Elvis Aron Presley died on August 16, 1977. I was ten years old at the time and I still remember that day clear as can be. I had this little purse (Again with the purses) that I use to carry at that time that I took the Parade article from the newspaper and folded it carefully and kept for the longest time in that purse. I still have that newspaper article. I remember being so sad. I also remember thinking I don't really even know this person so why am I so sad. I suppose it had to be because I loved his music so much at the time. Plus I was really into older movies at that time and even the new ones with the singing in them. (not so much anymore). There is a lot that I have read and remember from interviews with him and his family about Elvis. One is his deep torment at having grown up a single child after his identical twin, Jesse Garon, was stillborn. He talked about "survivor guilt" which they actually say is quite common of twins. The surviving twin wonders if they took all the nourishment and kept their other twin from living. Elvis also talked about feeling like Jesse was always with him. Either way it appears, to me, that all his life Elvis Presley was tormented. I recorded and have watched a couple of specials about Elvis's life that were broadcast this past weekend. For the life of me I could not figure out why they are making such a big deal about his upcoming birthday on January 8th. From my account it would have been his 74th. Then I checked and found that Graceland has a special exhibit opening of all days, today, January 6, 2009. (http://www.elvis.com/) OK, so now it makes more sense. Probably some promotional thing to get them more tourist. Or perhaps we can make our own theory that Elvis has finally left the building. I mean it's been rumored for years that he faked his own death. The rumors have gone from everything to he wanted out of the business to he went into the witness protection program after testifying against the mofia. So perhaps he finally kicked the perverbial bucket? They say he had a wax figure put in his coffin. I personally think he actually died on August 16, 1977. The rumors as with anything else are always fun to revel in; however, likely not true. At 74 though the odds are he's gone. Not necessarily, but probably. Either way I loved some of his work. The song "In the Ghetto" is one of my all time favorites, along with "Are You Lonesome Tonight?". Let us also not forget my favorite movie of his, "Blue Hawaii". Either way I doubt anyone will ever forget "The King". He's often used in television to this day. I remember watching bits about him on "The Golden Girls", "Designing Women" and even on my soap I watch "Days of Our Lives". On Days an Elvis fanatic named her son after him, who is of course all grown up and gorgeous now. There is also big money in Vegas for Elvis impersonators. And just in case you wonder why I spelled Elvis's middle name Aron, that is because it is the actual spelling of his name. He had spoken to family about if he ever died he wanted it to have a more biblical spelling on his tomb, so when they buried him they spelled it the way most people do Aaron. Well, if I had blue suede shoe's I'd slip them on, but since I don't I guess I'll just ask how you feel? Do you remember the day Elvis died? Where were you?
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
The Day The Music Died
Elvis Aron Presley died on August 16, 1977. I was ten years old at the time and I still remember that day clear as can be. I had this little purse (Again with the purses) that I use to carry at that time that I took the Parade article from the newspaper and folded it carefully and kept for the longest time in that purse. I still have that newspaper article. I remember being so sad. I also remember thinking I don't really even know this person so why am I so sad. I suppose it had to be because I loved his music so much at the time. Plus I was really into older movies at that time and even the new ones with the singing in them. (not so much anymore). There is a lot that I have read and remember from interviews with him and his family about Elvis. One is his deep torment at having grown up a single child after his identical twin, Jesse Garon, was stillborn. He talked about "survivor guilt" which they actually say is quite common of twins. The surviving twin wonders if they took all the nourishment and kept their other twin from living. Elvis also talked about feeling like Jesse was always with him. Either way it appears, to me, that all his life Elvis Presley was tormented. I recorded and have watched a couple of specials about Elvis's life that were broadcast this past weekend. For the life of me I could not figure out why they are making such a big deal about his upcoming birthday on January 8th. From my account it would have been his 74th. Then I checked and found that Graceland has a special exhibit opening of all days, today, January 6, 2009. (http://www.elvis.com/) OK, so now it makes more sense. Probably some promotional thing to get them more tourist. Or perhaps we can make our own theory that Elvis has finally left the building. I mean it's been rumored for years that he faked his own death. The rumors have gone from everything to he wanted out of the business to he went into the witness protection program after testifying against the mofia. So perhaps he finally kicked the perverbial bucket? They say he had a wax figure put in his coffin. I personally think he actually died on August 16, 1977. The rumors as with anything else are always fun to revel in; however, likely not true. At 74 though the odds are he's gone. Not necessarily, but probably. Either way I loved some of his work. The song "In the Ghetto" is one of my all time favorites, along with "Are You Lonesome Tonight?". Let us also not forget my favorite movie of his, "Blue Hawaii". Either way I doubt anyone will ever forget "The King". He's often used in television to this day. I remember watching bits about him on "The Golden Girls", "Designing Women" and even on my soap I watch "Days of Our Lives". On Days an Elvis fanatic named her son after him, who is of course all grown up and gorgeous now. There is also big money in Vegas for Elvis impersonators. And just in case you wonder why I spelled Elvis's middle name Aron, that is because it is the actual spelling of his name. He had spoken to family about if he ever died he wanted it to have a more biblical spelling on his tomb, so when they buried him they spelled it the way most people do Aaron. Well, if I had blue suede shoe's I'd slip them on, but since I don't I guess I'll just ask how you feel? Do you remember the day Elvis died? Where were you?
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4 comments:
I can remember my mom telling me once, "When Elvis died, that's the day that I knew we all had to. I don't think it had ever set it until then."
For me looking at this and the fact that he was 42 when he died and I was 10 and will be 42 this year kind of gave me a little perspective. I can't imagine having to have lived the life he did though.
I was 21 when he died and I remember thinking he was so old! HAHA--that joke is on me. But I've always loved "Kentucky Rain" and "Burning Love."
ironicly i love return to sender. also a little less conversation and kentucky rain. yea, i used to think of him as being soooo old....whatever he was in the prime of his life. i think we do go threw a mid life crisis weithor we know it or not and i always did wonder if he just got sick of the fame. sick enough just to walk away.
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