Talk:Elvis Presley

Official proclamation on aloha elvis

http://m.elvis.com/news/detail.aspx?id=6849

In honor of the king's groundbreaking performances in 1973, the governor of Hawaii Neil Abercrombie declared January 14, 2013, as "Elvis, Aloha from Hawai'i via Satellite Day." The governor made the announcement at the Neal S. Blaisdell Center last night during the 40th anniversary celebration. "Aloha from Hawaii" returned to the same place for a one-night only enhanced screening celebrating the concert seen by over a billion people worldwide

71.234.119.3 (talk) 13:01, 18 January 2013 (UTC)

Elvis hated being called "The King" and said so repeatedly Santamoly (talk) 09:04, 7 February 2013 (UTC)

Elvis hating his title is not Germaine to adding this update . I clearly posted the link that shows the governor of Hawaii proclaiming 40 years later aloha elvis day . Please include it 71.234.119.3 (talk) 03:10, 14 February 2013 (UTC)

So you think that this opportunistic promotional blather takes precedence over what Elvis repeatedly said about being called "The King"? Santamoly (talk) 02:13, 17 February 2013 (UTC)

Elvis is considered the greatest recording artist of all time

Please state in the beginning line of elvis that " elvis is considered the greatest recording artist of all time "

1) in 1992 the RIAA proclaimed elvis the greatest recording artist of all time " [2] "Top Tallies: Artist Tallies" (PHP). Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved August 10, 2011. close

http://www.medicalnewsservice.com/ARCHIVE/MNS137.cfm

2) guiness book of world records 2013 " elvis is the biggest selling solo artist in history "

71.234.119.3 (talk) 04:06, 19 January 2013 (UTC)

In 1992 at the American music awards , the riaa presented a award declaring " elvis the greatest recording artist in history "

August 1992, RCA Records and the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) posthumously awarded to Elvis 110 gold, platinum and multi-platinum albums and singles, the largest presentation of gold and platinum record awards in history. The idea was to present all at once Elvis' entire American record sales achievement from the start of his career to the present day - recognizing again all the certifications that had ever been made up to that time, recognizing sales during Elvis' lifetime that had not been properly certified, and recognizing sales since his death that had not yet been certified. It was determined that Elvis had, by that date, 110 different albums and singles that had earned gold, platinum or multi-platinum status. One award was presented for each of the 110 titles, with an indication on the award whether title was gold or platinum or how many times platinum. RCA also presented a 9-foot glass sculpture proclaiming Elvis the greatest recording artist of all time

Please change the opening line to elvis Presley is considered the greatest recording artist in history please .

71.234.119.3 (talk) 03:24, 21 January 2013 (UTC)

No. Firstly, you haven't cited a source for that, and secondly, this is, or was, (apparently) the opinion of the RIAA - others may have other opinions. We don't state opinion as fact... AndyTheGrump (talk) 04:13, 21 January 2013 (UTC)

Thirdly, as stated above, it was not the opinion of the RIAA, but rather of RCA—Elvis' record company—which had an obvious bias and commercial interest in declaring him "the greatest recording artist of all time." Pstoller (talk) 08:16, 21 January 2013 (UTC)

@Pstoller ... I Agree!!

To those who keep parroting one *billion this and that for EP - ( with some fans even go as far as to quote 2+ billion sales, which is beyond laughable) – there are two links further down.

The one *billion sales myth is just one of two hyped myths that were created for and around Elvis Presley, by both Colonel Parker, (Aloha from Hawaii) and the other - (One *billion sales) claimed as far back as 1982, (which makes the claim even more crazy) by RCA records, who had just taken over as his record label.

Below is a link – which is actually from an Elvis Presley Web site, and which tackles this myth:

As things stand, the 1 billion sales myth is just that…Unproven…A myth, regardless that Elvis Presley Enterprises had obviously contacted, (That is what you have to do to have something listed) GBof WR to make sure this figure was listed for 2012’s edition. Oddly enough, GB of WR seems to have taken the RCA record label’s own one *billion sales claims plaque hanging in Graceland as fact/proof of actual sales.

This yet unquestioned and un-tested mathematical result seems to be blindly taken as gospel by some.

