Elvis Presley has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. I have always loved him—I don’t even recall the first time I discovered him. It just seems as though he was always there. My sister, Ruth, however, does remember when she discovered him, and I’m a little jealous of that memory, since I don’t have my own. (Nor do I remember the incident, so I’m telling her version, which is very short :)). She was five and I was seven (but, it’s really odd how, all these years later, she’s somehow older than me…hmmm…) 😉 Anyway, I digress. She said that I called her into the living room where Elvis’s movie, Harum Scarum, was playing (on our black and white television. This was around 1967, but we didn’t yet have a color tv), and I pointed Elvis out to her and said, “Look, isn’t he cute?” From then on, she and I grew up sharing our devotion to Elvis.
I can’t explain exactly how I feel about Elvis; only another true fan really ‘gets’ it. But, he was more than just an entertainer. He had this special, magical quality that I can’t name, but I know exists. Otherwise, why would millions of people all over the world love him so much? Why would they—nearly 37 years after his death—travel thousands of miles just to see his home? (And, they still do, daily in droves of thousands, from places as far as Australia, Ireland, England, etc.) Because, he touched people in a way no other entertainer has before or ever will again. Even if you are not an Elvis fan, you can’t deny the impact he had on the world. Yes, there are other successful, talented, well-loved performers. But, seriously, another Elvis? I don’t think so.
Although I have never wavered in my love for Elvis, I’ve recently gained a new appreciation of him now that I listen to Elvis radio on Sirius XM. It’s so awesome that they have an entire channel devoted to him. Nothing but Elvis, 24/7. And, that is all I ever listen to. Seriously, all the time, Elvis Radio. Not only do they play a ton of his great music, including rare recordings, but they have guests who knew the real Elvis. They share their memories of him, and hearing the intimate details of his life makes him all the more special.
Because of my adoration of Elvis, I have mentioned him in almost all of my published works. Here’s a little sample from “Poetic Injustice” a Romantic Suspense Novella (one of my older titles published through The Wild Rose Press) CLICK ON THE COVER FOR MORE INFORMATION
Snippet:
Samantha put in an Elvis CD and cracked the window just a bit. She loved the fresh smell of rain, and a little moisture wouldn’t hurt anything.
Love Coming Down, one of Elvis’ more obscure releases from the 70’s, was playing. The damp evening air and Elvis’ powerful voice filled the car, surrounding her, calming her. She released a breath and, along with it, some of the tension of the past few weeks.
Do you have any special moments to share about Elvis, or any other entertainer?
Author Alicia Dean 
Well, my husband introduced me to Elvis. He’s a fan like you. Before that, I never thought much about Elvis one way or the other. (Hey, stop throwing things at your screen!) 🙂 Seriously, while I don’t share that level of fan-dom (is that a word?), I do agree that Elvis was a giant and a visionary, not to mention a phenomenal singer/entertainer. The man was born to perform. It made me so sad when he and Priscilla broke up, especially when I realized that “Suspicious Minds” was probably based on their troubles. (I loved that song.)
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Haha, Leah, since I love you, I didn’t throw anything at the screen. And, you’re now an ‘adopted’ Elvis fan. (Your husband has great taste in wives AND entertainers ;)) You know, when he and Priscilla broke up, I was very young and I hated her. Now I realize she is a great person, and maybe, just maybe I can forgive her for leaving him. LOL. Yeah, I also thought ‘Separate Ways’ was about their break up too. He was really sad during that time.
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I never cared for Elvis. (No, ouch. That rotten tomato splattered my screen.) But I love his ballads, such a rich voice. (There does that make up for my previous comment?) Your younger sister sounds a lot like mine. LOL
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Yep, rotten tomatoes for sure. 🙂 (What can I expect from someone who finds aliens attractive ;)) But, see, you love his ballads, his rich voice. Most people find something about Elvis appealing. Although, for the life of me I can’t figure out why they don’t find everything about him appealing! 🙂 Thanks for stopping by.
