Talk:Elvis Presley

Elvis' "Spiritual Quest"

It seems this article is missing an important element, Elvis Presley's personal life, namely his spiritual quest. This fact of his life was left out maybe for political reason, but it is important to include it in this page or at least create a dedicated page for Elvis Presley's Spiritual Quest. It is important to include it because it explains a lot of things of Elvis Persona, psychology, mind frame, philosophy and the reason why he chose to mix styles and pronounce certain words in his songs. I understand that this is subjective, but the reality is that it is part of Life. I have tried to create a paragraph in this page, on the Spiritual Quest, but somebody deleted it because the references that I have included were somehow Judged invalid. Watch this : Youtube Elvis Presley Spirituality (2/4) --Fady Lahoud (talk) 04:39, 8 December 2012 (UTC)

You need to cite a more reliable source—and preferably more than one—than Elvis Presley's hairdresser in a shoddy video montage airing on YouTube. Pstoller (talk) 05:07, 9 December 2012 (UTC)

The 'Memphis Mafia' section in the main article already references Geller, Presley's interests beyond his vapid Hollywood years and the fact that he read, and would continue to read, about spirituality, etc. wherever he went. So this "important element" is already there. Rikstar⁴⁰⁹ 18:31, 17 December 2012 (UTC)

Yes, it is, but it seems too insignificant and it deserves at least a section of it's own, (in my opinion vs another ones opinions). I propose to create a section of Elvis Presley Spiritual Quest and develop the theme. I have tried, but somebody deleted it because he or she belied the references to be bogus... Well I propose that he or she search and gives tones of "Good" references, because I believe there is tones out there. And here is another reference: http://www.devorss.com/elvisenter.htm --Fady Lahoud (talk) 02:05, 26 December 2012 (UTC)

I think there'd be a constant objection that would flare up over the notion of a so-called "Spiritual Quest". Elvis was what we would now call a born-again Christian. There's entire books and videos just on this topic alone, such as "The Gospel Side of Elvis" by Joe Moscheo. Elvis wasn't on any anything like a quest. He found God early in his youth, and he maintained his faith in Jesus (who he constantly referred to as "The King"), and his backup groups were always gospel quartets (touring Christian quartets). It's all there, and it's all totally documented in print. Yes, it should perhaps be out front in the Elvis article, but some people have a hard time adjusting to it, and it keeps getting bumped down. Santamoly (talk) 07:12, 26 December 2012 (UTC)

From what I've read, it's somewhere in between what the two of you have said. To my knowledge, Elvis never said that he was born again, or even a Christian. Only he and God know. I know he did believe in Christ, but that doesn't mean that he didn't have other beliefs as well. So, I'm not for or opposed to having a section about the subject. --Musdan77 (talk) 19:25, 26 December 2012 (UTC)

True, Elvis never said he was "born again" because the expression wasn't used widely in his time. And he didn't brag that he was a Christian. He was simply a believer, not "born again" as a recovered alcoholic would say. Joe Moscheo of The Imperials (who sang as backup to Elvis in Las Vegas) said Elvis was "a lifelong devotee to gospel", and he meant "lifelong" as in from he was a child growing up in the Pentecostal church of his family. When asked by an interviewer in 2000, Rev Rex Dixon, a Memphis Pentecostal minister, a man who knew Elvis and his parents when Elvis was a teenager, said,"Elvis was real Christ-minded". Published sources quoting those who worked and sang with Elvis seem to agree: there's no evidence anywhere that Elvis was anything but "Christ-minded". If you can find anything (verifiable, of course), let us know. Santamoly (talk) 21:57, 9 January 2013 (UTC)

Elvis's Irish ancestry

Is this direct enough proof of Elvis's Irish ancestry?

http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~irlcar2/William_Presley.htm — Preceding unsigned comment added by 137.191.243.100 (talk) 16:03, 15 January 2013 (UTC)

Half the people in the New World share this same history. It's neither novel nor significant Santamoly (talk) 09:09, 7 February 2013 (UTC)

Elvis is the greatest artist of the 20 th century

please it is vital in the beggining blurb of elvis to list him as the greatest entertainer of the 20th century .The Smithsonian in Washington D.C. declared Elvis "The Greatest Entertainer of the 20th Century".

Sources: RIAA, ASCAP, BMI, BILLBOARD MAGAZINE, RCA RECORD/BMG RECORDS. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 2602:304:5B71:A029:C97E:2EEC:CD6:336D (talk) 19:24, 15 January 2013 (UTC)

Calm down. It's not in the least "vital" to include inconsequential PR fluff like this in an encyclopedic article. Santamoly (talk) 09:13, 7 February 2013 (UTC)

In the beginning of the wiki article about him it should state " elvis has been called the greatest artist of the 20 th century

1) in 1992, the riaa proclaimed elvis as " the greatest recording artist of all time. "

Riaa is the governing body of us sales

2) the smithsonian declared elvis. " the greatest entertainer of the 20 th century " — Preceding unsigned comment added by 198.228.201.147 (talk) 02:53, 17 January 2013 (UTC)

Could you give a link to where it says these things? --Musdan77 (talk) 05:36, 17 January 2013 (UTC)

It wasn't the RIAA that called Elvis, "the greatest recording artist of all time," it was RCA: "In August 1992, BMG/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. … RCA also presented a 9-foot glass sculpture proclaiming Elvis the greatest recording artist of all time" (emphasis added). As for the claim about the Smithsonian, this has been disseminated on the Internet in blogs, forums, and YouTube commentary; but I can't find a single source for it in the press, the Smithsonian's website, or the official Elvis Presley website. In the absence of a legitimate citation, I'd say the claim is apocryphal. Pstoller (talk) 22:37, 17 January 2013 (UTC)

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)