For starters, where are the phenomenal global chart positions/sales of the past regarding Elvis Presley sales? …And on and on. The claim never adds up, no matter what way one tries to spin it – Apart from doing well in the UK, there is no constant stream of visually documented chart-toppers /sellers of the past, on a GLOBAL scale, etc… The claimed figure just never adds up.

In further contradiction to this claim: There was a particular star, (Probably better off not mentioning the name right now) who has *officially* been awarded on live TV, and by one of the well-known world music establishments, back in 06 - for being the “First Artist to Sell Over 100 million Albums Outside of the US” …Another fact that makes this *billion claim for said artist even more odd.

http://www.elvisinfonet.com/credibility.html — Preceding unsigned comment added by 86.42.81.59 (talk) 05:51, 12 February 2013 (UTC)

http://www.elvis-history-blog.com/elvis-stats.html

Lastly…

Below is an excerpt – again, an Elvis Presley Web site, which talks more realistically about the second myth - Which, funny enough, just happens to be yet another one *billion claim, (This time for viewership) for the same person, This now being the one *billion claim for ‘Aloha From Hawaii’:

"In what was perhaps the greatest snow job of his career, Colonel Parker convinced four decades of Elvis experts and fans that every single living person in 38 countries tuned in to Elvis: Aloha From Hawaii."

Further reading: http://www.elvis-history-blog.com/elvis-aloha-special.html

Then, we have the Washington Post repeating a claim as far back as when Elvis Presley died in 1977, that: “Overall, he sold more than 500 million records worldwide”.

So, the RCA record label takes over in 1982 then makes the one *billion claim in sales. So, that means, 5 years after Elvis Presley dies ANOTHER 500 million records have been sold, (which would have to be spread worldwide) …So that is equivalent to approx. a further 100 million sales a year from 1977 to 1982.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/style/longterm/elvis/epobit.htm

See the craziness of all these claims?

— Preceding unsigned comment added by 86.42.111.89 (talk) 08:27, 8 February 2013 (UTC)

1) mj wiki in the beginning blurb uses an outdated 1996 record of " most sucessful entertainer" isn't that GWR opnion ? Also if mj wiki can cite a 1996 outdated award why can't elvis wiki do the same . Per billboard elvis is recognized with 17 number ones . Mj only 13 . Obviously more sucessful . Per billboard elvis has more number albums too( more sucessful ) elvis was the first artist to have a number one movie , song and album at the same time . ( love me tender , heartbreak hotel , elvis Presley )

2) TV guide proclaimed elvis the greatest entertainer of the 20 th century

3) Sony bmg on his album proclaimed elvis the artist of the century

4) 1998 Sony bmg press release " unequivocally , elvis Aaron Presley is the biggest selling artist in POPular music "

5) chart company in 2012 declared elvis the biggest

http://www.elvicities.com/~presleyinthepres/themes/bmguksingles.html

http://www.google.com/search?q=tv+guide+elvis+the+greatest+entertainer&hl=en&tbo=d&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=9FkcUcCBKony0QHJs4HwDA&ved=0CAgQ_AUoAQ&biw=320&bih=444&sei=B1ocUfCQBOW60AHAp4DIBg#i=9

http://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/the-official-top-10-biggest-selling-male-artists-of-all-time-revealed-1651/

I have shown 4 verifiable statements that support changing the blurb of elvis to . Elvis was considered the greatest recording artist "

Here is a link from a 2009 article proving the 1 billion sales claim now

http://www.elvis.com.au/presley/one_billion_record_sales.shtml

Please if the mj wiki can put there GWR opinion , please do the same for elvis

71.234.119.3 (talk) 03:32, 14 February 2013 (UTC)

"Most successful" implies measurable financial success. "Greatest" is purely a value judgment. The TV Guide "proclamation" was not official: it was a cover story headline to sell magazines. Sony/BMG's "proclamation" and press release are vastly less impartial. The OfficialCharts link appears to be talking only about the UK. And the Elvis Australia Fan Club link not only fails to prove the 1 billion sales claim, it actually refutes it.

