On You" / "Fame And Fortune" - 3/23/60
- "It's Now Or Never" / "A Mess Of Blues" - 7/5/60
- "Are You Lonesome Tonight" / "I Gotta Know" - 11/1/60
- "Surrender" / "Lonely Man" - 2/7/61
- "I Feel So Bad" / "Wild In The Country" - 5/2/61
- "His Latest Flame" / "Little Sister" - 8/8/61
- "Can't Help Falling In Love" / "Rock-A-Hula Baby" - 11/22/61
- "Good Luck Charm" / "Anything That's Part Of You" - 2/27/62
- "She's Not You" / "Just Tell Her Jim Said Hello" - 7/14/62
- "Return To Sender" / "Where Do You Come From" - 10/2/62
All the above 24 singles also sold over 1 million copies each as well. That is another record yet to be broken.
Since 1962, the closest anyone has come to matching this was Madonna in the late 1980s and early 1990s, with 19 consecutive top 5 hits.
Also, on the official United Kingdom Top 40 chart, "It's Now Or Never" reached number one in the week of Sunday, January 30, 2005, 27 years after Presley's death.
Criticisms
Helen Kolaoke (2002) criticizes Elvis' music saying that, "for black people, Elvis, more than any other performer, epitomises the theft of their music and dance." Others argue that Elvis' music is not an appropriation but a proliferation of black music. (Frith 2004, p.21). It also must be stated that most of Elvis's number ones were written for Elvis or not previously recorded by any other artist.
"The Book Of Rock Lists" also argues that his music owes just as much, if not more to white Country music, than Black blues music.
Alphabetical list of all of Elvis's songs
- A Big Hunk o’Love
- A Boy Like Me A Girl Like You
- A Cane And A High Starched Collar
- Adam And Evil
- A Dog’s Life
- A Fool Such As I
- After Loving You
- A House That Has Everything
- A Hundred Years From Now
- Ain’t That Loving You Baby
- A Little Bit Of Green
- A Little Less Conversation
- Alla En El Rancho Grande
- All I Needed Was The Rain
- All Shook Up
- All That I Am
- Almost
- Almost Always True
- Almost In Love
- Aloha Oe
- Always On My Mind
- Amazing Grace
- America The Beautiful
- A Mess Of Blues
- Am I Ready
- An American Trilogy
- And I Love You So
- And The Grass Won’t Pay No Mind
- An Evening Prayer
- Angel
- Animal Instinct
- Any Day Now
- Anyone
- Anyplace Is Paradise
- Anything That’s Part Of You
- Anyway You Want Me
- Apron Strings
- Are You Lonesome Tonight
- Are You Sincere
- Ask Me
- As Long As I Have You
- As We Travel Along The Jericho Road
- A Thing Called Love
- At The End Of The Road
- Auld Lang Syne
- Away In A Manger
- A Whistling Tune
- A World Of Our Own
- Baby I Don’t Care
- Baby If You’ll Give Me All Of Your Love
- Baby Lets Play House
- Baby Please Say Yes
- Baby What You Want Me To Do
- Barefoot Ballad
- Beach Boy Blues
- Beach Shack
- Be Bop A Lula
- Because Of Love
- Before The Next Teardrop Fall
- Beginner’s Luck
- Beyond The Bend
- Beyond The Reef
- Big Boots
- Big Boss Man
- Big Love Big Heartache
- Bitter They Are Harder They Fall
- Black Star
- Blessed Jesus Hold My Hand
- Blowing In The Wind
- Blueberry Hill
- Blue Christmas
- Blue Eyes Crying In The Rain
- Blue Hawaii
- Blue Moon
- Blue Moon Of Kentucky
- Blue River
- Blue Suede Shoes
- Bosom Of Abraham
- Bossa Nova Baby
- Bridge Over Troubled Water
- Bringing It Back
- Britches
- Brown Eyed Handsome Man
- Burning Love
- By And By
- Can’t Help Falling In Love
- Carny Town
- Catching On Fast
- Cattle Call Yodel
- Change Of Habit
- Charro
- Chesay
- Cindy Cindy
- City By Night
- Clambake
- Clean Up Your Own Backyard
