The EP Express Radio Station

Elvis Presley
born: 08-01-1935
birth place: Mississippi, USA
died: 16-08-1977

Elvis Presley epitomised the beginnings of ‘youth’ culture that swept the western world throughout the 50’s and 60’s. He was a white southern boy singing county and blues laced with gospel, while swinging his hips in a provocative manner that made him both a teenage idol and target for outraged adults.

The son of Gladys and Vernon Presley, Elvis grew up an only child in Mississippi Alabama. Entering a local talent show dressed as a cowboy proved to be the catalyst to a musical career that was to make him a worldwide idol in later years.

After a move to Memphis with the family and graduating from L.C. Humes High School, Elvis took up a job driving trucks for the Crown Electric Company.

It was during this time that he started to wear his trademark slicked back barnet – a popular fashion with truck drivers of the time – and visited the Memphis Recording Studio where for four dollars anyone could record a ten inch acetate.

Elvis recorded ‘My Happiness’ and ‘That’s When Your Heartache Begins’

That summer of 53 he also recorded ‘Casual Love Affair’ and ‘I’ll Never Stand In Your Way’ prompting Sam Phillips, the studio owner to comment that he found “a white man with the Negro sound and the Negro feel”

Soon Elvis was collaborating with lead guitarist Scotty Moore and bassist Bill Black to record ballads ‘I Love You Because’, ‘Blue Moon of Kentucky’ and ‘That’s All Right’

In July 1954 Memphis disc jockey Dewey Phillips played the latter on the WHBQ radio station where it became Elvis’ first local hit. The rest, as they say, is history.

Scotty Moore became Elvis’ manager and Elvis soon embarked on several radio interviews leading to a debut TV appearance in 1955 on a local broadcast.

After a change of management, when Bob Neal replaced Phillips, the young Elvis headed for New York where he auditioned – unsuccessfully - for a television programme. However, on May 13th, 1955, his performance in Jacksonville, swinging those hips and singing ‘Baby Let’s Play House’ almost started a riot. Together with ‘I’m Left, Your Right, She’s Gone’ the tracks became instant hits on the national Country & Western chart.

That same year Elvis signed with RCA. Neal negotiated a $35,000 contract out of which the singer received a $5,000 advance. With his earnings Elvis bought her a pink Cadillac. The boy from a humble and impoverished upbringing was heading towards stardom. January 1956 saw Elvis make his first national TV debut on Stage Show, followed by six more appearances. He then furthered his exposure to millions of Americans by singing on the Steve Allen and Ed Sullivan shows. Ironically his first engagement at in Las Vegas’ New Frontier Hotel had to be cancelled due to poor public response.

However, all that was to change when Elvis signed up for his first movie role in ‘Love Me Tender’, which was the perfect showcase for his singing talents. The film recouped its budget in three days of release. That same year Elvis released the singles ‘Heartbreak Hotel’, ‘I Was the One’, ‘Blue Suede Shoes’, ‘I Want You’, ‘I Need You, I Love You’, ‘Hound Dog’, ‘My Baby Left Me’, ‘Anyway You Want Me’, ‘Love Me Tender’, ‘Don't Be Cruel’, ‘Love Me’ and ‘When My Blue Moon Turns To Gold’.

Not everyone appreciated the golden boy’s charms. Criticism of the soulful singer’s ‘suggestive’ style led to ‘Elvis the Pelvis’ – as he became known- to only being filmed from the waist up!

In March 1957 Elvis purchased Graceland, a former church and converted it into a twenty-room mansion. This was a notable year for the singer as his single ‘All Shook Up’ spent seventeen weeks at No1. His second film ‘Loving You’ was a smash hit together with the song ‘Teddy Bear’ from its soundtrack which became a No1 hit across all charts.