In short, your sources are not "verifiable statements that support" changing the Wiki to include the statement, "Elvis is considered the greatest recording artist of all time." Pstoller (talk) 00:46, 15 February 2013 (UTC)

Agreed. Saying that Elvis was the "greatest recording artist of all time" is like saying Isaac Newton was the "greatest scientist of all time". It's hyperbole, something that can be neither measured nor proven. Santamoly (talk) 02:28, 17 February 2013 (UTC)

Saying he "is considered…" is as bad. Of course, the statement is true on its face: clearly, many people consider him to be so. But, then, many recording artists are considered by their biggest fans to be "the greatest of all time," too. The article plainly and accurately states that Elvis Presley is "a cultural icon" and "one of the most popular musicians of the 20th century," often called "the King." It's not Wikipedia's function to put a crown on his head. Pstoller (talk) 03:06, 17 February 2013 (UTC)

Elvis is the worlds greatest idol

American idol live broadcast publically stated " Elvis is and will always be the worlds greatest idol "

Please put that in the beginning worded like " he is considered by ..."

Thank you

71.234.119.3 (talk) 00:46, 16 February 2013 (UTC)

Edit

In the "Racial Issues" section, please change:

Dudley Brooks an African-American composer and studio musician who worked with Presley during the 1950s and 1960s also disputed allegations that Presley was a racist.

to

Dudley Brooks, an African-American composer and studio musician who worked with Presley during the 1950s and 1960s, also disputed allegations that Presley was a racist.

138.163.0.43 (talk) 17:53, 16 February 2013 (UTC)

Done. Pstoller (talk) 03:08, 17 February 2013 (UTC)

proclamatiom of aloha elvis

http://m.elvis.com/news/detail.aspx?id=6849

In honor of the king's groundbreaking performances in 1973, the governor of Hawaii Neil Abercrombie declared January 14, 2013, as "Elvis, Aloha from Hawai'i via Satellite Day." The governor made the announcement at the Neal S. Blaisdell Center last night during the 40th anniversary celebration. "Aloha from Hawaii" returned to the same place for a one-night only enhanced screening celebrating the concert seen by over a billion people worldwide

71.234.119.3 (talk) 13:01, 18 January 2013 (UTC)

Elvis hated being called "The King" and said so repeatedly Santamoly (talk) 09:04, 7 February 2013 (UTC) Elvis hating his title is not Germaine to adding this update . I clearly posted the link that shows the governor of Hawaii proclaiming 40 years later aloha elvis day . Please include it 71.234.119.3 (talk) 03:10, 14 February 2013 (UTC) So you think that this opportunistic promotional blather takes precedence over what Elvis repeatedly said about being called "The King"? Santamoly (talk) 02:13, 17 February 2013 (UTC)

it is not opportunistic. the proclamation shows the amazing popularity of elvis and his music. its a fitting eneding to aloha elvis. please. the very least show the proclamation in the article.

68.199.5.208 (talk) 19:46, 22 February 2013 (UTC)

elvis is the most sucessful artist in history

Please state in the beginning line of elvis that " elvis is considered the greatest recording artist of all time "

1) GWR 2013 Elvis Presley (USA) is the best-selling solo artist, with 1 billion sales worldwide (129.5 million in the USA). that is the exact statement by gwr. in 2012 gwr list elvis as the most sucessful based on sales.

2)per billboard elvis is clearly the lead in charts Billboard book of top 40 hits ( ninth edition ) 2010

Top 100 artists 1955-2009

1) elvis 7,537 points 2) the beatles 4,611 points 3) Madonna 4,317 points 4) Elton John. 4,176 points 5) Mariah Carey 3,942 points 6) Stevie wonder 3,470 points 7 ) michael jackson 3,410 points 8) Janet jackson 3,260 points

3)2009 elvis article proving the one billion in sales In the case of Elvis other indicators include:

1. The considerable number of known singles which according to RCA managed to sell over a million copies worldwide, all in the period between 1960 and 1977, despite selling LESS than half of that total in the USA.

1. Yet more singles which achieved an RIAA award for selling just over half a million copies at home, but thanks to healthy international sales are said by RCA to have EASILY passed the million mark all told. At the request of the Colonel himself RCA did at least attempt to track the world wide sales progress of singles for possible inclusion on a subsequent gold disc album of which there are five. Specific evidence of this can be found, for example, in the RCA brochure which accompanied the tour of Australia by Elvis Presley's gold Cadillac in 1968. This listed no less than 45 million sellers and 19 half million sellers up to that time.

