Elvis Presley: The King Of Rock’n’Roll
On January 8th, 1935, Elvis Aaron Presley was born. An outstanding singer, Elvis had a thrilling life amongst bold dance moves and controversies. Eternalized recently in a movie named after him, he passed away 45 years ago in 1977.
Before The Fame
Born in Mississippi, Elvis’s first contact with music was at the church that his family used to attend. Elvis used to live in a two-room simple house that his father lost after he went to jail.
Already in his early years, the future king of rock’n’roll had support from his teacher, who would encourage him to take part in contests. That was because he had amazed them with some singing during morning prayers. At the age of 10, he got a guitar as a birthday present. Then, he started to basic guitar lessons from his uncles and the new pastor at the family’s church. However, he would never play and sing in public as he was very shy and often bullied at school. In high school, Elvis got a little bit more popular because of his looks. He also started to attend some blues venues as he was fond of that genre. It was during this time he decided that music would be part of his future.
After his school years, “the king” (as he became known) tried to get recognition but it was not easy. The public regularly turned him down and he failed on many occasions. It was only when Sam Phillips from Sun Records believed in him that people started believing that he could be a professional singer. He helped Elvis record some singles and sent them to the radio, making Elvis’ popularity grow.
In 1955, he was already considered a regional star, touring and releasing records. But his career wouldn’t take off since radio DJs thought he sounded too much like a black singer or too much like a hillbilly. It was only in 1956 that he made his first appearance on national TV. He then reached the top of the Billboard country chart. Around this time, Presley had also ventured into acting. He was now unstoppable.
Polemics
One of the most famous polemics in his career was about his dance moves. In 1956 the FBI received an urgent message saying that his motions “were such as to rouse the sexual passions of teenaged youth”. Letting his guitar backstage, the king of rock ‘n roll started to dance more and more during his performances. The news would publish critics saying Presley had no talent for singing and that he would only move his pelvis in a vulgar way. TV broadcasters used to change cameras when he started dancing, focusing only on the top half of his body. Although the critics seemed to disapprove of his dance moves, even calling him “Elvis The Pelvis”, Presley continued to increase his popularity among teens and young women.
Elvis’ military service was not polemic by itself. It actually helped the singer to boost his popularity after showing a patriotic and humble side of him. However, it was during this period of his life that he lost his mother, which would change him forever. It was also while he was in the army that he started using drugs, amphetamines, to be more specific. These drugs would help him lose weight and maintain energy.
His marriage was also a controversial moment in his life since he started dating Priscilla Beaulieu when she was only 14. She moved in with Elvis, leaving her life in Germany in1963 when she was 18. “The king” was then forced to marry Priscila a few years later. As she has already mentioned, they were happy just by living together but her family and his manager put pressure on him and he even said he didn’t have a choice. The couple eventually married in Las Vegas, at the Aladdin Hotel in 1967. To know more details about this and other famous weddings in Vegas, check our article: Famous Weddings In Las Vegas.
The Hoax
Despite clear statements from doctors, many people didn’t believe in Elvis’ death when it happened. Although some people still believe in the theory that he is still alive (or at least didn’t die at the announced date), the supposed reason why he faked his own death varies a lot.
One of the most well-accepted versions is that Presley had to fake his death to escape from the mafia. There is a book in which the author talks about many FBI documents which would indicate the king of rock’n’roll had to go into witness protection. There are also theories related to aliens.
According to Time, the most common argument that Elvis didn’t die on August 16, 1977, is that he was spotted in many places. People swear to have seen Presley even as a movie extra. In order to track these alleged occurrences, enthusiasts even founded The Elvis Sighting Society.
Movie
“Elvis” wants, above all, to make you understand the euphoria that Elvis Presley provoked live, the irresistible man full of rhythm and charisma that moved the audience. The 2022 movie was directed by Baz Luhrmann. It is a biographical music drama, all in one. It stars Austin Butler as the singer and Tom Hanks as Parker, Presley’s former management. Both are going to be the main characters since the movie shows the perspective of the manager.
The movie will talk about Elvis but not in a more personal perspective. It will show the rock ‘n roll icon, his controversies and his opulent trajectory. The viewers and the critics were all anxious to see how Elvis was going to be portrayed. In the end the movie was a success, earning $286 million worldwide against a $85 million budget, behind only “Bohemian Rhapsody” (Freddy Mercury’s movie) to become the second most profitable music biopic of all time.
Las Vegas
During his lifetime, the king of rock ‘n roll visited Las Vegas constantly. He took his wife, Priscilla, for the first time in 1962, while her parents thought she was with him in Los Angeles. After she moved in with him, he started acting and had to go to Las Vegas again to shoot the movie “Viva Las Vegas”. He loved Vegas so much he even got married a couple of years later in Sin City. His last moments as the king of rock ‘n roll were also in the city of lights. He started a residency in 1969 at Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino (back then named as International Hotel). For the following seven years, the hotel served as his home base, with his final performance happening in December 1976.
So, if you feel inspired by the greatest rockstar of all times, come and visit Vegas in the best style you can have. Don’t forget to visit his wedding chapel, the places where he filmed his iconic movie and the hotel where he had his 7-year residency. To mimic all the glamor in his life, plan your trip in advance, get chauffeured transportation with Vegas VIP Limo and guarantee that you will complete your schedule in the most luxurious way, just like a true star.