- C’mon Everybody
- Cold Cold Heart
- Come Along
- Come What May
- Confidence
- Cotton Candy Land
- Cottonfields
- Could I Fall In Love
- Crawfish
- Crazy Arms
- Cross My Heart And Hope To Die
- Crying In The Chapel
- Dainty Little Moonbeams
- Danny
- Danny Boy
- Dark Moon
- Datin’
- Devil In Disguise
- Didja’ Ever
- Dirty Dirty Feeling
- Dixieland Rock
- Doin’ The Best I Can
- Dominic
- Doncha’ Think It’s Time
- Do Not Disturb
- Don’t
- Don’t Ask Me Why
- Don’t Be Cruel
- Don’t Cry Daddy
- Don’t Forbid Me
- Don’t Leave Me Now
- Don’t Think Twice It’s All Right
- Do The Clam
- Do The Vega
- Double Trouble
- Down By The Riverside
- Down In The Alley
- Do You Know Who I Am
- Drums Of The Islands
- Early Morning Rain
- Earth Angel
- Earth Boy
- Easy Come Easy Go
- Easy Question
- Ebony Eyes
- Echoes Of Love
- Edge Of Reality
- El Toro
- Everybody Come Aboard
- Faded Love
- Fairytale
- Fame And Fortune
- Farther Along
- Fever
- Finders Keepers Losers Weepers
- Find Out What’s Happening
- First In Line
- 500 Miles
- Five Sleepy Heads
- Flaming Star
- Follow That Dream
- Fool
- Fool Fool Fool
- Fools Fall In Love
- Forget Me Never
- For Ol’ Time’s Sake
- For The Good Times
- For The Heart
- For The Millionth And The Last Time
- Fort Lauderdale Chamber Of Commerce
- Fountain Of Love
- Frankfort Special
- Frankie And Johnny
- Froggy Went A Courtin’
- From A Jack To A King
- Funny How Time Slips Away
- Fun In Acapulco
- Gentle On My Mind
- Gently
- G.I. Blues
- Girl Happy
- Girl Next Door Went A Walking
- Girl Of Mine
- Girls Girls Girls
- Give Me The Right
- Go East Young Man
- Goin’ Home
- Golden Coins
- Gonna Get Back Home Somehow
- Good Golly Miss Molly
- Good Luck Charm
- Good Rocking Tonight
- Good Time Charlie’s Got The Blues
- Got A Lot O’ Living To Do
- Got My Mojo Working
- Green Green Grass Of Home
- Guadalajara
- Guitar Man
- Hands Off
- Happy Ending
- Harbor Lights
- Hard Headed Woman
- Hard Knocks
- Hard Luck
- Harem Holiday
- Have A Happy
- Have I Told You Lately That I Love You
- Hawaiian Sunset
- Hawaiian Wedding Song
- He
- Heartbreak Hotel
- Heart of Rome
- He Is My Everything
- He Knows Just What I Need
- He’ll Have To Go
- Hello Josephine
- Help Me
- Help Me Make It Through The Night
- Here Comes Santa Clause
- He’s Only A Prayer Away
- He’s Your Uncle Not Your Dad
- He Touched Me
- Hey Little Girl
- Hey Hey Hey
- Hey Jude
- Hide Thou Me
- Hi Heel Sneakers
- His Hand In Mine
- His Latest Flame
- Holly Leaves And Christmas Trees
- Home Is Where The Heart Is
- Hot Dog
- Hound Dog
- House Of Sand
- How Can You Lose What You Never Had
- How Do You Think I Feel
- How Great Thou Art
- How’s The World Treating You
- How The Web Was Woven
- How Would You Like To Be
- Hurt
- I Asked The Lord
- I Beg Of You
- I Believe
- I Believe In The Man In The Sky
- I Can Help
- I Can’t Help It
- I Can’t Stop Loving You
- I Didn't Make It On Playing Guitar
- I Don’t Care If The Sky Don’t Shine
- I Don’t Wanna Be Tied
- I Don’t Want To
- I Feel So Bad
- I Feel That I’ve Known You Forever
- If Every Day Was Like Christmas
- If I Can Dream
- If I Get Home On Christmas Day
- If I Loved You
- If I’m A Fool
- If I Were You
- I Forgot To Remember To Forget
- If That Isn’t Love
- If The Lord Wasn’t Walking By My Side
- If We Never Meet Again
- If You Don’t Come Back
- If You Love Me Let Me Know
- If You Talk In Your Sleep
- If You Think I Don’t Need You
- I Got A Feeling In My Body
- I Got A Woman
- I Got Lucky
- I Got Stung
- I Gotta Know
