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Every man has a black star
A black star over his shoulder
And when a man sees his black star
He knows his time, his time has come
"Black Star" - Elvis Presley (1956)
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In 1935 Elvis Aron Presley was born in Tupelo, Mississippi, to
share-cropper Vernon Elvis Presley and wife Gladys Love (nee
Smith). Elvis would rise from his two room shack to be one
of the greatest entertainers of all time.
By 1955 Elvis was hitting the charts and electrifying his
fans with a new and wild style of rhythm and blues that
created a new style of music and performance.
He always sang others' songs, but with a totally new style
and sexuality. After a show one night the fans ripped the
clothes off this young star backstage.
Elvis got his first recording contract with Sun Records. His
act was known as the Hillbilly Cat and the Blue Moon Boys.
The back-up boys were Scott More ( guitar ) and Bill Black (
bass ). They were later joined by D.J. Fontana on drums.
These three also formed part of the band in some of Elvis's
movies.
In 1956 he was in the movie Love Me Tender, playing the part
of Clint Reno. And in 1957 Elvis played a southern country
singer, Deke Rivers, in the movie Loving You. In
this movie Elvis dyed his naturally light brown hair to a
darker shade of black blue, which he later was to keep.
Jail House Rock is considered by many as Elvis's best ever
role. He threw himself at the chance to play a role of a
young rebel, and choreographed the title number.
Elvis obtained his army call-up to finish the filming of
King Creole in 1957. He played the part of a night club
singer.
On March 241958 Elvis was inducted into the army at Fort
Chafee, Arkansas. He later returned after doing 2 years of
service. Elvis was promoted to acting sergeant in January
1960. Elvis later went on to release an album that year.
Elvis played the role of a nice army man in the movie GI
Blues in 1960 after his return from the army. He also played
the role of a part-Indian son of a rancher. Elvis sang only
two songs in the movie, and the fans weren't pleased with
the movie.
In order to make the movie Blue Hawaii in 1961, he had to
overcome a lifetime fear of the ocean. It was a success, and
the sound-track record was the fastest selling of that year.
The movie Girls Girls Girls was released in 1962. And from
it the hit single Return To Sender was released. In that
year Elvis's girlfriend Priscilla Beaulieu, who Elvis met
during his army service in Germany, went to live in Memphis
with Elvis's parents.
He made another movie in 1963, Fun in Acapulco. He gave the
fans double later on, playing two characters in the movie
Kissin' Cousins. One was an army officer named Josh Morgan
and the other and the other a hillbilly named Jodie Tatum.
In Viva Las Vegas, released 1964, Elvis Presley and co-star
Ann Margret were romantically linked, both on and off the
set. Like all the fans, Priscilla Beaulieu, who was living
with Elvis's parents, had to follow the couple's courtship
in the newspapers.
His first film in 1965 was Girl Happy where he played the
role of a singer/leader of a band. He also did the movie
Harum Scarum that year, and Frankie and Johnny in 1966.
Later that year he made the movie Paradise, Hawaiian Style.
Then the movie Spinout, where he played the part of a racing
driver.
On the 1st May 1967 Elvis married Priscilla at the Aladdin
Hotel in Las Vegas. After the 8 minute ceremony the couple
went to a breakfast reception for 100 guests. Elvis
felt that their wedding had been rather taken over by others
( including the press ). They later held a more quiet and
relaxed celebration in Graceland.
In Double Trouble, a movie made in 1967, Elvis was pursued
by two actresses, and sang 9 songs. Norman Taurog directed
Elvis for the 17th time in his career.
Elvis played the part of a racing driver again in the movie
Speedway in 1968. Elvis's fans still seemed to enjoy him in
this undemanding role of a romantic. But the film albums
ceased to excite. The sound-track from Speedway reached just
72 on the charts.
In Charro Elvis looked forward to playing a more solid role
then the ones he had played in the 1960's. The scenario and
direction of this limp Western let him down somewhat though.
Change of Habit was Elvis's last dramatic movie. He played
the role of a doctor who formed an attachment with a nun.
Lisa Marie Presley was born on February 1 1968.
In his concerts of the 1970's, Elvis were heavily ornamented
jumpsuits, often with a cloak for his opening appearance on
stage. Worth thousands of dollars a piece, these suits could
weigh up to 30 pounds.
Elvis toured the United States from 1970 onward, to wildly
approving crowds. In 1976, he played in a total of 74
cities, and in 1977, before his death in August, he played
in 50. A double album was released, Elvis Aloha From Hawaii
Via Satellite. After the performance Aloha From Hawaii was
shown live on television in 1973. Elvis continued to amaze
large crowds in Las Vegas up until he finally retired and
later passed away on the 16th August 1977 from a drug
overdose in his bathroom.
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