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[8 January 1935 - 16 August 1977]
-- BIO --
Elvis Aaron Presley
[8 January 1935 - 16 August 1977]
"The King Of Rock + Roll", "The Artist Of The Century" - both these titles have been used to describe singing star Elvis Presley. Others called him "vulgar" and "a sex maniac". You can believe what you want to about this artist, but we all have to agree that he has made a lasting impact in the world of music and changed the sound and feeling of rock and roll forever.
Born to a poor family in Mississippi in 1935, Elvis was brought up in a small country town, where at the age of 10 or 12, his mother offered him a bike or a guitar for Christmas. Although most young boys would have eagerly demanded a bike, Elvis chose the guitar, as he loved the Blues. In his teens, the family moved to Memphis, Tennessee, where he attended the local high school - Hume High. Here, he was a loner and didn't feel like he fit in with the rest of his classmates. At school, he achieved mainly Bs and Cs and believe it or not, he failed music with a flat F!
Nonetheless, in the few years after high school, he worked various jobs as a movie usher and a truck driver. One day in his lunch break, Elvis went into Sun Recording Studio to record a CD as his present for his mother's birthday. A recording executive noticed Elvis' singing potential and encouraged him to record more songs. He liked the African American sounding vocals of Elvis. Here, he recorded the hip bluesy track, "That's Alright Mama".
By 1956, Elvis had moved to recording company RCA and recorded his five songs under this label. These recordings spawned "Heartbreak Hotel", which rapidly climbed to the top of the charts and became Elvis' first number one.
In 1958, he was enlisted in U.S Army and served his country for eighteen months in Germany, where he met and fell in love with a young Priscilla, whom he eventually married in the years to come.
When he returned to the U.S in 1958, Elvis was still as popular as ever. He did not perform live for around a decade, but once he was given his own TV special on NBC, he caught the concert bug again and itched to perform in front of a live audience again. In the later years to come, when he was betrayed by his former bodyguards, his marriage fell apart and he felt lonesome, music and live shows were the things that he loved the most and made him feel that life was worth living.
In 1970, Elvis was named one of the 10 most outstanding men in the country. He embraced this honour with grace in his acceptance speech and believed, 'without a song, the world would not be'.
In July 1977, Elvis played one of his last concerts in front of a massive crowd. He was obviously in bad health as he looked swollen and was sweating profusely even before the show began, but he still gave his all. Once he opened his mouth and sang the lines of his opening song, "Are you lonesome tonight? Do you miss me tonight?", the fans knew that this was still the Elvis they knew and loved since 1956.
Six weeks later, Elvis died of a heart attack at his Graceland home and the entire world mourned the loss of a rock and rock great. Although Elvis is no longer here with us, his music continues to thrive, maintaining the fans from the fifties, as well as gaining support from the children of the new generations.
Written by Christelle Tan
Tuesday 3rd July 2001 [3.7.01]
Production of RockStarCowgirl - with reference to motion picture - "This
Is Elvis" (1981).
--LYRICS---
Just Pretend
[Flett/Fletcher]
Just pretend, I'm holding you
And whispering things soft and low
And think of me, how it's gonna be,
Just pretend I didn't go
When I walked away, I heard you say
If you need me, you know what to do
I knew it then, I'd be back again
Just pretend I'm right there with you
And I'll come flying to you, oh yeah
All the crying is through
Oh, I will hold you and love you again
But until then, well just pretend
Oh, it's funny but I can't recall the things
We said or why you're crying
But now I know it was wrong to go
I belong here by your side
Yes, I'll come flying to you, oh yeah
All the crying is through
I, I, I will hold you and love you again
But until then, well just pretend
Oh, oh, oh, Oh, I will hold you and love you again
But until then, well just pretend
---Facts---
¯ He was nicknamed 'Elvis Pelvis' during his career.
¯ At eighty weeks, he has spent the most time on top of the charts
than any other artist.
¯ Spawning 149 singles, Elvis holds the position of the artist with
the most charted songs.
¯ Elvis is the only artist to have ten consecutive number ones.
---Latest News---
Sun 1 July 2001 - Biographical movie, "This Is Elvis' Life" (1981) will air on Channel 9 from 4.05pm - 6.00pm. Features actual footage of Elvis and concert video performances of "Are You Lonesome Tonight?" and "My Way", from one of his final shows before his death.
Mon 9 July 2001 - The concert venue of Elvis' final show before his untimely death in 1977, has been abolished and torn down.
