A live concert to me is exciting because of all the electricity that is generated in the crowd and on stage. It's my favorite part of the business, live concerts.
Adversity is sometimes hard upon a man; but for one man who can stand prosperity, there are a hundred that will stand adversity.
After a hard day of basic training, you could eat a rattlesnake.
Ambition is a dream with a V8 engine.
Anita's just a friend. If I take anyone out a couple of times, the newspapers make a big deal out of it.
Colonel Parker will have to answer. Eventually, I'll tour Europe.
Don't you worry about the Colonel. I'll take care of it.
Every time I think that I'm getting old, and gradually going to the grave, something else happens.
From the time I was a kid, I always knew something was going to happen to me. Didn't know exactly what.
I did the Ed Sullivan show four times. I did the Steve Allen show. I did the Jackie Gleason show.
I didn't know that there were any radio stations in Nova Scotia.
I don't do any vulgar movements.
I don't know anything about music. In my line you don't have to.
I don't think I'm bad for people. If I did think I was bad for people, I would go back to driving a truck, and I really mean this.
I don't want to read about some of these actresses who are around today. They sound like my niece in Scarsdale. I love my niece in Scarsdale, but I won't buy tickets to see her act.
I guess it's just something God gave me. And I'm grateful.
I happened to come along in the music business when there was no trend.
I have no use for bodyguards, but I have very specific use for two highly trained certified public accountants.
I hope I didn't bore you too much with my life story.
I knew by heart all the dialogue of James Dean's films; I could watch Rebel Without a Cause a hundred times over.
I learned how important it is to entertain people and give them a reason to come and watch you play.
I like entertaining people. I really miss it.
I like to sing ballads the way Eddie Fisher does and the way Perry Como does. But the way I'm singing now is what makes the money.
I miss my singing career very much.
I never expected to be anybody important.
I sure lost my musical direction in Hollywood. My songs were the same conveyer belt mass production, just like most of my movies were.
I think I have something tonight that's not quite correct for evening wear. Blue suede shoes.
I want to make amends. I really missed working live, in front of an audience, that's why I'm here.
I want to tell you that it's been swell talking to you, and you make a lot of sense.
I was an only child, and Mother was always right with me all my life. I used to get very angry at her when I was growing up-it's a natural thing.
I was an overnight sensation.
I was training to be an electrician. I suppose I got wired the wrong way round somewhere along the line.
I'd just like to be treated like a regular customer.
I'll never feel comfortable taking a strong drink, and I'll never feel easy smoking a cigarette. I just don't think those things are right for me.
I'll never make it, it will never happen, because they're never going to hear me 'cause they're screaming all the time.
I'll stay in Memphis.
I'm looking forward to Germany, to seeing the country and meeting a lot of the people.
I'm no hillbilly singer.
I'm not going to quit. And I'm not going to take lessons because to be me.
I'm not trying to be sexy. It's just my way of expressing myself when I move around.
I'm so nervous. I've always been nervous, ever since I was a kid.
I'm strictly for Stevenson. I don't dig the intellectual bit, but I'm telling you, man, he knows the most.
I'm trying to keep a level head. You have to be careful out in the world. It's so easy to get turned.
I've been getting some bad publicity - but you got to expect that.
I've never written a song in my life. It's all a big hoax.
I've tried to lead a straight, clean life, not set any kind of a bad example.
It's human nature to gripe, but I'm going ahead and doing the best I can.
Just because I managed to do a little something, I don't want anyone back home to think I got the big head.
Later on they send me to Hollywood. To make movies. It was all new to me. I was only 21 years old.
Man, I really like Vegas.
Man, that record came out and was real big in Memphis. They started playing it, and it got real big. Don't know why-the lyrics had no meaning.
More than anything else, I want the folks back at home to think right of me.
My movements, ma'am, are all leg movements. I don't do nothing with my body.
Now I'm back and on the right road.
People ask me where I got my singing style. I didn't copy my style from anybody.
Rhythm is something you either have or don't have, but when you have it, you have it all over.
Rock and roll music, if you like it, if you feel it, you can't help but move to it. That's what happens to me. I can't help it.'
Saturday night is our biggest night, and almost every Sunday we have a matinee or we're on the road.
Since the beginning, it was just the same. The only difference, the crowds are bigger now.
So many kids and adults, too, have gotten just about one of the roughest breaks that can happen to a person. We can help these people.
Some people tap their feet, some people snap their fingers, and some people sway back and forth. I just shorta do'em all together, I guess.