- I Hear A Sweet Voice Calling
- I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day
- I, John
- I Just Can’t Help Believing
- I Just Can’t Make It By Myself
- I’ll Be Back
- I’ll Be Home For Christmas
- I’ll Be Home On Christmas Day
- I’ll Be There
- I'll Fly Away
- I’ll Hold You In My Heart
- I’ll Never Fall In Love Again
- I’ll Never Know
- I’ll Never Let You Go
- I’ll Never Stand In Your Way
- I’ll Remember You
- I’ll Take Love
- I’ll Take You Home Again Kathleen
- I Love Only One Girl
- I Love You Because
- I’m Beginning To Forget You
- I’m Coming Home
- I’m Counting On You
- I Met Her Today
- I’m Falling In Love Tonight
- I'm Gonna Bid My Blues Goodbye
- I’m Gonna Sit Right Down And Cry Over You
- I’m Gonna Walk Dem Golden Stairs
- I Miss You
- I’m Leavin’
- I’m Left You’re Right She’s Gone
- I’m Moving On
- I’m Not The Marrying Kind
- I'm On Fire
- I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry
- I’m In A Crowd But Oh So Alone
- I’m Yours
- Indescribably Blue
- I Need Somebody To Lean On
- I Need Your Love Tonight
- I Need You So
- Inherit The Wind
- In My Father’s House
- In My Way
- In The Garden
- In The Ghetto
- In Your Arms
- I Really Don’t Want To Know
- I Shall Be Released
- I Shall Not Be Moved
- Is It So Strange
- Island Of Love
- I Slipped I Stumbled I Fell
- It Ain’t No Big Thing But It’s Growing
- It Feels So Right
- I Think I’m Gonna Like It Here
- It Hurts Me
- It Is No Secret
- It Keeps Right On A-Hurtin’
- Ito Eats
- It’s A Matter Of Time
- It’s A Sin
- It’s A Wonderful World
- It’s Carnival Time
- It’s Different Now
- It’s Easy For You
- It’s Impossible
- It’s Midnight
- It’s No Fun Being Lonely
- It’s Now Or Never
- It’s Only Love
- It’s Over
- It’s Still Here
- It’s Your Baby You Rock It
- It Won’t Be Long
- It Won’t Seem Like Christmas
- I Understand Just How You Feel
- I’ve Been Blue
- I’ve Got A Thing About You Baby
- I’ve Got Confidence
- I’ve Got To Find My Baby
- I’ve Lost You
- I Want To Be Free
- I Want You I Need You I Love You
- I Want You With Me
- I Was Born About Ten Thousand Years Ago
- I Washed My Hands In Muddy Water
- I Was The One
- I Will Be Home Again
- I Will Be True
- Jailhouse Rock
- Jambalaya
- Jesus Walked That Lonesome Valley
- Johnny B. Good
- Joshua Fit The Battle
- Joy To The World
- Judy
- Just A Little Bit
- Just A Little Talk With Jesus
- Just Because
- Just Call Me Lonsome
- Just For Old Time Sake
- Just Pretend
- Just Tell Her Jim Said Hello
- Keeper Of The Key
- Kentucky Rain
- Killing Me Softly
- King Creole
- King Of The Road
- King Of The Whole Wide World
- Kismet
- Kissin’ Cousins
- Kissin’ Cousins 2
- Kiss Me Quick
- Known Only To Him
- Ku U I Po
- Lady Madonna
- Lawdy Miss Clawdy
- Lead Me Guide Me
- Let It Be Me
- Let Me
- Let Me Be There
- Let’s Be Friends
- Let’s Forget About The Stars
- Let Us Pray
- Let Yourself Go
- Life
- Like A Baby
- Little Cabin On The Hill
- Little Darlin’
- Little Egypt
- Little Sister
- Lonely Man
- Lonely This Christmas
- Lonesome Cowboy
- Long Black Limousine
- Long Legged Girl
- Long Lonely Highway
- Long Tall Sally
- Look Out Broadway
- Love Coming Down
- Love Letters
- Love Lifted Me
- Love Me
- Love Me Love The Life I Lead
- Love Me Tender
- Love Me Tonight
- Lover Doll
- Love Song Of The Year
- Lovin’ Arms
- Loving You
- Make Believe
- Make Me Know It
- Make The World Go Away
- Mama
- Mama Liked The Roses
- Mansion Over The Hilltop
- Marguerita
- Mary In The Morning
- Mary Lou Brown
- Maybellene
