Off the Cuff

[#1]

While a few may still believe Elvis Presley is a alive and well, and working as an undercover DEA agent, most of us feel that he died on that fateful day on August 16, 1977. What is agreed is that we lost one of the world’s most influential entertainers in the history of rock-n-roll.

Elvis was born on January 8, 1935 to Vernon and Gladys Presley in a modest two-room house in Tupelo, Mississippi. 

A cultural icon, the singularly-named “Elvis” (long before others like “Cher”, “Madonna”, “Beyonce”, and “Eminem” hit the airways) began his career in 1954 with Sun records. He was one of the originators of rockabilly and uptempo country and R&B. He would go on to be known as “The King of Rock & Roll” and later, just “The King”. 

I’d love to hear any personal stories, favorite songs, photos or memories you have of Elvis. You can post them below.

 (Click below to view Jailhouse Rock video)

Elvis’ Life

After a short stint with Sun records, Colonial Parker, who would be his long-time manager, negotiated a contract with RCA, and Elvis released the single “Heartbreak Hotel” in 1956. His uninhibited swinging hips dancing style and unique brand of music made him enormously popular—and controversial— (remember the infamous “only show him above the waist” performance on the Ed Sullivan show?) Elvis' first movie, Love Me Tender, debuted in November of 1956.               

(Click below to view Ed Sullivan Performance) 

Amidst fanfare, Elvis entered the military in 1958. Two years later, he relaunched his recording career with some of his most commercially successful work including “A Big Hunk O’ Love”, “It’s Now or Never” and “Are you Lonesome Tonight”.

He staged few concerts, but rather, under the guidance of Parker, proceeded to devote much of the ‘60s to making Hollywood movies and soundtrack albums. He would later say that this was a decision he regretted.

In 1968, after seven years away from the stage, he returned to do live performances in a celebrated comeback television special that led to an extended Las Vegas concert residency and a string of profitable tours. In 1973, Presley staged the first concert broadcast globally via satellite, Aloha from Hawaii, seen by approximately 1.5 billion viewers. Prescription drug abuse severely compromised his health, and he died suddenly in 1977 at the age of 42. 

                             (Click on image at right for  "Suspicious Minds" from Elvis' Hawaii video.)

Did you know?

Elvis is the best-selling solo artist in the history of popular music. Nominated for 14 competitive Grammys, he won three, and received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award at age 36. He has been inducted into four music halls of fame.

 

Left: Elvis purchases 13.8 acre Graceland in 1957.

Right: Hearts were heard breaking around the country when Elvis married Priscilla Ann Wagner in 1945.

 

Elvis and Richard Nixon.

                                                                   A young Elvis playing for a local crowd.

[#2]

This Elvis clock hangs above my fridge - picked it up in Vegas. 

[#3]

I just got this Elvis cookie jar as a gift for Christmas - my 2 year old son loves it. He now calls Elvis by name.

[#4]

This Elvis plays "Love Me Tender" - I found him at a Hallmark store.

[#5]

Cool stuff!  My grandmother had this old hankerchief that she kept in an breadbag in her bottom dresser drawer. She'd lovingly bring it out on special occasions. In a grand display, we would all sit around her kitchen table while she passed the bread bag under our eyes for a closer look. (We wouldn't even THINK about touching it.)

She would then swipe any left over pie crumbs from the table and gently unfold the bread bag. With two nimble fingers, she would pull the crumpled hankerchief from the bag and hold it in the air.  We'd all heard the story many times.

It was 1957 and my grandmother  and a friend made their way to Detroit for an outdoor concert featuring none other than Elvis. As the story goes (it was embellished over the years), Elvis was sweating, as he was known to commonly do with all those dance moves, and my grandmother whipped out a hankerchief from her purse.  He apparently smiled at her, took the hanky, wiped his brow and handed it back to her. 