Filming his third movie, ‘King Creole’, delayed his draft notice when he eventually entered the Army on March 24th 1958. But the hits continued while he was still in service, only briefly coming out to attend his sick mother. Gladys Presley sadly died after his arrival in Memphis. Soon afterwards he rejoined the Army and was posted to Bremerhaven, West Germany.

In a canny move, manager Colonel Parker continued to release singles while Elvis remained in National Service, in order that his fans didn’t forget him. Some of these hits included ‘Wear My Ring Around Your Neck’, ‘Don't Cha Think It's Time’ and ‘A Big Hunk O' Love’.

By the time Elvis was discharged in March 1960, the handsome, jet-black pompadoured sex symbol had earned $2 million. If ever there was a badge of musical success and reaching mega stardom for a singer, it had to be dueting with Frank Sinatra when Elvis taped TV programme The Frank Sinatra Timex Special.

 Elvis’ next film ‘Gi Blues’ was released in the same year accompanied by another No1 hit with ‘It’s Now Or Never’.

It was at this time that a young Priscilla Beaulieu arrived on the scene among a menagerie of friends, employees and hangers-on that became known as the Memphis Mafia. But it wasn’t long before the beautiful, young Priscilla – daughter of an Army officer- moved into Graceland despite the controversy that she was underage.

March 25th 1961 was a watershed in Elvis starry career in that it was the last time he was to perform touring until the early 70’s. Instead, he focused on making a series of movies that were generally given a poor reception by critics and public alike. Even Elvis himself was unhappy with the results despite receiving around $1m per film. However, his manager’s short-sightedness saw him refusing Barbra Streisand’s offer to have Elvis co star with her in the hugely successful remake of ‘A Star Is Born’ in 1974. His reason? Colonel Parker felt that Elvis should have had star billing!

The late 60’s saw Elvis turn inwards, focusing on family and marrying Priscilla his sweetheart on May 1, 1967. The wedding took place, rather unsurprisingly perhaps for the medallion man himself, in Las Vegas. Nearly a year later Priscilla gave birth to their only child, Lisa Marie on Feb 1, 1968.

Despite fearing that he had been forgotten by the public, Elvis’ decision to rekindle his career and defy Parker in the process saw him stage a successful comeback when he taped a TV show in December 1968. A new era began for the singer, performing in Las Vegas with hits such as ‘If I Can Dream’ reaching No8. From here he began a month long appearance at the International Hotel and set the benchmark for million dollar fees paid to star performers on the Las Vegas circuit.

A series of top hits including ‘In the Ghetto’, ‘Suspicious Minds’, ‘Don't Cry Daddy’ and ‘The Wonder of You’ also saw Elvis embark on national tours again, the first time for over a decade. His shows sold out and broke box office records paving for two documentaries - one of which, ‘Elvis On Tour’, won the Golden Globe Award for Best Documentary in 1972.

Elvis had become a national hero and International star. He was even honoured with Elvis Presley days throughout the country and in 1970 was named one of the ten most outstanding men in America. Despite the fact that he had attained a form of quasi-Royal status - even seeing his birthplace opened up as a museum - he was still the source of tabloid gossip.

In February 1972, Elvis and Priscilla filed for divorce. But even this sad parting was overshadowed by the fact that Elvis’ TV show ‘Elvis: Aloha from Hawaii’ was broadcast to over a billion people in forty countries.

Despite Elvis’ hugely successful public persona, his private life was a different matter. Plagued with self-doubt and financial pressures - particularly the upkeep of his estate and employees - Elvis threatened to quit show business and eventually developed an unhealthy dependence on prescription drugs. By the late Sixties he had become a recluse. Now, without Priscilla he was more alone than ever.

As Elvis’ weight increased so his live performances began to suffer and revealed a superstar in decline. Sometimes he would babble incoherently on stage and rip his pants due to obesity. Even though his health was deteriorating he still maintained a gruelling tour schedule. Also, in an act of sheer incompetence, his manager Colonel Parker negotiated a deal with RCA to the rights of many of Elvis’ masters denying Elvis any future residuals.

