21 Facts About Elvis Presley’s Life And Career

In case you are somebody who likes to learn up on the entire info earlier than seeing the film, I rounded up some fascinating tales and info in regards to the King of Rock and Roll’s life, from particulars about his years within the navy, to clearing up some rumors about his tragic demise.

1.

Though Elvis is thought for his trademark darkish pompadour, he really was a pure blonde! Presley was a giant fan of Tony Curtis, an actor who dyed his hair black, so he determined to make use of shoe polish to realize an analogous look. Later in his profession, Elvis switched to actual hair dye, and likewise started dyeing his eyebrows and eyelashes. When he would sweat on stage whereas performing, the dye would generally run into his eyes, inflicting pink eye.

2.

Dr. George Nichopoulos, who handled the singer within the late Nineteen Sixties till his demise in 1977, was implicated for offering Elvis with medication that will have contributed to his tragic demise. In 1980, “Dr. Nick” had his medical license suspended for prescribing mass portions of uncontrolled substances. Seems, within the final 12 months and a half of Elvis’ life, he was prescribed over 12,000 drugs by Dr. Nick, and would journey with three suitcases filled with treatment always. In the meantime, Dr. Nick insisted the drugs had been really for Elvis’ whole entourage, and that he was away from any wrongdoing.

Dr. Nick later testified that he was prepared to prescribe Presley no matter he needed as a result of he did not need him to hunt out medication from different docs, or resort to purchasing medication off of the road.

3.

Whereas everyone knows Elvis because the King of Rock and Roll, he additionally starred in 31 motion pictures, and supposedly virtually nabbed the lead in A Star Is Born alongside Barbra Streisand. After Streisand was forged, filmmakers mentioned Presley starring reverse her. Whereas Elvis was on the way in which to fulfill Streisand, she stated she was so nervous that she began portray her nails. As soon as Presley arrived, he took the nail polish and completed the job for her. Regardless of their chemistry, Elvis determined to not do the movie. Some thought he felt the subject material was too private, whereas others believed he did not need to star in a movie the place he was the second lead.

4.

In December 1957, Elvis introduced that he had been drafted into the US Military. His devastated followers wrote tens of hundreds of letters to each the singer and the navy, begging that Elvis be spared from navy service. Regardless of the outcry, Elvis stated he was prepared to place his profession on maintain, telling the media it was “an obligation I’ve received to fill and I’m going to do it.”

Elvis was adamant that he not obtain any particular remedy due to his fame. The navy agreed to provide Elvis an eight week deferment so he may end filming the film King Creole, as a result of he was frightened about how a lot cash the filmmakers would stand to lose if he dropped out of the challenge. After filming wrapped, Presley reported to fundamental coaching in 1958. He served for about two years, and spent 18 months in Germany, the place he was promoted to sergeant.

As a result of Elvis left for service in the course of the peak of his fame, his document firm was determined for extra Elvis content material, and labored to string collectively 4 albums of unreleased songs and soundbites to satiate the general public’s Elvis obsession. One of many albums was even a recording of the press convention the place he introduced he was going into the navy. As soon as he returned to the USA, he was instantly pressured again within the recording studio — he even needed to document a brand new tune on a practice on his return journey house. His navy service finally impressed Bye Bye Birdie, the musical by which a beloved star is drafted into the Military. Presley was even approached to star within the film, however he declined as a result of he stated it felt like a parody of his personal life.

5.

On the peak of Elvis’ fame, over 60,000 youngsters a 12 months had been recognized with polio. When the polio vaccine was developed in 1965, many had been skeptical to get it, with vaccination charges amongst youngsters at solely 0.6%. To be able to persuade individuals to get vaccinated, Elvis agreed to get his vaccine on reside tv throughout The Ed Sullivan Present. After getting his shot, teenage vaccination charges went as much as 80% in simply six months.

6.

Elvis was obsessive about karate, and even earned a black belt in 1960. He first fell for karate whereas stationed in Germany. Upon returning to the USA, he vowed to maintain up along with his coaching and shortly earned his first-degree black belt. As Elvis continued his coaching, he met Grasp Kang Rhee, who bestowed the singer with a seventh-degree black belt. Presley then went on to open his personal karate studio in Memphis, referred to as the Tennessee Karate Institute. Whereas some have questioned if Elvis was that good at karate, those that he skilled with stated that he was really very proficient, and was extremely obsessed with karate till his demise.

