“I hope I didn’t bore you too much with my life story.” – Elvis Aaron Presley

  On the contrary, we simply cannot get enough. In the short 42 years that he was on this Earth, Elvis Presley revolutionized the music industry and left his mark on rock and roll forever. Also known as “The King of Rock and Roll”, Elvis gave us monumental hits such as, Jailhouse Rock, Love Me Tender, Can’t Help Falling in Love, and Viva Las Vegas. Elvis was also an accomplished actor whose songs ended up being the titles for his films.

  Elvis Aaron Presley was born on January 8^th, 1935, in Tupelo, Mississippi, to parents Gladys and Vernon Presley. At 13, the family moved to Memphis, Tennessee, where Elvis remained until his last day on Earth. By 13, Elvis had already played around on the guitar. He received his first guitar about the age of 10 and learned to play by watching his uncles and the pastor at the old church in Tupelo. The Presley family didn’t have much money so Elvis got jobs as a teen. He worked on an assembly line, but quit, then worked as an apprentice electrician for Crown Electric.

  1953 is the year it all happened for him. Presley stumbled into Sun Records to record 2 songs for his mother. He had hoped to be discovered in the process and he was. His big hit was “That’s All Right.” He played what they called “race music” and was frowned upon knowingly by Ed Sullivan, whom Sullivan described as being “unfit for family viewing.” He was sometimes known as Elvis the Pelvis, for obvious reasons. He was known to shake his legs and swing his hips which made the girls scream for him. Regardless of any bad press that he got, Elvis skyrocketed in music sales and was offered movie deal after movie deal. With all of the “fame and fortune”, Elvis found love in his sweetheart, Priscilla, whom he married May 1^st, 1967.They were married until October 9^th, 1973 and shared one child, Lisa Marie Presley. Lisa Marie was born February 1^st, 1968 and shared a very strong bond with her father. Elvis was very much a family man and had a very close relationship with his mother, Gladys.

  Unfortunately, Elvis passed away at the age of 42 on August 16^th, 1977, at his home Graceland. All of this time has passed, and he just seems to be getting bigger and bigger. Generation after generation fall in love with the King. He had charisma, character, and a heart of gold. My little nephew, who is only a little over a year and a half, has already been bitten by the Elvis bug. He can’t help but to move his little body when he hears Elvis music playing. He can even point him out in pictures and out of the memorabilia that we keep in our own home. I like to think that my family was built on Elvis. My parents met in 1984 at an Elvis impersonator contest, where my father was a contestant. The saying goes that the rest is history. Music was always a big thing in our home growing up. My brothers and I fell in love with Elvis not because we were forced to listen to it at home, but because how could anyone resist? He had a voice like sweet honey and the face of a Greek God. Everything about Elvis screamed perfection to me. When I have a family of my own I know that my children will fall in love just as I did. Until that day comes, I will enjoy watching my beautiful nephew enjoy the magic that is Elvis Presley.

  Today Elvis would have been 83 years old. If he were still here, I am not sure how his style would be. Would it have stayed the same? Would he have done an EDM mix? These things I often wonder about because music changes all the time. To me, I prefer the classics because there is nothing like that anymore. Music to me cannot capture the magic of a simple guitar, 3 or 4 basic chords and one amazing voice. We will continue to celebrate Elvis’ life and legacy. Every January 8^th, I always look forward to the Elvis movie marathons that play. Some may say his movies were cheesy and they were, there’s no denying that, but there is also no denying the voice and magic that was Elvis Presley. You will always be remembered, and may your spirit live on. There is no denying that we can’t help falling in love with you. Happy birthday, Elvis Presley. I love you.

“Until we meet again, may God bless you as he has blessed me…” – Elvis Aaron Presley