- Mean Woman Blues
- Memories
- Memphis Tennessee
- Men With Broken Hearts
- Merry Christmas Baby
- Mexico
- Milkcow Blues Boogie
- Milky White Way
- Mine
- Miracle Of The Rosary
- Mirage
- Mona Lisa
- Money Honey
- Moody Blue
- Moonlight Swim
- Mr. Songman
- My Babe
- My Baby Left Me
- My Baby’s Gone
- My Boy
- My Desert Serenade
- My Happiness
- My Heart Cries For You
- My Little Friend
- Mystery Train
- My Way
- My Wish Came True
- Never Again
- Never Been To Spain
- Never Ending
- Never Say Yes
- New Orleans
- Night Life
- Night Rider
- Nobodys Child
- No More
- No Room To Rumba In A Sportscar
- Nothingville
- O Come All Ye Faithful
- Oh Happy Day
- Oh How I Love Jesus
- Old MacDonald
- Old Shep
- O Little Town Of Bethlehem
- On A Snowy Christmas Night
- Once Is Enough
- One Boy Two Little Girls
- One Broken Heart For Sale
- One Night
- One Night Of Sin
- One-sided Love Affair
- One Track Heart
- Only Believe
- Only The Strong Survive
- On The Jericho Road
- Out Of Sight Out Of Mind
- Padre
- Paradise Hawaiian Style
- Paralyzed
- Party
- Patch It Up
- Peace In The Valley
- Petunia The Gardeners Daughter
- Pieces Of My Life
- Pink Cadillac And A Lot Of Cash
- Plantation Rock
- Playing For Keeps
- Please Don’t Drag That String Around
- Please Don’t Stop Loving Me
- Pledging My Love
- Pocketful Of Rainbows
- Poison Ivy League
- Polk Salad Annie
- Poor Boy
- Power Of My Love
- Promised Land
- Proud Mary
- Puppet On A String
- Put The Blame On Me
- Put Your Hand In The Hand
- Queenie Wahine’s Papaya
- Rags To Riches
- Raised On Rock
- Rare
- Reach Out To Jesus
- Ready Teddy
- Reconsider Baby
- Relax
- Release Me
- Return To Sender
- Riding The Rainbow
- Rip It Up
- Rockabilly Rebel
- Rock-a-Hula Baby
- Roustabout
- Rubberneckin’
- Runaway
- Run On
- San Antonio Rose
- Sand Castles
- Santa Bring My Baby Back To Me
- Santa Clause Is Back In Town
- Santa Lucia
- Saved
- Save The Last Dance For Me
- Scratch My Back
- Seeing Is Believing
- See See Rider
- Sentimental Me
- Separate Ways
- Shake A Hand
- Shake Rattle And Roll
- Shake That Tambourine
- She’s A Machine
- She’s Not You
- She Thinks I Still Care
- She Wears My Ring
- Shoppin’ Around
- Shout It Out
- Show Me Thy Ways O Lord
- Silent Night
- Silver Bells
- Singing Tree
- Sing You Children
- Signs Of The Zodiac
- Slicin’ Sand
- Slowly But Surely
- Smokey Mountain Boy
- Smorgasboard
- Snowbird
- So Close Yet So Far
- Softly And Tenderly
- Softly As I Leave You
- So Glad You’re Mine
- So High
- Soldier Boy
- Solitaire
- Somebody Bigger Than You And I
- Something
- Something Blue
- Song Of The Shrimp
- Sound Advice
- Spanish Eyes
- Speedway
- Spinout
- Spring Fever
- Stagger Lee
- Stand By Me
- Starting Today
- Startin’ Tonight
- Stay Away
- Stay Away Joe
- Steadfast Loyal And True
- Steamroller Blues
- Steppin’ Out Of Line
- Stop Look And Listen
- Stop Where You Are
- Stranger In My Own Hometown
- Stranger In The Crowd
- Stuck On You
- Such A Night
- Summer Kisses Winter Tears
- Summertime Has Passed And Gone
- Suppose
- Surrender
- Susan When She Tried
- Suspicion
- Suspicious Minds
- Sweet Angeline
- Sweet Caroline
- Sweetheart You Done Me Wrong
- Sweet Home Alabama
- Sweet Little Sixteen
- Sweet Spirit
- Swing Down Sweet Chariot
- Sylvia
- Take Good Care Of Her
- Take Me To The Fair
- Take My Hand Precious Lord
- Talk About The Good Times
- Teardrops
- Teddy Bear
- Tell Me Why
- Tender Feeling
- Tennessee Waltz
- Thanks To The Rolling Sea
- That’s Allright Mama