1. Those singles which were NEVER released in the States, but were huge hits in a wide range of countries overseas, including amongst others 'A Mess of Blues' (1960), 'Wooden Heart' (1961), 'I Just Can't Help Believing' (1971) and 'The Girl of My Best Friend' (1976).

1. In several key overseas markets some sales were documented and certified - even as far back as the 1950's. In the UK for example the now long moribund 'Disc and Music Echo' pop magazine had by the time it folded awarded Elvis around two dozen silver discs-currently assumed to be lurking in the Graceland vaults - each for AUDITED sales of over 250,000 copies apiece.

1. Even more tellingly an RCA press release issued in May 1965 and subsequently published in Billboard magazine stated that only some 14 million, out of a total of the first 100 million Elvis records sold around the world were in fact for albums. That figure then doubled within the next 3 years although in Elvis' case much of this should be credited not to the film soundtrack recordings, whose sales were solid rather than spectacular, but to the album releases of the fifties and early sixties since these clearly achieved the bulk of their sales only AFTER the end of 1964. All that can be easily deduced from a glance not only at the overall industry figures which showed album sales suddenly accelerating to the point where they had overtaken sales of singles by 1968 but at Elvis' actual certified domestic sales for albums released in the years between 1956 and 1964 and then observing by just how much those figures exceeded the May 1965 statement. Indeed it was the sustained upsurge in the dollar sales of his old albums that enabled RCA to proudly claim in a 1966 New Year's Day telegram to the Colonel that 1965 had been Elvis' best year to date beating out even 1956.

1. What seems to have caused this spectacular increase in the sales of records especially albums at a time when Elvis' popularity was hardly at a career peak? Well remember this was around the time when the Beatles, the Stones and the rest of the 'beat' groups first sprang onto the scene and caused sales to leap to unheard of figures benefiting everyone even Elvis. Happily - at least for record company profits - this musical revolution coincided with teenagers all over the world, including the post army 'second' wave of fans picked up by Elvis, discovering that they were able to persuade or cajole their parents into shelling out a bit more pocket money than their elder brothers or sisters were used to receiving during the post war years. In addition many of the latter, who would have been amongst the first wave of Elvis fans back in the mid 1950's, were ten years on, beginning to get into regular employment . Very probably many of these fans used their newly found purchasing powers to acquire ALL the classic Presley albums they had previously been unable to afford and in particular to replace worn out singles with the gold disc albums.

1. In 1987 RCA gave Graceland a somewhat baffling award which listed no less than 48 titles that for the most part had not gained due recognition for past sales. The titles included a HOST of mid sixties soundtrack albums and mid seventies singles which even today have failed to achieve domestic certification. That can only mean that the majority of these sales had been accrued from foreign parts.

All this evidence seems to point towards an overall international sales figure that at the very least now represents over 60 % of total global sales to date i.e. a minimum of 600 million copies or units once the US figure is duly adjusted. It is almost certainly greater than that but I just don't see on the basis of the available evidence how any researcher can be more precise.

Conclusion

Finally I feel that it is now safe to say that the sales of Presley records have passed that coveted one billion milestone and possibly may even have done so about 5 years ago. That places him several hundred million ahead of anyone else. And I would add that despite Michael Jackson's periodic claims I very much doubt that the gloved one is anywhere near the Beatles (600 million) far less Elvis.

- See more at: http://www.elvis.com.au/presley/one_billion_record_sales.shtml#sthash.wQemwYnB.dpuf

please put in the beginning elvis is the most sucessful artist based on sales and billboard (please)

68.199.5.208 (talk) 20:14, 22 February 2013 (UTC)

All this is a synthesis of published material that advances a position (see WP:SYNTHESIS for more info). Would need one ref that says this explicitly- and one not related to Elvis official or fan pages. That said i do think its a correct statmnet - unless we have modern numbers for Guy Lombardo .... this guy was a selling machine - what has he sold since his death in 1977 300 million + before he died in 1977. (PS http://m.elvis.com/news/detail.aspx?id=6849 is not a good source at all. Moxy (talk) 21:03, 22 February 2013 (UTC)

