Elvis The Inside Story

Gladys Love and Vernon Presley gave birth to Elvis Aron Presley on January 8th, 1938 in Mississippi, the economic impact of the great depression, was still in effect. Elvis father drove truck and Gladys was a seamstress. His parents were hard working and loving. Elvis Father Vernon built their first home when he found out Gladys was pregnant with twins. The house had no electricity and no indoor plumbing. When it was time for the twins to be born, Gladys was in dangerous condition and lost the first baby, Elvis was the second born and his parents were so happy he was alive. Elvis grew up as an only child. He really loved his mother, she was a good mother to him, encouraging his artistic side of life. When Elvis was ten he got his first guitar. Elvis Graduated from Humes High School in Memphis at that time he was preforming for community events. Elvis and his parents attended church, the Assembly of God, that is where his love for music began. He recorded many christian albums. Two Christmas albums one in 1950 and 1957 Along with, "How great thou art", "His hand in mine" and "He Touched me". Elvis had a very comprehensive list of very popular albums from Gospel, Rock & Roll, Country, contemporary, blues, jazz and he even made a Hawaiian album! This is startling in comparison to other performers of the times nobody was doing what Elvis was at the time. Many entertainers in today's time are now looking at his career and emulating it. Delving into film and music. Elvis sang to the crowds and was a wonderful entertainer, he threw scarves to women, caressed their faces and sang to them. He was considered a male sex symbol and by 1956 Elvis was on TV, radio and the movies. It was a great marketing plan at the time! Elvis was on stage dancing and swaying his hips, making women fall all over him! That is why some people called him "Elvis the pelvis". during this time he was on the top of the charts with several memorable songs like "blue suede shoes", "Viva Las Vegas" and so many more top hits! Amazingly Elvis didn't read music, he played by ear.

In 1957 Elvis was drafted in the Army, he was going to go to Germany when his mother was deathly ill, Elvis threatened to go AWOL when his mother went to the hospital. Elvis wanted to be by her side. Elvis got his leave and made it home to see his mother, just before she passed away. He was inconsolable at the funeral. He Said " Oh God, everything I have is gone". Elvis leaned over her casket and cried out "Goodbye, Darling, Goodbye! " I love you so much. You know how much I lived my life just for you!"

Elvis went back to the Army in Germany after and extended leave. He later met teenager Priscilla Beaulieu in Germany and fell in love with her. In 1960 Elvis was honorably discharged from the army and resumed his music career creating the album GI Blues which hit the top of the charts. After That he created several more great albums. Later Elvis married Priscilla and they had Lisa Marie Presley his only legitimate child.

Elvis died on August 16th 1977 from a heart attack, which was later diagnosed as an accidental prescription drug overdose.

The Black Velvet Song was for Elvis if you listen to the words the lyrics tells a story about him. "Mama's baby's in the heart of every school girl. Leave me tender, leaves them crying in the isles". The black velvet prints of Elvis's picture were popular at the time as well. This is one of the songs I like to sing in my Karaoke repertoire. I won the top singer award for my little hometown here in Cottage Grove. When Elvis came to California, he became really popular and went on to TV. It was about that time when Elvis met my Uncle Mike Deasy and asked Mike to join his band. Uncle Mike played with Elvis on several albums, My mom Merry got to meet Elvis several times. My mom liked Elvis, but she was married to my dad and was already taken, so she never said much about it but, I have always thought that I could possibly be the child of Elvis. I cannot go into more details here, but I do have some distinct Native American traits, and none of my family are Native American. It was said that my great grandfather Mr. Greenwood was an orphaned native child because he was so tall and looked Native American, but I later found out that that was a story. Mom will never tell, My dad looks a lot like Elvis so its always been a mystery to me.

This is my inside story of Elvis, Thank you for letting me share this with you.

Mindy Bench

Elvis loved comic books and dreamed of saving his family from the oppression of being poor. In the south there was segregation, but Elvis did not believe in that, he was somewhat of a human rights activist in a way, he went to places where they played the blues, and loved the African American gospel music. He promoted and talked about his love for talented African American musicians.

There was an article that came out in 1957 about how African Americans didn't like the idea of Elvis singing music that was African American in origin, but Elvis really liked the music and sang it no matter where it came from, he did it out of the respect of his love for music. Sammy Davis Junior and James Brown understood Elvis and his love for all kinds of music and stood up for him.