That's why I hate to get started in these jam sessions. I'm always the last one to leave.
The army teaches boys to think like men.
The closest I ever came to getting married was just before I started singing. In fact, my first record saved my neck.
The colored folks been singing it and playing it just like I'm doin' now, man, for more years than I know. I got it from them.
The image is one thing and the human being is another. It's very hard to live up to an image, put it that way.
The Lord can give, and the Lord can take away. I might be herding sheep next year.
The next thing I knew, I was out of the service and making movies again. My first picture was called, GI Blues. I thought I was still in the army.
There are too many people that depend on me. I'm too obligated. I'm in too far to get out.
They had me singing to a dog and filmed me from here up.
They put me on television. And the whole thing broke loose. It was wild, I tell ya for sure.
They put the record out and it got pretty big in the South. But I still had my job, driving a truck daytimes and working nightclubs at night.
Those movies sure got me into a rut.
Those people in New York are not gonna change me none.
Too much TV hurts movies.
Truth is like the sun. You can shut it out for a time, but it ain't goin' away.
Until we meet again, may God bless you as he has blessed me.
We're the perfect combination. Colonel's an old carny, and me, I'm off the wall.
Whatever I will become will be what God has chosen for me.
When I get married, it'll be no secret.
When I got outta High School I was driving a truck. I was just a poor boy from Memphis, Memphis.
When I was a boy, I always saw myself as a hero in comic books and in movies. I grew up believing this dream.
When I'm out there, I do what they want to hear. When I'm back here, I can do what I want to do.
You went to the papers and tried to make me look bad. If you had come to me, we would have worked things out.
Roy Orbison once wrote a song dedicated to Elvis Presley, entitled "Hound Dog Man."
Elvis is a distant cousin of President Jimmy Carter. He is also a direct descendant of Abraham Lincoln's great-great grandfather, Isaiah Harrison.
Elvis was nominated for a "Grammy for Best Soundtrack Album or Recording of Original Cast from a Motion Picture or Television" for G.I. Blues and Blue Hawaii in 1961 and 1962 respectfully.
Elvis has dated a number of women, before marrying Priscilla. He dated actress Natalie Wood briefly early on in his career. He dated his G.I. Blues co-star actress/dancer Juliet Proswe briefly. He dated actress Connie Stevens for a short period of time. He dated co-star Anne Helm during the filming of Follow That Dream. He dated actresses Regina Carrol and Ann-Margaret for a short time both of whom he met while filming Viva Las Vegas. He once dated actress Cybill Shepherd. Many loyal Elvis fans wish that he'd married her rather than Priscilla. His last relationship was with Ginger Alden. They were together from November 1976 until his death; they were reportedly engaged.
When the Beatles first came to America in 1965, Elvis was the only person they wanted to meet. On August 27, they got their wish. According to John Lennon, they spent an entirely enjoyable evening at the Presley home in Bel Air, California, talking, singing and laughing with each other. Afterwards, Lennon said they enjoyed his company very much, Elvis thought that the Beatles were a bad influence on America's youth.
Elvis once wrote a letter to then President Richard Nixon, asked to become an undercover narcotics agent. President Nixon responded by providing Elvis with a special agent badge for the Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs.
Elvis gave people he was close to, matching diamond and gold necklaces sporting a thunderbolt. The masculine necklace was engraved with "TCB" (Taking Care Of Business) and the feminine necklace was engraved "TLC" (Tender Loving Care).
Elvis had a cook named Alvena Roy, who resided in Los Angeles. She was very active in Elvis clubs in the '90s, and used to love to tell stories about him.
Elvis is one of only few artists, include Johnny Cash and Hank Williams, inducted into both The Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame and The Country Music Hall of Fame.
Elvis once gave a robe to Muhammad Ali embroidered with the phrase "The Peoples Champion."
Elvis suffered from chronic insomnia. His doctor prescribed him highly addictive sleeping pills, which some people believe led to his untimely death.
The Holy Bible and The Impersonal Life were Elvis' two favorite books.
Elvis' favorite sports were raquetball and football.
Elvis purchased a poor black East Memphis woman an electric wheel chair, picked her up and personally sat her in it (1976). He gave his car to the woman's teenage daughter after she told him she liked his car and he also got her boyfriend a job.
By the time he died, Elvis was the second biggest selling recording artist of all time after Bing Crosby.
Elvis held a single day's attendance record for his March 74 shows at the Houston Astrodome in March 1974, with 89,000 fans attending two shows.
