I had just walked into the house after playing a round of golf. Mom hollered "Elvis is dead!"
There was no need to ask Elvis who. There was only one Elvis back then, and many feel the name should be retired, like Jackie Robinson's number.
Elvis Aron Presley was born in Tupelo, Mississippi on January 8, 1935. While no Boomer himself, there's no estimating just how great an effect he had on our generation. More's the pity he was robbed of the chance to completely own the music business, instead being coerced by his controlling manager into appearing in a long string of cheesy movies through the 60's, wasting time that should have been spent in the recording studio.
Elvis exploded onto the scene with hit singles released by legendary Sun Records. His career was launched into overdrive by triumphant (and controversial for the time) appearances on Ed Sullivan. He truly was rock and roll to a generation of Boomers a bit older than me.
Then, Uncle Sam called. On December 20, 1957, Elvis opened his mail to find a draft notice. We didn't know it then, but the King of Rock and Roll would never be the same.
Serving in Germany, Elvis discovered amphetamines. They would keep you going when you were short of sleep. Elvis was an instant fan, and they accompanied him right to the grave, along with a host of other prescription drugs obtained for him by Colonel Parker.
But it wasn't the drugs that took Elvis's brilliant edge off that was so cutting from 1955-1957. It was his greedy manager, who saw more cash flow from Elvis the actor instead of Elvis the rocker. So he convinced Presley it was in his best interests (it was certainly in Parker's) to back off of cutting records and spend more time making movies. Songs like Heartbreak Hotel, Hound Dog, and Love Me Tender will endure for the ages. Movies like Charro!, Tickle Me, and Kid Galahad won't.
But in 1968, Elvis, dissatisfied about his downhill career slide, signed a deal with NBC to produce a television show called simply Elvis. It later came to be known as the '68 Comeback Special. The King, whose record sales and movie receipts were way down from previous highs, wowed TV audiences with a smash hit show that was also artistically praised by the critics. Elvis was back.
He went on the road, playing all over the country, but performed numerous times in Las Vegas. His later career was marked by his white outfit onstage at the big Vegas casinos. As Neil Young sang in He Was the King, the blue-haired ladies screamed.
But the whole time, he was on a veritable cocktail of uppers, downers, and everything in between that was available at the local pharmacy. Colonel Parker might have slowed down the flow of drugs if he had envisioned the early death of his cash cow, but he kept Elvis richly supplied with everything the King asked for.
On August 16, 1977, it all caught up with him. He was found dead in the toilet.
I wish I had known Elvis the rocker. Jailhouse Rock, one of his few cinematic jewels, gives me an idea of how this man turned the world of music upside down. So does footage of the Sullivan appearances. But, sadly, the Elvis I remember was the one who sang those bad songs in those bad movies, and who died at the age of 42 looking like he was twice that old.
I blame a sponging, dominating, self-centered agent, and Elvis's poor judgment in sticking with him.
Comments (3)
First time reader. Saw your blog title at Boomer Chronicles and was drawn here. I was writing on this topic back in December. Click here and scroll down to The Wooden Box (It's in 2 parts)
I was working at the Ford Vinyl Plant when I read the headline about Elvis' death.
Posted by Tom K | June 27, 2007 8:03 AM
Posted on June 27, 2007 08:03
Don't feel too bad about
Elvis. Looking at how he destroyed himself over the long term, that gives you a clue as to how he would have managed his own career.
The colonal was no saint, but he didn't put a gun to elvis' head
either. Elvis was simply either uncapable or unwilling to spend the time and effort to manage his career, or even find a decent person to do so. The Colonal played into that
palming off of responsibility, knowing that Elvis wanted everything taken care of for him. When you read stories of him playing with the Memphis mafia buddies like 3-year-old kids riding go-carts around graceland, see how he was never there for his wife or kids, and was constantly stoned, you see a kid in a man's body that never wanted to grow up, and would rather let others worry
about taking care of him. Let's face it. The man was damn lucky to become what he was, had some fortuitous breaks at Sun records, and prob
enjoyed his life much like a child all his life, letting others worry about the important things while he played and did drugs.
The Colonal just stepped into a vacuum of
irresponsiblity and made
hay of it.
Posted by Scott | July 12, 2007 2:56 PM
Posted on July 12, 2007 14:56
I remember th day Elvis died! In fact, I had an aunt who was going to a concert here in Washington, DC. It was tragic that Elvis had died! Who would have thought? I of course liked the Elvis between 56 and 1970 the best. I wasn't much on his Las Vegas shows. He did have alot of talent and it was sad that he was caught up in the drugs. Elvis's Sun records period was rock and roll! My favorite Elvis tune was probably Jailhouse Rock and Hounddog. Mom has some of his original 45's. I have a few of his albums and eight tracks. RIP Elvis!
Posted by Riversend | June 24, 2009 8:07 PM
Posted on June 24, 2009 20:07