Happy Birthday, Elvis!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ELVIS, KING OF ROCK & ROLL

Photo from Elvis Official Website

Elvis Aaron Presley was born in Tupelo, Mississippi, on January 8, 1935.  His life was nothing special until he began his singing career in 1954.  Within two years he was an international singing sensation that captured the hearts of the world. He was indeed the “King of Rock & Roll.”  He died at his home Graceland in Tennessee on August 16, 1977.  He was only 42.

Elvis Comeback Special 1968 from Wikipedia

Since then, many sightings of Elvis have been reported.  Many believe that Elvis is really still alive.  I do not, usually, buy into that.  But wouldn’t it be great if we could really say, “Elvis is in the building!”?  I truly want to believe.  If he were still alive, he would be 79 today. 

Aloha from HI Image from Wikipedia

At the very least his talent and his music live on in videos and in our hearts. As a birthday gift to my readers, I am sharing videos of some of Elvis’ songs—they are my favorites as well as some of his first performances!

“Jailhouse Rock”

“Blue Suede Shoes”

“Love Me Tender” from the movie Love Me Tender (1956), Elvis’ first theatrical release and the only one of his 33 films (31 movies and 2 performance documentaries) where he did not receive top billing.

“Suspicious Minds”

“How Great Thou Art”    This video is a recording of his last live performance in 1977.  It begins with some fans making a few comments about Elvis and ends with some words from his father.  His singing starts up at about 55 seconds.

What is your favorite Elvis Song?

Did you ever get to see him live?

 I never saw Elvis live.  Heck, when he was on The Ed Sullivan Show for the first time (September 9, 1956), I was not quite two years old.  For that performance, there were 60 million viewers, representing 82% of the viewing audience.  His appearance the next year on Ed Sullivan was the one where he was only recorded from the waist up.  But his first televised performances were actually on June 5, 1956 on The Milton Berle Show.  Enjoy!

Milton Berle Show, “Hound Dog,” June 1956

Milton Berle Show, “I Want You I Need You I Love You,” June 1956

Ed Sullivan Show, “Don’t Be Cruel,” 1957