Please put elvis as a singer , actor and philanthropist

In recognition of Elvis' charitable contributions Memphis Mayor William Ingram, along with the Governor of Tennessee Buford Ellington, officially declared October 29, 1967, "Elvis Presley Day" in the city of Memphis and in the State of Tennessee..( the king donated yearly to over 50 charities )Memphis tribune

Some of the more publicized charities Elvis gave to were;

On March 24, 1961 Elvis performed in Hawaii for a benefit concert, held at the Bloch Arena, to raise money for a memorial for the USS Arizona which had sank during the bombing of Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941 historically known as “a day that will live in infamy”. Elvis raised $ 65,000.00 and a plaque was prominently placed, at the memorial site, acknowledging Elvis’ efforts in raising the money. Sadly, the plaque was removed due to the acts of a few powerful “non-Elvis fans” and the return of this plaque remains an emphasis of mine and should be to Elvis Presley Fans Worldwide. In in 1964 Elvis bought the FDR Presidential Yacht named the Potomac and donated it to the St. Judes Children s Research Hospital, who ultimately sold it for an amount of $55,000.00, spearheaded at the time by entertainer Danny Thomas (Father of Marlo Thomas aka: “That Girl” TV Star and wife of Phil Donahue the talk show host). One bit of humor involving this event was that Colonel Parker, upon inspecting the yacht the morning that Elvis would personally present the yacht to Danny Thomas with many members of the press being present, saw that the yacht was in dire need of maintenance including paint. As only the Colonel would he authorized ONLY the side of the yacht that would be photographed to be freshly painted leaving the rest of the yacht discolored with peeling paint evident. In 1968 Elvis allowed one of his Rolls Royce to be auctioned off for a charity that assisted mentally retarded children. In 1973 Elvis performed the first “live concert/broadcast via Worldwide satellite”, which was seen by a record audience of over ONE BILLION people, known as “Aloha from Hawaii”. This concert was actually a benefit concert for the Kuiokalani Lee Cancer Fund. The goal was to raise $ 25,000.00 but this amount was greatly exceeded and actually raised $ 75,000.00. In 1975 Elvis gave a concert in Jackson Mississippi that raised in excess of $ 100,000.00 for victims of a tornado. This concert was deeply personal to Elvis because when Elvis was a child a tornado tore through his hometown in Tupelo, Mississippi and killed many people.

I think elvis earned it

71.234.119.3 (talk) 16:25, 23 February 2013 (UTC)

elvis is the most successful artistof all time

please put in the beginning that elvis is considered the most successful artist of all time per

1)gwr 2013 "elvis is the biggest selling solo artist is history with a BILLION in sales"

2) rolling stone (exact bio on there website)

As a recording artist, Presley’s accomplishments are unparalleled. He is believed to have sold more than one billion records worldwide, about 40 percent of those outside the U.S. Presley still appears to hold the largest number of gold, platinum, and multiplatinum certifications of any artist in history; as of While certainly other artists preceded him to the alter of rock & roll, he is indisputably its king.'2010, 151 different albums and singles. He remained an unmatched chart performer from the Seventies until the first decade of the 21st Century when, as the population of record buyers increased, the chart numbers of top sellers like Mariah Carey and Madonna began to challenge his. According to Billboard, Elvis had 149 charting pop singles: 114 Top 40, 40 Top Ten, and 18 Number Ones

rolling stone bio

131.239.63.3 (talk) 18:17, 26 February 2013 (UTC)

Sounds like alot of guess work any references for these claims like the BILLION mark...not sure people understand what a BILLION is.Moxy (talk) 19:50, 26 February 2013 (UTC)

I am quite confident the general populace understands what a billion is from the forbes yearly accounting of billionaires and movie grosses. please put that elvis is the most successful artist in history per GWR 2013. IT STATES EXACTLY A BILLION. that is a quantifieable measure of success. the mj article has no problem using an outdated record stated for Michael Jackson in 1996. please put a current one for elvis. GWR 2013 'Elvis is the biggest selling solo artist in history with a BILLION in sales" that clearly means most successful

thank you

12.40.50.3 (talk) 19:47, 18 March 2013 (UTC)

misdirect?

http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Signs_Of_The_Zodiac

redirects to elvis page. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 79.107.237.57 (talk) 23:54, 3 March 2013 (UTC)