After years of financial mismanagement and Elvis’ propensity to give away expensive gifts and cash, the Superstar was facing ruin.

In Indianapolis, June 1977, Elvis performed live for the last time. On August 16th, the day before a scheduled concert, the idolised singer was found dead in his bathroom at Graceland. An autopsy revealed advanced hardening of the arteries and an enlarged liver.

Thousands gathered at Graceland where Elvis’ body lay in state before he was buried in a mausoleum at Forest Hills Cemetery in Memphis. After attempts to break into the mausoleum, Presley's body and that of his mother were moved to the Meditation Garden behind Graceland. Nearly two years later, Vernon his father died and was also buried there. The estate passed on to only child Lisa Marie.

Elvis earned a black belt in karate.

Elvis owned a pet chimpanzee called 'Scatter'.

He once gave a robe to Muhammad Ali which said 'The Peoples Champion'.

His mansion, Graceland, is the 2nd most-visited house in America. The first is the White House.

During his career Presley had 94 gold singles, three gold EPs and over 40 gold albums. His movies grossed over $180 million and millions more were made by the merchandising of Elvis products, the rights which were controlled by Colonel Parker.

Presley's private doctor Dr. George Nichopoulos was charged by the Tennessee Board of Medical Examiners with indiscriminately prescribing 5,300 vials in the seven months before the singer’s death. He was later acquitted

With the exception of three dates in Canada in 1957 and an impromptu performance in Paris while on leave in 1959, Presley never performed outside the United States.

Elvis Presley is a trademark and anyone selling Presley related memorabilia in the U.S. must pay EPE an advance fee plus a royalty on every item sold.

Priscilla opened Graceland to the public in 1982. Approximately 675,000 people visit Graceland yearly

Elvis Presley is the best selling solo artist in U.S history

Despite his countless No1 and top twenty singles Presley wasn't earning royalties on records recorded before 1973, although they continued to sell millions.

Elvis charted more songs on Billboard's Hot 100 than any other artist.

Elvis spent more weeks at the top of the charts than any other artist.

Elvis had the greatest number of consecutive No1 hits.

Elvis is second only to the Beatles in total of No1 hits.

Elvis has more Platinum albums than any other artist.

Change of Habit (1969)
Trouble with Girls, The (1969)
Charro! (1969) Wade
Live a Little, Love a Little (1968)
Speedway (1968)
Stay Away, Joe (1968)
Clambake (1967)
Double Trouble (1967)
Easy Come, Easy Go (1967)
Spinout (1966)
Paradise, Hawaiian Style (1966)
Frankie and Johnny (1966)
Harum Scarum (1965)
Tickle Me (1965)
Girl Happy (1965)
Roustabout (1964)
Viva Las Vegas (1964)
Kissin' Cousins (1964)
Fun in Acapulco (1963)
It Happened at the World's Fair (1963)
Girls! Girls! Girls! (1962)
Kid Galahad (1962)
Follow That Dream (1962)
Blue Hawaii (1961)
Wild in the Country (1961)
Flaming Star (1960)
G.I. Blues (1960)
King Creole (1958)
Jailhouse Rock (1957)
Loving You (1957)
Love Me Tender (1956

"I don't know anything about music. In my line of work you don't have to."

"Rhythm is something you either have or don't have, but when you have it, you have it all over."

"Some people tap their feet, some people snap their fingers, and some people sway back and forth. I just sorta do 'em all together, I guess."

"Rock and roll music, if you like it, if you feel it, you can't help but move to it. That's what happens to me. I can't help it."

"I ain't no saint, but I've tried never to do anything that would hurt my family or offend God... I figure all any kid needs is hope and the feeling he or she belongs. If I could do or say anything that would give some kid that feeling, I would believe I had contributed something to the world."

"I believe in the Bible. I believe that all good things come from God. I don't believe I'd sing the way I do if God hadn't wanted me to."