Elvis sang the gospel song "Peace In The Valley" on The Ed Sullivan Show even though Sullivan asked him not to.
Elvis' debut album Elvis Presley earned him his first gold album award.
Elvis recorded 33 takes of "Hound Dog." He also performed live with a Bassett Hound at one point, which wasn't very fun considering the dog was grouchy and in heat.
During the 60s and early 70s Elvis used to play touch football at Whitehaven High School with kids around the neighborhood.
Elvis was delivered 35 minutes after his late twin brother Jesse.
Elvis has been portrayed in a number of films and TV movies, most notably John Carpenter's telefilm Elvis (1979), in which he was played by Kurt Russell, who as a child had appeared with Presley in It Happened at the World's Fair (1963).
Elvis made the first ever musical video of all time: Jailhouse Rock (1957).
The lightest Elvis ever weighed, as an adult, was 170 lbs in 1960 following his discharge from the U.S. Army. The heaviest was at the time of his death, which was 260 lbs.
Elvis' 1977 country hit, Way Down, was the No. 1 song on Billboard magazine's country singles chart the week of Elvis' death.
Elvis was one of the first people in the U.S. to own a "Betamax" system VCR.
The book Elvis was reading at the time of his death was The Scientific Search for the Face of Jesus by Frank O. Adams.
Elvis' television debut was on the regionally telecast Louisiana Hayride, 5 March 1955 in Shreveport, Louisiana.
During July of '77, three former body-guards published Elvis: What Happened? which told about Elvis' drug use for the first time in public.
Elvis is touring during the early part of 1977, but from April 1-5, he is hospitalized and some of shows had to be cancelled.
On Christmas of '75, Elvis performs a New Year's Eve concert in Pontiac, Michigan, and sets a single performance record of 62,500.
In 1951, Elvis was a member of the the ROTC unit at Humes High.
Elvis may be the single most important figure in American 20th century popular music. Not necessarily the best, and certainly not the most consistent. But no one could argue with the fact that he was the musician most responsible for popularizing rock & roll on an international level.
When Elvis was three, his father Vernon served an eight-month prison term for writing bad checks, and thereafter the senior Presley's erratic employment kept the family just above the poverty level.
Despite declining health, Elvis maintained a full schedule of live appearances up until his death at the age of 42.
Even though certain aspects of his later lifestyle would show differently, Elvis was a devoutly spiritually minded Christian.
In 1969, Elvis appeared in his last fiction film as the star, Change of Habit. It was his 31st movie.
On June 26, 1977 Elvis' last live performance anywhere was in Indianapolis, IN.
For a short time, Elvis left the concert stage and concentrated on film acting; by the mid-1960s he was making $1 million per film plus a large percentage of the gross.
On August 18, 1975, Presley begins an engagement at the Hilton which is cut short on the 20th as Elvis returns to a hospital in Memphis until September 5.
August 19 - September 2, 1974, While back at the Hilton Elvis receives an offer which could have been a pivotal moment. Barbra Streisand and her hairdresser/boyfriend/producer Jon Peters offer Elvis the lead role in her remake of A Star is Born. This would have given Elvis his long awaited chance at serious acting. He was bored on the road and needs a new challenge. Regretably, this never comes to fruition.
On March 1973, Colonel Parker sells RCA the E's royalty rights on Elvis’ entire recording catalog up to that point. 700 songs for five million dollars. A good deal for the Colonel, but a bad deal for Elvis and his heirs who could have enjoyed a lifetime income off those songs.
Priscilla filed for divorce in July 1972. Elvis had started seeing Linda Thompson, a relationship that lasted until late 1976.
During March and April of 1972, Elvis films on and off stage during his 15-city concert tour. This tour started in New York and ended in New Mexico. The footage is part of the documentary Elvis on Tour, which recoups it's production costs after three days in theatres and receives a Golden Globe Award for Best Documentary.
August 18, 1977, Elvis was buried in Forest Hill Cemetery in Memphis.
July 31 - August 28, 1969. The now famous four-week, fifty-seven show engagement at the International Hotel in Las Vegas. His show is wildly successful. Elvis' first live album, Elvis in Person at the International Hotel is recorded during this engagement.
June 27, 28, 29, and 30, 1968. Taping for an NBC television special, which actually aired on December 3, 1968. The true name was Elvis but it is commonly called the '68 Comeback Special.
May 29, 1967, Elvis and Priscilla dress in their wedding clothes and have a second wedding reception in the trophy room at Graceland to include their family and friends who were not in Las Vegas for the wedding.