My grandmother would often put on one of her Elvis records during the story and we'd sing along. She'd stare at that hanky for a while before sighing and putting it back into that old Wonder bread bag. The bread bag itself was a bit of a mystery. I'd never known my grandmother to ever buy Wonder bread (she made her own bread for years, and when she did buy bread when she was older, it was always of the store brand variety).

We often suspected that she'd probably bought the bread special just for this purpose. My grandmother died years ago, and strangely, none of us have ever been able to figure out what happened to that bread bag with the crumpled kerchief.  

We all believe that she and Elvis have probably reconnected, her hankerchief at the ready should it be needed.

[#6]

Eww. Seriously? A handkerchief with old sweat on it? I don't know whether to laugh or be grossed out. I  suppose I would be more understanding if I actually liked Elvis Presely. I never really got why he was such an icon. I always found him to be kind of smarmy and off-putting.

[#7]

I don't know.  I think he was pretty cute before the drugs and booze kicked in.  And I do like his voice, but I don't see the appeal of the sweaty handkerchief either....

[#8]

So does this mean someday someone could clone Elvis from the DNA on an old handkerchief? lol

[#9]

Imagine that!   But if that were the case, wouldn't someone have already tried this with Einstein or Ghandi or Martin Luther King or Mme Curie or Mother Teresa?

[#10]

It's probably a sad statement about our society that we'd probably want to clone a musical icon like Elvis before trying to recreate great minds or advocates of world peace, tolerance and love. I know, cynical of me.

[#11]

If Elvis came back as a clone, his estate holders would be rather upset, since he's making more money now selling that stuff you see above, than he did when he was making music and movies!

[#12]

speaking of dna, has anyone heard about people checking their dog's dna to see what breed they are?  although this sounds outrageous, we have a dog now that we got from an animal shelter and we have no idea what she is...she could be about 10 different breeds...but it seems over the top to spend money to get to the bottom of this...has anyone ever done this?  how expensive is it to do?

[#13]

I have a bunch of friends and clients who have done this, mostly for fun. The kit costs about $65 to $85 dollars depending on where you purchase it. It's easy to use, because it doesn't require a blood test or anything - what it tests is the dog's saliva. Then you send off the test to a lab that sends results back. The results have been interesting because the tests (in the cases I've heard about) come back with very specific results often involving many different breeds. One owner of a "purebred" was much disturbed to discover her dog was not as pure as she had assumed and at some point in his family background, his mom must have gotten around. lol

[#14]

Wow - I wonder if the purebred owner ever went back to the owner and asked for a partial refund? Aren't purebreds awfully expensive? I would think they would have a case for fraud or at least false advertising.

[#15]

petgirl - thanks for the info on dna tests for dogs...it's a little more affordable than I thought it would be...and it sounds like owners might find out more than they bargained for

[#16]

Does anyone know about DNA testing for humans?  My father was adopted and we know very little about his past. He is willing to have his DNA tested.  I assume there are organizations that do this (that aren't the same as the pet DNA groups). Does anyone have any recommendations or insight about this? Does it cost a lot more than the pet DNA process petgirl described above? Does it take a lot longer? Based on the way my father looks, people have had many different speculations about his lineage (including the possibility of Native American), but we obviously don't really know. It would be so much fun to finally find out. Are these tests always reliable?

[#17]

I'd get a kick out of having my own DNA tested. I would imagine, though, that it's very expensive. I would think the first person to query would be one's own doctor, and then perhaps internet searching. (Though I would question the reliability without qualifying information). My husband thinks if I had one of those tests, I would almost certainly come back part dog. lol

[#18]

I love petgirl's husband's notion...he sounds very funny! Thanks for the tip. I think I will get in touch with my doctor and see what they say about the DNA testing.

[#19]

I think I'd like to get my DNA tested, too. I sometimes am jealous of people who have a clear ethnic/racial identity since I'm a total mutt. It would be fun to know more of the specifics.