Wed 11 July 2001 - Lisa Marie Presley presided over the opening of PRESLEY PLACE, a 12-unit apartment-like accommodation, built in honour of her father, to assist the homeless and less fortunate get back on their feet.
Mon 16 July 2001 - Popular children's program icon Elmo, does his rendition of "Blue Suede Shoes" during a short take on music in "Seasame Street".
Wed 18 July 2001 - During a scene of Channel 10's Oz soapie "Neighbours", Matt gets a call from his old stripper girlfriend Laura, who asks him to accompany her in one of her strips, dressed as Elvis. He told her he'd think about it. When he told his parents, they teased him and Matt's father gave his own ("Thankyou, thankyou very much") rendition of an Elvis impression. The act was a little lame, but the accent would rival Elvis impersonators. Matt decides he doesn't want to dress up as a daggy rock star "from the 80s". "50s actually", his mum replies.
Sat 21 July 2001- At 9.06am, on music show, "Video Hits" (Channel 10), they showed the clip to the new hit single, "Follow Me" by Uncle Kracker. In the video, features an Elvis impersonator doing the pelvis thang. (BTW: "Follow Me" was the Big Song Vote on Channel 7's "Big Arvo" on Wed 25 July 2001).
Wed 25 July 2001 - At 11.09pm on Channel 9, during the return of sci-fi teen show, "Roswell", there was a scene with Michael (played by Brendan Fehr) with his chicky friend (played by Majandra Delfino), where she finds a shrine dedicated to him from this "skin"-esque alien stalker. She screamed and said, "This is Graceland, and you're Elvis". That was nice.
During the Channel 10 News (First At Five), an *excellent* ad for Elvis CDs came on. It was a "Demtel"-type ad and advertised some club to buy Elvis CDs for about \\$19.99 - $29.99. They showed snippets of heaps of Elvis performances (including "Are You Lonesome Tonight?" at the famous head-to-toe black clad leather sit-down performance). At the end of the commercial, was a heartfelt, but true statement, "There will never be another Elvis".
Thurs 2 August 2001 - On "Neighbours" tonight, Matt whinges about his Elvis gig and Flick helps him perfect his pelvic movements.
Sat 11 August 2001 - As the 24th anniversary of Elvis' death approaches, there is unfortunately no Elvis showbag at this year's Brisbane Exhibition, BUT on Thursday 16th August 2001, there is a special 2-hour radio tribute to the King on 101 FM. It will be hosted by DJ Tom Kite and will run from 10 - 12pm. A MUST FOR ALL ELVIS FANS!!
Sat 18 August 2001 - The 24th anniversary of Elvis' passing has come and gone. Cable dealers Foxtel held a special all-day videos of Elvis (including documentary "Elvis And His Eating Habits"). The 101FM tribute was incredibly successful and played many of the greatest Elvis hits including "Teddy Bear", "I Got A Woman", "Blue Suede Shoes" and "Hound Dog". I rang three times to request the songs - "Are You Lonesome Tonight?", "Just Pretend" + "Can't Help Falling In Love With You" - my three favourite Elvis love songs!
Tues 28 August 2001 - There is a hip new Audi "King Of The Range" ad, featuring an Elvis impersonator driving their new model of car. More info later - when I've actually seen it twice - look out for the Elvis impersonator's cool wiggly-hipped-pelvis plastic doll of Elvis Presley on his dashboard!!! It is way hip!!!
Wed 12 September 2001 - Ohmigosh!!! I nearly screamed, and then I thanked God for answering my prayers when I was flicking through the newspaper THE REPORTER's television guide and saw the bold print Follow Your Dreams and the name ELVIS PRESLEY after it. I ran downstairs to tell my parents and when I returned to my room, I looked at the TV guide again, and saw the title Stay Away Joe above 'Follow Your Dreams'. Excellent. This double whammy of Elvis is due to be screened this Sunday, the 16th of September - exactly a month after the 24th anniversary of his death.
Sat 15 September 2001 - Woohoo! Last night, at Miss Kelman's "Jazz Under The Stars" night at Redeemer Lutheran College (Rochedale), the QLD stage band played a jazzed up version of "The King"'s "Blue Suede Shoes". It was so fantastic!!!!!!!!!!! Long live the King!!
Thurs 11 October 2001 - Ah, the Elvis Television flood is on! Last weekend saw the "Elvis On Tour" movie on Saturday and the "Elvis To The Max" impersonator special on Sunday. This Saturday at 3pm is the screening of "Kissin' Cousins" on Channel 7. Woohoo!