With his huge generosity always evident, in July, 1964, Elvis donates $50,000 to the Motion Picture Relief Fund, reportedly the largest single donation the organization has ever received up to this date. Barbara Stanwyck and Frank Sinatra accepted the gift.
Elvis records and shoots for his fifteenth motion picture, Kissin’ Cousins in October of 1963.
Priscilla Beaulieu flew from West Germany to visit Elvis for Christmas 1962. In early 1963 she moved to be with him, and finished her senior year of high school in Memphis.
On July 3, 1960, Vernon Presley married divorcee and mother of three sons, Davada (Dee) Stanley, an American whom he met in Germany. Although they lived at Graceland briefly, they later moved to a home nearby.
Having developed an interest in karate while in the Army, Elvis received his first degree black belt in March of 1960.
In early 1960, Elvis was promoted to Sergeant in the Army.
Elvis' mother, Gladys Presley, died on August 14, 1958, due to acute hepatitis. Elvis was able to get back and see her before she died.
Elvis' first movie, Love Me Tender, premiered on November 16, 1956.
In April of 1956, Presley signed a seven-year movie contract with Hal Wallis and Paramount Pictures. Through-out his movie career, he longed to do a serious movie, but he was only offered "silly" roles for the most part. It seems the greediness of his manager Col. Tom Parker was to blame; he wanted Elvis to star in as many pictures as possible, and to film them as quickly as possible, in order to get as much money as they could.
When Elvis' now legendary hit Heartbreak Hotel was released, it sold 300,000 copies the first week.
In the Summer of '53, Elvis drops into the The Memphis Recording Service (Sun Studios) and records "My Happiness," and "That’s When Your Heartaches Begin." The cost for the recording was $4.00.
Elvis' favorite female singer was Anne Murray and he recorded a version of "Snowbird."
Elvis was offered the lead role of Tony in the film adaptation of the Broadway musical, West Side Story, but Colonel Parker forced to make Presley turn it down as non-commercial despite Elvis' arguments it would legitimize his acting career. The film won ten Academy Awards including Best Picture. A very unfortunate choice...
In 2005, and for the fifth year straight, Elvis was named the richest deceased celebrity.
Elvis Stojko, a Canadian who was the three-time World Figure Skating Champion, was named after Presley by his mother, who was a big fan.
Elvis was the first artist to sell over one billion records worldwide and was the best-selling record artist in history.
The Cryolophosaurus is nicknamed 'Elvisaurus' because of its head crest being alike to Elvis's hairstyle.
Elvis was nicknamed "E" by his bandmates and some of his family members.
Elvis had to pay for his first song recording, which was about $4. He really just wanted to see how his voice sounded when recorded.
The only time Elvis ever played outside of the United States was for three concerts in Canada.
More of Elvis' favorite foods included pork chops, meat loaf and steak. He liked his meat well-done. Elvis also liked fresh vegetables and creamed potatoes. Along with those, he also liked cheeseburgers and milkshakes, as well as fried peanut-butter and banana sandwhiches.
When he died, Elvis' estate was valued at more than $10 million, unfortunately, his estate went through probate, and taxes and fees consumed a stunning 73% of the estate’s value, leaving his heirs with less than $3 million.
Elvis' favorite after-shave was Brut.
Elvis' shoe size was 11D.
In 1988, Elvis' name made approximately $15,000,000.
Elvis only made one commercial during his entire career. It debuted on November 6, 1954, and it was for "Southern Made Doughnuts." He sang the jingle "You can get 'em piping hot after four PM, you can get 'em piping hot. Southern Made Doughnuts hit the spot, you can get 'em piping hot after four PM."
Elvis' infamous Ed Sullivan Show appearance--where he is filmed only from the waste up--was from his third and final appearance on the show in January 1957. His first two appearances were broadcast without censorship.
Elvis Presley's 1968 NBC special, Elvis, was the highest rated program of the week and the #3 television show of the season. Fans were quite anxious to see him again since he'd been away in the Army and out of the public eye for several years!
Elvis' appearances on the Ed Sullivan Show broke ratings records set by I Love Lucy in the 1953 birth of Little Ricky episode. Elvis' Neilsen ratings record would not be broken until the Beatles appeared on Ed Sullivan in 1964.
Elvis was married only once, to Priscilla Presley. They had one daughter, Lisa Marie Presley, who went on to pursue her own career in music. Though Priscilla retained ownership of Graceland after Elvis' death, she and Elvis did eventually divorce.
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