- That's My Desire
- That’s Someone You Never Forget
- That’s What You Get For Loving Me
- That’s When Your Heartaches Begin
- The Bullfighter Was A Lady
- The Fair’s Moving On
- The First Noel
- The First Time I Ever Saw Your Face
- The Fool
- The Girl I Never Loved
- The Girl Of My Best Friend
- The Impossible Dream
- The Lady Loves Me
- The Last Farewell
- The Lighthouse
- The Lord’s Prayer
- The Love Machine
- The Next Step Is Love
- There Ain’t Nothing Like A Song
- There Goes My Everything
- There Is No God But God
- There Is So Much World To See
- There’s A Brand New Day On The Horizon
- There’s A Honky Tonk Angel
- There’s Always Me
- There’s Gold In The Mountains
- There’s No Place Like Home
- The Sound Of Your Cry
- The Twelfth Of Never
- The Walls Have Ears
- The Whiffenpoof Song
- The Wonderful World Of Christmas
- The Wonder Of You
- The Yellow Rose Of Texas
- They Remind Me Too Much Of You
- Thinking About You
- This Is Living
- This Is My Heaven
- This Is Our Dance
- This Is The Story
- This Time /I Can’t Stop Loving You
- Three Corn Patches
- Thrill Of Your Love
- Tiger Man
- Today, Tomorrow And Forever
- Tomorrow Is A Long Time
- Tomorrow Never Comes
- Tomorrow Night
- Tonight’s All Right For Love
- Tonight’s So Right For Love
- Too Much
- Too Much Monkey Business
- Treat Me Nice
- Trouble
- T-R-O-U-B-L-E
- True Love
- True Love Travels On A Gravel Road
- Tryin’ To Get To You
- Tumblin’ Tumbleweeds
- Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus/ Nearer My God To Thee
- Tutti Frutti
- Tweedle Dee
- Twenty Days And Twenty Nights
- Unchained Melody
- Until It’s Time For You To Go
- Up Above My Head
- Up On The House Top
- U.S. Male
- Vino, Dinero Y Amor
- Violet
- Viva Las Vegas
- Walk A Mile In My Shoes
- Way Down
- Wearin’ That Loved-On Look
- Wear My Ring Around Your Neck
- We Call On Him
- We Can Make The Morning
- Welcome To My World
- We’ll Be Together
- We’re Coming In Loaded
- We’re Gonna Move
- Western Union
- What A Wonderful Life
- What’d I Say
- What Every Woman Lives For
- What Now My Love
- What Now What Next Where To
- What She’s Really Like
- Wheels On My Heels
- When God Dips His Love In My Heart
- When I’m Over You
- When It Rains It Really Pours
- When My Blue Moon Turns To Gold Again
- When The Saints Go Marching In
- Where Could I Go But To The Lord
- Where Did They Go Lord
- Where Do I Go From Here
- Where Do You Come From
- Where No One Stands Alone
- White Christmas
- Who Am I
- Who Are You
- Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On
- Who Needs Money
- Why Me Lord
- Wild In The Country
- Winter Wonderland
- Wisdom Of The Ages
- Witchcraft
- Without Him
- Without Love
- Wolf Call
- Woman Without Love
- Wonderful World
- Wooden Heart
- Words
- Working On The Building
- Write To Me From Naples
- Yesterday
- Yoga Is As Yoga Does
- You Asked Me To
- You Belong To My Heart
- You Better Run
- You Can Have Her
- You Can’t Say No In Acapulco
- You Don’t Have To Say You Love Me
- You Don’t Know Me
- You Gave Me A Mountain
- You Gotta Stop
- You’ll Be Gone
- You’ll Never Walk Alone
- You’ll Think Of Me
- Young And Beautiful
- Young Dreams
- Your Cheatin’ Heart
- Your Groovy Self
- You’re A Heartbreaker
- You’re The Boss
- You’re The Only Star In My Blue Heaven
- Your Life Has Just Begun
- Your Love’s Been A Long Time Coming
- Your Time Hasn’t Come Yet Baby
- You’ve Lost That Loving Feeling
Discography
For a detailed discography, see Elvis Presley discography.