7.

All through his whole profession, Elvis solely carried out in North America, and solely carried out outdoors of the USA 3 times, all for reveals in Canada. This was apparently all Elvis’ supervisor, Colonel Tom Parker’s doing.

Parker, who was Dutch, was residing in the USA illegally, and frightened that if he left the USA for a present abroad, he would not be allowed again in. Parker may need additionally had a extra sinister purpose for refusing to depart: some imagine that Parker dedicated a grotesque homicide in his hometown. When Parker, whose actual identify was suspected to be Andreas van Kuijk, left house for America in 1929, there was an unexplained homicide. A younger lady working in a store in his hometown of Breda within the Netherlands had been overwhelmed to demise, and the shop ransacked. Whereas there is not actual proof that pinpoints Parker because the killer, some in his inside circle imagine it was the actual purpose why he was so hesitant to depart the USA.

8.

Even supposing Elvis was probably the most beloved stars of his time, he nonetheless had his justifiable share of haters. Parker determined he was going to fabricate “I Hate Elvis” buttons to promote with the intention to become profitable off of the individuals who refused to purchase pro-Elvis merchandise.

9.

Graceland, Elvis’s Memphis property, was really one of many first huge ticket objects Presley purchased after turning into well-known. He bought the house for $100,000 in 1957, only one 12 months after hitting it huge. He was 22 years outdated. Presley lived at Graceland till his demise, and requested his dad and mom to maneuver in with him. Presley even recorded his ultimate songs within the notorious Jungle Room, a den decked out in jungle-themed decor, the place he supposedly spent most of his time as a result of it reminded him of Hawaii.

After his demise, Priscilla Presley turned the executor of the property till Elvis’s solely daughter, Lisa Marie, was sufficiently old to inherit it. The taxes on the property had been extremely costly, and Priscilla thought-about promoting it. As a substitute, she determined to show it right into a public attraction to honor her ex-husband’s life. Graceland opened to the general public in 1982, and Priscilla was capable of recoup the entire cash she invested into restoring the house only one month after opening.

Now, Graceland ranks because the second-most visited house in the USA, simply behind the White Home, and generates an estimated $150 million a 12 months for the town of Memphis. Presley’s gravesite was moved to Graceland after an try to steal his physique and maintain it for ransom simply two days after he had been buried at a cemetery in Memphis subsequent to his mom.

10.

Elvis’ first tv look on The Ed Sullivan Present made historical past for a number of causes. Apart from being one of many first instances the King’s signature dance strikes had been on show, it additionally marked the biggest share of individuals tuned into the identical present in American historical past. 82.6% of Individuals with televisions had been watching Presley make his hip-swinging debut, a tv share that has by no means been overwhelmed. The subsequent time Presley appeared on the present, digicam operators had been instructed to maintain the digicam above his hips to stop viewers from seeing his “vulgar” dance strikes.

11.

Whereas stationed in Germany, Elvis met Priscilla Beaulieu, who was 14 years outdated, and fell for her. The pair dated for seven years, with Priscilla transferring to Memphis to complete highschool. After assembly Priscilla, he reportedly advised a pal that she was “younger sufficient that I can practice her any manner I would like.” Elvis refused to have a look at her until she was sporting make-up, and wouldn’t have intercourse together with her for years after she gave delivery, telling her “he had by no means been capable of make like to a girl who’d had a toddler.” The pair married after being collectively for seven years, however finally divorced after Priscilla determined she was bored with being Elvis’s “residing doll.”

Priscilla was simply one of many many younger girls Elvis had a factor for. Whereas courting Priscilla, Elvis stated he valued her purity and refused to sleep together with her till they had been married. As a substitute, he slept with different girls whereas Priscilla waited at house. Whereas on tour, he would usually handpick teenage women he needed to sleep with. After he and Priscilla divorced in 1972, Elvis dated a string of teenage women earlier than assembly Ginger Alden, a 21-year-old former magnificence queen. In her memoir, Alden recollects Presley taking pictures the headboard of her mattress with a pistol whereas she was sleeping as a result of she had refused to convey him extra yogurt earlier that day.

12.