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I’m a huge Elvis fan too❤️. In 2001, I took a collaboration writing class. The teacher asked us to write a scene for a story we were all working on together & read it out loud to the class. After, I read my scene, he said, “That sounds like that could be a scene in an Elvis movie!” Everyone in the class laughed
Then the lady sitting next to me says. “And… What’s wrong with that?!? I love Elvis!” Well… Let’s just say, We’ve been great friends ever since❤️Thanks 🙂
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Haha, Kelly. I remember that well. The start of a beautiful friendship and a shared love of Elvis. Thanks for stopping by!
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Okay, I’m showing my age here, but…I saw Elvis on the Ed Sullivan show the first time he appeared there. My family, as well as two aunts and uncles with their kids were grouped in front of a small-screened black & white television. One of my aunts said she was disappointed Elvis was only shown from the waist up because he was so sexy. She spelled out s-e-x-y to hide the word from me because I was only five or six. Being curious, I remembered her spelling and figured out the word years later. Grin. Later, I saw all his movies multiple times, but, and wait until I hide behind my screen, I abandoned him for the Beatles. Elvis still holds a special place in my heart as my first sexy man crush that lasted for well over a decade. What a gorgeous man!
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Oh wow, did you really? What a treat! And, what a funny memory to cherish. UGH…the Beatles over Elvis? I guess I’ll let that slide. 🙂 Yep, gorgeous is right!
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Yep, Ally – that memory is burned into my brain. LOL. Have you noticed most of my heroes have dark hair? There’s a reason for that…
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Long live the King!
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Hear, hear! I knew I liked you, Bess. 🙂
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Love Elvis! My mom hooked me on him when I was a kid. She loved him, too. I cry every single time I hear Suspicious Minds.
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Awww, yes, his music taps into a lot of emotions. I watched Jailhouse Rock recently, and cried when they took him away in an ambulance. He was so young and his life was so full of promise. He literally oozed sexual magnetism through the screen, even in black and white. 🙂
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Did you read the book Priscilla wrote about Elvis that came out in the 80s? Because I’d been such an Elvis fan I grabbed it when it came out in the Doubleday Book club deal. I just looked it up, it’s called Elvis and Me (apparently made into a movie?). It did knock him off that pedestal I’d previously had him on, although now, there’s apparently another book called Child Bride that refutes some of what she said. Although the info in Child Bride appears to be even more shocking than her book. Granted, I’m the first one to admit we creative people can be messed up. But still, before reading her book, I thought he was amazing. When I was a kid staying home in the summer while my parents worked, there were often Elvis movies on the the afternoon movie theater on a local Dallas station. Loved those movies!
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I love his movies too. I own most of them on DVD, but I want them all! 🙂 No, I did not read that book. There’s no way to know if it’s even true. And, she has certainly changed her story. She now speaks of him publicly with the utmost love, reverence, and respect. She even spoke out against people who speak badly of him. I heard it from her own lips on a special she did. I’ve heard nothing but praise and love from the people who worked with him over the years. Well, once in a while they’ll tell a story about something slightly imperfect that Elvis did, which just makes him human. They also say he was kind to everyone he met, and that he was appreciative of his fans, and his stardom. While I know that Elvis wasn’t perfect, I prefer to keep my image of him intact and choose to read and believe only the things that shine a favorable light on him.
Okay…I’ll close now. 🙂
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Being a hardcore blues afficionado, I still refer to Elvis as “the white boy who stole the blues.” Hey, that’s not original! =) It’s quoted with much love and admiration. See http://www.elvisinfonet.com/blues.html if you want to read how much Elvis was influenced by the great Delta blues musicians and opened up a whole new world of incredibly, emotional, sexy music to the rest of us. As an actor…he could’ve used some better writers. And as for the Beatles… meh.
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You are correct, Jody. 🙂 He was greatly influenced by the old blues singers. He hung out on Beale street and soaked it all in. And, you and I not only visited Beale street together (along with Christy), but we went to the gates of Graceland!
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Reblogged this on Author Alicia Dean.
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