For a list of Elvis' singles, see Elvis Presley hit singles
Trivia
- Elvis Presley made only one television commercial, an ad for Southern Maid Doughnuts that ran in 1954.
- Elvis Presley made famous a version of the peanut butter sandwich with banana (either mashed or whole) that was grilled or fried, and may have contained bacon.
- Elvis is the richest deceased celebrity. (Source:www.Forbes.com)
- Elvis Presley may be partially Jewish. Elvis had a Jewish maternal great-great-grandmother.
Salary
- Elvis: Aloha from Hawaii (1973) (TV) $450,000
- Elvis: That's the Way It Is (1970) $500,000 + 60% of profits
- Paradise, Hawaiian Style (1966) $225,000 + 50% of profits
- Tickle Me (1965) $750,000
- Girl Happy (1965) $500,000 + 50% of profits
- Viva Las Vegas (1964) $500,000 + 50% of profits
- Fun in Acapulco (1963) $500,000 + 50% of profits
- It Happened at the World's Fair (1963) $500,000 + 50% of profits
- Follow That Dream (1962) $500,000 + 50% of profits
- Blue Hawaii (1961) $175,000
- G.I. Blues (1960) $175,000 + % of gross
- Frank Sinatra's Welcome Home Party for Elvis Presley (1960) (TV) $125,000
- Jailhouse Rock (1957) $250,000
- Loving You (1957) $150,000
- Love Me Tender (1956) $100,000
Quotations
- Elvis was the only man from Northeast Mississippi who could shake his hips and still be loved by rednecks, cops, and hippies.
- When I first heard Elvis' voice, I just knew that I wasn't going to work for anybody, and nobody was going to be my boss. He is the deity supreme of rock and roll religion as it exists in today's form. Hearing him for the first time was like busting out of jail.---I thank God for Elvis Presley."
- Don't blame it on Elvis, for shakin' his pelvis
- Shakin' the pelvis been in style way back since the River Nile
- The Fabulous McClevertys, calypso singers, 1957
- Before Elvis, there was nothing
- Before Elvis, everything was in black and white. Then came Elvis. Zoom, glorious Technicolor.
See also
- Elvis-A-Rama Museum
- Elvis impersonators
- Elvis sightings
- Tagish Elvis Presley
- Elvis Presley's Sun recordings
- List of songs about or referencing Elvis Presley
- 24-Hour Church of Elvis
- Best selling music artists - World's top-selling music artists chart.
Source
- List of 375 books relating to Elvis Presley [1]
- Credible authors of Elvis Presley books whose works have all been critiqued by a large number of major book reviewers and are noted for their impeccable research include:
- Peter Guralnick – his books are considered the definitive work on Presley
- Alanna Nash – award winning book by the Society of Professional Journalists' 1994 National Member of the Year
- Albert Goldman – reviled by fans for his harsh criticisms of Presley
External links
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fa/Wikiquote-logo.svg/34px-Wikiquote-logo.svg.png)
- The official Elvis Presley website by Elvis Presley Enterprise.
- The Elvis Information Network — News, Reviews, Interviews & Articles. Updated daily — An Award winning website.
- Lauderdale Courts: Historic Home of Elvis 1949-1953 — History on teenage home and reservation/tour information.
- History and Lyrics — Insight on Elvis
- Elvis Presley at IMDb
- Sockin' Swingin' Girls & Singin' — Fansite dedicated to the films of Elvis Presley
- FBI Freedom of Information Act files on Elvis: foia.fbi.gov/foiaindex/presley.htm
- The Elvis Presley Lyrics Page
- Elvis Presley lyrics - A complete collection of Elvis lyrics from lyrics.info
- Always The King — Elvis fansite in German and English.
- ElvisNews — Updated several times a day, this website gives you a summary of every Elvis-related news around the world.
- Elvis Aron Presley — Fansite
- BBC News article on Elvis Presley's Scottish roots
- Elvis in Hawaii — Information about the Aloha from Hawaii show (1973) and the Hawaiian movies.
- Elvis Presley: The King on Hotshotdigital.com
- Elvis In Norway — A very good source for news and reviews of new CD releases, both official and bootlegs.
- Elvis Presley - The Early Years — Emphasis on Elvis' career in the '50s and '60s
- Elvis Tribute — Elvis fan stories, song poll, Elvis fanaticism