Later in his profession, Elvis often wore rhinestone-studded jumpsuits whereas performing. The jumpsuits initially weighed in at round 25 to 30 kilos, however because the beading turned extra intricate, they may weigh as much as 75 kilos. His American Eagle jumpsuit, also called the “Aloha” after sporting it for a live performance particular filmed in Hawaii, was his most costly, costing $65,000 to make on the time. At the moment, it could probably price 4 instances as a lot.

13.

Even supposing Elvis recorded over 600 songs throughout his profession, he really did not write a single certainly one of them. In some cases, Elvis’ administration advised songwriters that he would not document their songs until he acquired a co-writing credit score. He additionally by no means realized find out how to learn music.

14.

By no means say Elvis wasn’t a foodie! He as soon as charted a flight from Graceland to Denver to get a peanut butter, jelly, and bacon sandwich. The sandwich, dubbed “The Idiot’s Gold Loaf,” was principally a whole loaf of bread that had been hollowed out and full of peanut butter, jelly, and almost a pound of bacon.

15.

In 1970, Elvis determined he needed a federal narcotics agent badge, as a result of he believed it meant that he would be capable to journey the world with no matter weapons and medicines he needed, no questions requested. Upon spontaneously arriving in Washington, D.C., Presley referred to as the White Home and advised President Richard Nixon, “I can be right here for so long as it takes to get the credentials of a federal agent.” The assembly started with Presley telling Nixon that the Beatles had been accountable for rising in anti-American sentiments.

Presley went on so as to add that he had been carefully finding out Communism and the rise in psychedelic drug tradition in the USA to assist him make his case for the badge. Regardless of not having any coaching or authentic must have the badge, Nixon granted the request, however ended up giving Elvis a badge that had no precise energy. To shut out the journey, Elvis gifted Nixon a handgun from World Struggle II that Presley had taken off of the wall in his Los Angeles mansion earlier than boarding his flight to the White Home.

16.

Whereas most of the motion pictures Elvis starred in featured his songs, the King really had nothing to do with the movie that features probably the most of his songs. That honor goes to Lilo and Sew, which boasts eight Elvis songs on the soundtrack.

17.

In 1964, Elvis purchased President Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s presidential yacht. He paid $55,000 for the boat, which was usually referred to as the “floating White Home.” Quickly after buying the boat, Elvis gave it to St. Jude’s Youngsters’s Hospital, which is headquartered in Memphis, so they may promote it to boost funds for the hospital. In 1980, it was found that the boat was getting used for drug smuggling, and was recaptured off of the coast of San Francisco, the place it was repaired and opened to the general public.

18.

In 2012, a librarian in Memphis discovered a library ebook with a card signed by a 13-year-old Elvis within the again. It’s the oldest recognized Elvis autograph.

19.

I have been seeing individuals say Elvis died of constipation throughout my For You web page (I’ve in some way ended up on Elvis TikTok), so let’s clear it up as soon as and for all. Because of his habit to opiates, Elvis suffered from extreme constipation. Most docs agree that, despite the fact that Presley died whereas on the bathroom, he probably didn’t die from pooping, however from an enormous coronary heart assault that may have been triggered by the tried bowel motion, however was additionally due partly to his different well being points. He was 42 years outdated when he died in August 1977.

20.

For years, individuals have maintained that Elvis is definitely nonetheless alive, and faked his personal demise for a wide range of causes. In 1989, a gaggle of followers fashioned The Elvis Sighting Society to analyze attainable sightings of the singer. Some even imagine that he appeared as an additional in Residence Alone.

So why would Elvis faux his personal demise? In 1988, Gail Brewer-Giorgio pored over hundreds of FBI paperwork and concluded that Elvis faked his personal demise and went into the Witness Safety Program to flee the mafia. She stated that in 1976, Elvis was enlisted as an undercover FBI agent to interrupt up “The Fraternity,” and needed to disappear as a result of he was about to be came upon. Brewer-Giorgio even wrote a bestselling ebook about her principle. The FBI launched the paperwork that they had in regards to the singer, and there’s no point out of him aiding with any FBI intelligence.

Others use Elvis’s tombstone as an indication that he is nonetheless alive. On the marker, his identify is spelled Elvis Aaron Presley. Nevertheless, when the singer was born, his center identify was initially spelled Aron. Whereas some declare that Presley had most well-liked spelling it the way in which it seems on his grave, others say that it is deliberately spelled unsuitable as a result of it could be disrespectful to place his precise identify on a tombstone whereas he was nonetheless alive.