Why is Elvis so Popular 30 Years After His Death?

Elvis Aaron Presley was found dead on the floor of his Graceland mansion thirty years ago on August 16, 2007. Why is the world still so fascinated by the man who is still known as "The King" three decades after his death? Elvis would have celebrated his 72 birthday this past January 8 and rumor has it that Elvis is still somewhere in the building. What makes the man still so appealing to so many people? Was it striking good looks, his charisma, or just his raw talent that could make any woman "All Shook Up?" Men wanted to be just like him and women just wanted him. Despite all of the impersonators pretending to be him, there will always be just one Elvis Presley.

On January 8,1935 in Tupelo, Mississippi, twin sons were born to Vernon and Gladys Presley. The twin named Jessie Garon was stillborn and the other they named Elvis Aaron Presley. Elvis would grow up an only child who would galvanize music as we have come to know it and make a place in the world for himself with his own special brand of music. Influenced by his love for black gospel music and what would become rock and roll, the strange combination would create controversy and adoration that would forever change the face of music and the way it was presented around the world. In 1948 Gladys and Vernon moved with their young son to Memphis, Tennessee. Young Elvis was now living in a city where music was born. One year young Elvis had wanted a rifle for his birthday and instead received a guitar. Thereafter Elvis was rarely seen without his guitar slung over his shoulder. Elvis had an all consuming love for his mother, his God and his music.

Elvis began his singing career in 1954 with a contract for Sun Records in Memphis. In late 1955 his contract was sold to RCA Victor Records. By 1956 Elvis Presley was quickly becoming an international sensation. Elvis made his first TV appearance on "The Milton Berle Show". The good looking young crooner sang "Hound Dog" complete with a new kind of hip gyration that would soon scandalize the country. Elvis's next appearance would be on the widely popular "Steve Allen Show." Steve mocked "Uncle Milty" on television by having Elvis appear in a tuxedo, stand quietly and sing to a Basset Hound. Though Ed Sullivan had vocally disapproved of Elvis' type of music and his hip movements he recognized the young man's star potential and in Oct. of 1956 offered him $50,000 to make 3 appearances on his family oriented "The Toast of the Town", soon to be known as "The Ed Sullivan Show." The amount of money that Sullivan paid Elvis was more than anyone else had ever been paid to appear on a nation-wide variety show. The third appearance on Ed Sullivan would only show Elvis from the waist up because of his unique movement. The country as well as the rest of the world was hooked, Elvis Presley was indeed becoming the "King of Rock and Roll." Tragedy would soon strike and in 1957 Elvis Presley received his Draft papers. Elvis was in the Army.

Elvis was stationed in Germany and served his country proudly. The girls loved Elvis with his long black hair but they loved him just as much with his new G.I. haircut. While Elvis was in Germany he met and began to fall in love with a young girl named Priscilla whom he would later marry and share his only child Lisa Marie with. During his stint in the U.S. Army Elvis also became introduced to the power of drugs. It lessened the pain of loneliness as well as physical pain. Despite all of his fame and fortune Elvis couldn't keep tragedy at bay and Gladys Presley, the # 1 woman in the crooner's life, would die at the age of only 46. Elvis was heart-broken. His sorrow just seemed to add to his appeal. The girls continued to swoon and the men copied him. Elvis was now a National Treasure.

Despite his sex appeal and his sometimes brash manner, Elvis was known by all to be a kind, compassionate, deeply religious and emotional person. He was known for his generosity. Elvis was notorious for gifting his friends, family and down-right strangers with new cars, jewelry and sometimes even homes. Though it was not extremely well known Elvis also gave many various charities and causes without fanfare. He was committed to giving yearly at least $1000 to more than 50 local Memphis charities. In 1961 Elvis gave a concert in Hawaii which raised $65,000 toward building the memorial to honor the U.S.S. Arizona at Pearl Harbor. Throughout his life Elvis quietly paid countless hospital bills, bought homes, supported families and paid off debts for family, friends and strangers. He asked nothing in return. He did it because he felt it was the right thing to do.

Elvis was known and remembered for three t.v. Network Specials during his career. "Elvis" was his first special done in 1968. "Elvis-Aloha from Hawaii via Satellite" was shown in 1973 and "Elvis in Concert"followed in 1977. His 1973 concert was seen in 40 countries around the world by 1-1.5 billion people and made TV history. Elvis' concert televised from beautiful Hawaii was watched by more people than had watched "Man's First Walk on the Moon."

In his lifetime career, Elvis had more than 149 songs appearing on "Billboard's Hot 100 Pop Chart." 114 of those songs were in the Top 40. Elvis Presley appeared in 33 hit movies and sold more than 1billion records around the world. Thirty years after his death Elvis is still one of the world's top money makers. He is also the only person to be inducted into the three different Music Halls of Fame, Rock and Roll, Country and Gospel. Elvis's popularity is at an all time high. There are currently more than 625 active Elvis Fan Clubs around the world. More than half of the visitors who go to Graceland, which is where Elvis lived and is buried beside his mother, are under the age of 35. The United States Post Office issued a commemorative stamp in 1992, after a nation-wide public vote between two different picture stamps. One of the stamps showed the young Rock and Roll Elvis and the other a more recent older Elvis. The public spoke and the stamp showed the young "King of Rock and Roll." More than 500 million stamps were issued.

In 1998 "Elvis the Concert" was designated by a "Guinness World Record" as the first live tour headlined by a performer who is no longer living. "Elvis on Tour" will celebrate "Elvis the 30th Anniversary Concert" planned for August 16th, 2007. Film of Elvis is projected on a giant screen while musicians and singers perform with him.

Once from an interview taped by MGM, Elvis was quoted as saying "The first time I appeared on stage it scared me to death. I didn't really know what all the yelling was about. I didn't realize that my body was moving. It's a natural thing to me. So to the manager backstage I said, "What'd I do? What'd I do? To this the manager said, Whatever it is go back and do it again." He really never truly understood what all the fuss was about.

During Elvis' later years he struggled with his weight and an addiction to drugs. His life seemed to spiral out of control. Despite the friends and co-workers that constantly surrounded him, Elvis remained a lonely, haunted man. He was found dead on the floor of his bedroom at Graceland on August 16, 1977. The causes for his death were speculated despite autopsy reports. Some people believe that Elvis simply couldn't take his cloistered life and ran away. The mystery and the legend continue.

Elvis' home in Graceland was designated a National Historical Landmark in 2006.

Sources for this article are as follows: http://www.elvis.com/elvisology/bio/elvis_overview.asp