Elvis has NOT left the building

Elvis has not left the building!

Truly the king of rock and roll is still with us in spirit…I was reminded of that recently when I learned he had sold over 500 million records in his lifetime and earned over $100 million this year coming in at #2 on the Forbes 2023 list of top-earning dead celebrities!

Let’s back up to 1977:  In one of the most shocking 1970s events, the death of the King of Rock n’ Roll on August 16, 1977 propelled the world into mourning. 

At the young age of 42, Elvis Presley fans all over the world couldn’t believe they were saying goodbye to their idol so suddenly. His unexpected death made front-page headline news all around the world, especially since he had recently been performing before his death and showed no signs of major health problems.

At the time of his death, Elvis Presley was resting between shows at his mansion in Graceland, and he was found lying face down on the floor. 

After being pronounced dead after a speedy ambulance trip to the hospital, a doctor performs an autopsy to try and find the cause of death. 

They discovered Elvis was very ill with diabetes, but he had no signs of having suffered from a stroke, lung disease or heart disease. 

The actual cause of death still remains a mystery, with some people having a hard time believing Elvis had really died. 

Some people thought he was still alive and in hiding, and others contested the way he passed away. 

The death of Elvis ended his era of rock n’ roll but his legacy is unparalleled. 

Elvis influenced so many up and coming musicians, including the Beatles, and had a great impact in pushing rock music to a prominent position within American culture. 

This from Paul Simon:

“The first time I heard his music, back in ’54 or ’55, I was in a car and I heard the announcer say, ‘Here’s a guy who, when he appears on stage in the South, the girls scream and rush the stage.’ 

Then he played ‘That’s All Right, Mama.’ I thought his name was about the weirdest I’d ever heard. I thought for sure he was a black guy. 

Later on I grew my hair like him, imitated his stage act. Once I went all over New York looking for a lavender shirt like the one he wore on one of his albums. 

I felt wonderful when he sang ‘Bridge Over Troubled Water,’ even though it was a touch on the dramatic side, but so was the song. When I first heard Elvis perform ‘Bridge Over Troubled Water’ it was unbelievable, and I thought to myself, how the hell can I compete with that?”

Better than his music were his films.  And I know you’re thinking:  He made terrible movies!  But I loved them more than his music!

Who can forget ‘Viva Las Vegas’ with Anne Margaret:

Bright light city gonna set my soul

Gonna set my soul on fire

Got a whole lot of money that's ready to burn

So get those stakes up higher

That’s Vegas baby.  No one else rocked a baby blue sequined jumpsuit like the King of Rock and Roll.

No, Elvis has most definitely not left the building!

Until next time…