Everyone knows the King. Elvis was a God amongst Men. His originality and heart felt rock ballads and rockabilly care free attitude to life, stole the worlds hearts.
That slick quiff always makes me wonder if it was raining outside.
You know his songs, now find out some stuff you might not have known.
1. Elvis Presley might not have been known at all had it not been for an impromptu moment of fun whilst recording. When Elvis first walked into Sun Records in 1953 and paid to record his own song the shy but self-confident young man declared ‘I don’t sound like no one’ when asked who he sounded like. However Presley failed to make an impression on more than one occasion to Sam Phillips, owner of Sun Records. Whilst recording late one night in 1954 the session was coming to a close and Presley was still struggling to make an impression, sure he could sing but nothing Sam heard set him apart. Until moments later. A brief break was taken and Elvis started singing Arthur Crudup’s ‘That’s All Right Mamma’ whilst the musicians played along behind him. Suddenly Sam stopped them and forced them to go carry on while he pushed record – this didn’t sound like anyone he’d heard before.
2.Although Elvis passed away in 1977, more than 36 years ago, he still gets frequently toured around the world. Elvis In Concert, which uses video footage of Elvis whilst his old band plays alongside him, has toured worldwide since 1998 stopping in 2012. However, it still carries on in 2013 at smaller venues around the UK and Europe, with new band members. There is also talks of one day there being a hologrammed image of Elvis’ tour.
3. ITV’s recent documentary ‘The Nation’s Favorite Elvis Song’ aired on TV and coincided with an album release. This album has so far sold over 107,000 giving Presley him another Gold album. According to RIAA, Elvis now has a total of 91 gold, 52 platinum and 25 multi-platinum album awards by the organization.
4. On the recent Forbes ‘Top-Earning Dead Celebrity’ list, Elvis came #2 with only Michael Jackson coming above him. Not bad for someone who passed 36 years ago. Elvis apparently rakes in $55 Million pounds a year. This is helped by the 600,000 people a year that visit Elvis’ home, Graceland, (second only to the White House) as well as touring and Elvis Presley Enterprises (EPE) licensed products.
5. Maybe Elvis got lucky with his fame and his impromptu ‘That’s All Right’ was part of being in the right place at the right time. But arguably, his work ethic played a major part in his success, and shouldn’t be overlooked. In 1955 through to the end of 1956 Elvis toured almost non-stop all calendar year with only the odd few days off. Elvis served in the Army from 1958-1960 – without touring or given special treatment. He appeared in 33 feature films in total and returned to the stage in 1969 until his death in 1977. In his 8 years performing, from ’69 onwards, he gave 1126 concerts.
Want to know more? Look at his official website Here.
Here are my Top Ten Tracks… Don’t agree? Leave a comment below!
1.Mystery train
2.That’s All Right
3.Are you Lonesome Tonight
4.Reconsider Baby
5.Heartbreak Hotel
6.Thrill Of Your Love
7.Good Time Charlie’s Got The Blues
8.Anyway You Want Me (That’s How I’ll Be)
9.An American trilogy
10.I’m Leavin’