Long Live the King

As we approach the 8 January 2014, fans across the globe will be celebrating what would have been Elvis Presley’s 79^th Birthday.

The King of Rock ‘n’ Roll was undoubtedly one of the most influential musicians of his time, and of the 20^th century. But towards the end of his short life, Elvis was in the headlines for more than just his music. Affected by his divorce to Priscilla Presley and reliant on prescription drugs, his health and his career were suffering. Exhausted from a gruelling tour schedule, Elvis’s performances disappointed fans – he could barely stand up or sing. In August 1977, at the age of 42, Elvis Presley passed away at his Graceland Mansion in Memphis, Tennessee.

As one of the most high profile musicians ever, his life (and death) were intimately documented. There are even certain conspiracies that claim Elvis faked his own death to escape the pressures of constantly being in the spotlight, and under scrutiny.

Take a look at the timeline below to see the shocking truth about Elvis - his life and death.

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1935: Elvis is born in Tupelo, Mississippi.

1945: Elvis received his first guitar as a present on his 10^th birthday.

“I took the guitar, and I watched people, and I learned to play a little bit. But I would never sing in public. I was very shy about it.”

1948: Elvis and his family moved to Memphis, Tennessee.

1953: Elvis recorded his first two-sided disc at Sun Record Studios. The tracks were called My
Happiness and That’s When Your Heartaches Begin.

1955: Signed a record deal with RCA at the age of 20 for $40,000, an unprecedented sum of
money at the time.

1956: Elvis’s first album, Elvis Presley was released in March. Included the song Blue Suede Shoes. Appeared in his first film Love Me Tender. The film was panned by critics but achieved commercial success.

1957: Scored three number one singles with Too Much, All Shook Up and (Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear.

Embarked on three brief tours each met with crazed audience responses.

“The trouble with going to see Elvis Presley is that you're liable to 
get killed.”

1958: Elvis was inducted into the US Army.

“The Army can do anything it wants with me.”

Elvis’s mother died in the August at the age of 46. Elvis was extremely close to his mother and badly affected by her death.

Began taking amphetamines with colleagues in the army.

Met 14 year old Priscilla Beaulieu, the woman he would eventually marry.

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1960: Elvis was granted honourable discharge from the army.

He began focusing on his movie career as well as releasing more albums including Elvis is Back! and G.I. Blues. He went on to make 27 movies in the 1960s, almost all were commercial successes.

1968: The birth of Elvis and Priscilla’s daughter Lisa Marie Presley.

He released eight singles in this year, only two made it into the top 40. He began to convince himself that his musical career might be over.

In an attempt to recapture his music fame, Elvis recorded the TV programme ’68 Comeback Special, his first performance in front of an audience since 1961. The show captured 42% of the total viewing audience.

“There are several unbelievable things about Elvis, but the most incredible is his staying power in a world where meteoric careers fade like shooting stars.”

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1970: Embarked on his first tour since 1958.

In December, Elvis met with U.S. president Richard Nixon and was reported to have expressed his dislike for the ‘hippie drug culture.’ Richard Nixon was reported to have described the meeting as “uncomfortable”.

1971: Elvis’s marriage began in break down. He had an affair with Joyce Bova. It was later discovered that Priscilla was having an affair with karate instructor Mike Stone.

1973: Elvis performed the show Aloha From Hawaii. During one of the performances he was attacked on stage – later discovered to be over-excited fans. However Elvis became paranoid - convinced the Mike Stone was trying to kill him.

He began taking prescription drugs to control his rages.

“There's too much pain in me ... Stone must die”

His divorce was finalised and affected him badly. He overdosed twice in this year on prescription drugs.

1974: Despite his ill health, Elvis undertook a gruelling tour schedule. It was reported by band mates that he could barely stand at the microphone.

“He was all gut. He was slurring. He was so fucked up. ... It was 

obvious he was drugged. It was obvious there was something terribly wrong with his body. It was so bad the words to the songs were barely intelligible. ... I remember crying. He could barely get through the introductions.”

1975: Attempted to return to the recording studio to record some new material but was in no fit state to work.

1977: On August 16 1977, Elvis was due to embark on another tour. That afternoon he was found dead on his bathroom floor by then girlfriend Ginger Alden. Attempts to revive him were unsuccessful. Drug use was heavily implicated in the cause of death.