So why Elvis? Well, why not?! But seriously, why
Elvis.....well, my top reason for choosing this Artist is that I
have a connection with him as he was a twin-less twin like I am now.
While he is what they call an early loss twin, the feelings
of emptiness is the same for all of us who have lost our other half. It's not
something that is easily explained but it really is like half of you is missing
or like you always feel incomplete.
Then we have his music! The King of Rock and Roll (Hey, I
already wrote about he King of Pop so this fits!) From 'Love me Tender' to
'Jailhouse Rock' his voice is beyond amazing!
Elvis Presley was born January 8th, 1935 in Tupelo,
Mississippi as a twin-less twin. When he was 13 years old, he and his family
relocated to Memphis, Tennessee.
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History of Elvis - His music career in 1954 and onward
My Nan grew up loving Elvis like all the teen girls of her
generation. He was the One Direction of our generation and the NKOTB of my
mom's generation! However, there is no comparison as they are all great artists
in their own way.
Elvis's first single 'Heartbreak Hotel' was release in
January 1956 and became a number one hit in the USA almost overnight!
On March 20th, 1958 he was forced to put his music career on
hold when he was drafted to military service after asking for a deferment on
December 24th, 1957 to finish the film 'King Creole'. While in the Military he
refused offers from both the Air Force and the Army saying he didn't want special
treatment.
After serving the mandatory two years he then started
recording again, producing some of his most successful work. In the 1960's, he
devoted a lot of time to making Hollywood movies and their soundtrack albums.
Many of which still sit in my Grandmother's attic today!
In 1967, he married Priscilla Presley and they had one child
(a daughter), Lisa Marie Presley born on February 1st, 1968. (she was once
married to Michael Jackson) Elvis treated his daughter like a princess and
recorded many clips of the two of them singing together. Lisa Marie went on to
launch her own music career and opened an exhibit 'Elvis Through His Daughter's
Eyes' which is a personal setting created by Lisa Marie that shares personal
mementos and demonstrated her experience growing up with her famous father.
In 1968, after a seven year break from live performances,
Elvis returned to the stage in the televised comeback special: Elvis. This lead
to a Las Vegas concert residency and a lot of highly profitable tours. Vegas
has since hosted a large number of high profile Artists and many Canadian
Artists like Celine Dion and Shania Twain! I like to think Elvis was the reason
why these Artists have this amazing opportunity.
In 1973, he was featured in the first global broadcast
concert via satellite, 'Aloha from Hawaii', a film my mom had 'borrowed' from
her mother and this was the first film I saw of Elvis. While today's concerts
are far more flashy, this film, in my opinion,
gives you a more artist/fan feel!
While in the military, it is claimed Elvis became addicted
to speed which started a battle with addictions. Several years of prescription
drug abuse damaged his health and in 1977, he passed away suddenly at the age
of 42. While some people have said that his death is ruled as a suicide, it
wasn't. He had had a massive heart attack.
Elvis is now buried at Graceland beside his mother which has
become a well known tourist attraction. His music still lives on today in the
hearts of those who grew up in his generation as well as through the next
generation, such as myself, who live, breathe, and speak music! Honestly, if
you don't know who Elvis is or can say you haven't heard any of his music, then
you need to find your parents vinyl collection and listen! I can almost
guarantee your mom has an Elvis album in there.
Teen Beat: IzzyB
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