The Unusual Life of Elvis Presley

The Man Himself

The mystery of the king Elvis Presley, the king of rock and roll who ruled the hearts of many people world wide. Presley was born in Tupelo, Mississippi, as a twinless twin, and when he was 13 years old, he and his family relocated to Memphis, Tennessee, Elvis graduated from Humes High School there in 1953. Elvis' musical influences were the pop and country music of the time, the gospel music he heard in church and at the all-night gospel sings he frequently attended, and the black R&B he absorbed on historic Beale Street as a Memphis teenager. His music career began there in 1954, when he recorded a song with producer Sam Phillips at Sun Records.

Elvis Presley served in the United States Army between March 1958 and March 1960. During his service Presley's life was affected in several ways. First, his mother, Gladys, died of a heart attack brought on by acute hepatitis and cirrhosis of the liver. Presley was deeply affected by her death and never fully recovered. Secondly, during his time in West Germany, he met his future wife Priscilla Beaulieu at the age of 24. Also, while in West Germany, Presley became dependent on stimulants and barbiturates. These drugs, and more importantly the drugs they led to, contributed to Presley's death at age 42.

He was worshiped as a god and a huge fan following consisting of all age groups. He starred in 33 successful films, made history with his television appearances and specials, and knew great acclaim through his many, often record-breaking, live concert performances on tour and in Las Vegas. Globally, he has sold over one billion records, more than any other artist. His American sales have earned him gold, platinum or multi-platinum awards for 150 different albums and singles, far more than any other artist. Among his many awards and accolades were 14 Grammy nominations (3 wins) from the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences, the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, which he received at age 36, and his being named One of the Ten Outstanding Young Men of the Nation for 1970 by the United States Jaycees. This description by Greil Marcus says it all.

Elvis Presley is a supreme figure in American life, one whose presence, no matter how banal or predictable, brooks no real comparisons. ... The cultural range of his music has expanded to the point where it includes not only the hits of the day, but also patriotic recitals, pure country gospel, and really dirty blues. Elvis has emerged as a great artist, a great rocker, a great purveyor of schlock, a great heart throb, a great bore, a great symbol of potency, a great ham, a great nice person, and, yes, a great American.

His songs are unforgettable - they have stood the test of time, especially his singles of the 1950s, a decade in which he had a song at No. 1. for a full 6 months of that year
Some of his greats include  "That’s All Right,” ,"Mystery Train", "Heartbreak Hotel" and   "Jailhouse Rock"   In November 1956, he made his film debut in Love Me Tender which were followed by many films.

The rockabilly renegade died at his Graceland estate in Memphis, Tennessee, in 1977, reportedly from a drug-induced cardiac arrhythmia, but many believe this isn’t the whole story. The autopsy report was sealed by the King’s father, Vernon Presley, until 2027 (on the 50-year anniversary of his death).

In 2010, his friend and former personal physician, Dr. George Nichopoulous, said he believed chronic constipation, not a cardiac arrhythmia, is what dethroned the King. The secrecy surrounding the autopsy has led conspiracy theorists to proclaim that the King is still alive, citing the curious different spelling of his middle name on his gravestone

While there plenty of people who believe he is alive  and many have claimed to have seen him . One rash of alleged sightings took place in Kalamazoo, Michigan, in the late 1980s. Such reports encountered much public ridicule and became fodder for humorous publications like the Weekly World News. Bill Bixby hosted two television specials investigating the subject: The Elvis Files and The Elvis Conspiracy. Decades after his death ,the mystery still continues and continues to instigate the mind of many a fans .