Interesting facts from the life of Elvis Presley (35 photos). Interesting facts about Elvis Presley (17 photos)

You may know him as "The Flash in Memphis", "The King of the Hillbillies", "The King of Rock 'n' Roll" or simply The King; Elvis Presley is one of the greatest (if not the greatest) cultural icons of the last seventy years. Forty years after his death he remained the best-selling solo artist of all time - more than 600 million (and according to the record company RCA, more than a billion) of his records were sold worldwide. His manner of moving on stage and magnificent images quickly made Presley a fashion legend and the main sex symbol of the whole world, for whom all women went crazy as soon as he appeared on stage or on television.

His influence on modern music and pop culture was described best by the magazine Rolling Stone: “Elvis made rock and roll the international language of pop,” and John Lennon once said, “There was nothing before Elvis.” But who was Elvis Presley? Who was behind the personality of the singer who was admired and worshiped by billions of people around the world more than religious figures, politicians and presidents? It's time to find out. We present to you 25 amazing facts about Elvis Presley - the King of Rock and Roll.

• 1 Tornado Survivor
• 2 Songs for Mom
• 3 How many in total?
• 4 Striving for beauty
• 5 Old Shep
• 6 Fateful gift
• 7 Presley is a doorman
• 8 Tony Curtis
• 9 One password for everyone
• 10 Fatal prediction
• 11 10 000 tablets
• 12 Eternal Home
• 13 Sheriff Presley

• 14 Elvis and Muhammad Ali
• 15 Thus spoke Zarathustra
• 16 Tonight
• 17 Metabolic disorder
• 18 Rock 'n' Roll Matador
• 19 The King's Favorite Dishes
• 20 Okay, I won't
• 21 Posthumous record
• 22 Meeting with Nixon
• 23 Copycats
• 24 Life after death
• 25 First Rock Star

Tornado Survivor

Tupelo tornado may have killed 1-year-old Elvis Presley

In 1936, one of the largest tornadoes in history occurred in Tupelo, Mississippi, killing more than 216 people. One of the survivors of this terrible tornado was Elvis Presley, who was fifteen months old at the time.

Songs for Mom

Presley dedicated his first recorded songs to his mother.

Presley dedicated his first recording to his mother. The musician paid four dollars for two songs at Sun Studio: the compositions “My Happiness” and “That’s When Your Heartaches Begin” were a gift for his mother.

How much in total?

According to one estimate, the number of Elvis Presley songs reaches more than a thousand

Presley has, according to various estimates, from 600 to 1200 songs - depending on the accounting of unfinished works, alternative versions, bootlegs, etc.

Striving for beauty

Presley aspired to the stage from infancy

At one service, two-year-old Elvis broke away from his mother's arms and joined the choir to sing with them.

Old Shep

At the talent competition, 10-year-old Presley took only fifth place

At the age of ten, Elvis took part in children's show talents with the song “Old Shep”. He took only fifth place at the competition, but everyone who saw his performance had no doubt about the talent of the young singer.

Fateful gift

Elvis's parents gave him a guitar instead of a bicycle - and no one regretted it

One of the gifts from Presley's parents was a guitar. Eleven-year-old Elvis dreamed of a bicycle, but his parents could not afford it and decided to give him a guitar instead.

Presley - doorman

Presley wasn't the most responsible doorman

IN adolescence Elvis worked as an usher at Loew's State Theater in Memphis. Presley was fired because he took candy from a girl, which was reported by his colleague.

Tony Curtis

Elvis owes his black hair to his love for Tony Curtis

Presley's idol was Tony Curtis, who had shiny black hair. When Elvis first decided to paint himself, he used shoe polish. The singer also dyed his eyelashes - which caused him allergies and other ailments.

One password for everyone

The most popular password in the US in the 90s was the name Elvis.

An online survey in the late nineties found that "Elvis" was one of the most popular passwords among users in the United States.

Fatal prediction

Presley seemed to have foreseen the year of his death

Elvis always told his friends and family that he would die at forty-something, like his mother. Ironically, on August 16, 1977, the day of his death, Presley was forty-two years old.

10,000 tablets

Perhaps the pills did not affect the singer’s condition for the better

In the year of Presley's death (1977), the singer had 199 various recipes from doctors, which totaled ten thousand tablets.

Eternal Home

Presley was buried with his family at Graceland

Presley, his parents, grandmother and his golden palomino horse named Rising Sun ( Rising sun) are buried together at Graceland.

Sheriff Presley

Not a single violator was in a hurry to hide from such a policeman.

In the early seventies, Presley pretended to be a police officer, driving around the city with a flashing light, high beams, a baton and a pistol, and stopped people on the road, writing them his autographs instead of fines.

Elvis and Muhammad Ali

Muhammad Ali often referred to Elvis as his best friend

When Elvis met boxing icon Muhammad Ali, he gave him a robe embroidered with “Champion of All Men.” In response, Ali gave Presley a pair boxing gloves with the inscription "You are the greatest."

Thus spoke Zarathustra

One of my favorites musical works Presley wrote Strauss's poem "Thus Spake Zarathustra"

In the seventies, Presley began every concert with "Thus Spoke Zarathustra" symphonic poem Richard Strauss and main topic the film “2001: A Space Odyssey” - the musician liked its rhythm and dynamics.

Tonight

Presley was a fan of the show until it featured offensive joke to him

Elvis was a big fan of the Tonight Show until Johnny Carson joked about Presley being "forty and fat."

Metabolic disorder

Presley's notorious obesity was the result of a metabolic disorder.

In his youth, Elvis could lose a few pounds for concert tour. As he grew older, his metabolism slowed and he was rumored to weigh more than a hundred kilograms.

Rock 'n' Roll Matador

While serving in Germany, Elvis became addicted to German cigars.

While serving in the army, the Germans gave Presley the nickname “rock and roll matador.” Also in Germany, the singer developed a passion for thin German cigars.

The King's Favorite Dishes

Presley loved meat and hated fish

Elvis' favorite foods included biscuits and gravy, cheese and potato soup, meatloaf with mushroom gravy, and beef steak with tomato. The musician hated fish - so much so that he did not allow his wife Priscilla to eat it at home in Graceland.

Okay, I won't

The singer’s last words were the phrase “Okay, I won’t”

The singer’s last words, according to his then-girlfriend Ginger Alden, were “Okay, I won’t” - he assured her that he would not fall asleep in the bathroom reading a book.

Posthumous record

Presley managed to set a record sales record even after his death

In August 1992, the Recording Industry Association of America awarded Elvis 110 gold, platinum and multi-platinum albums and singles, an all-time record. Forty years after his death, Presley had 106 gold, 63 platinum and 27 multi-platinum albums—a feat never achieved by any artist or group.

Meeting with Nixon

At a meeting with President Nixon in 1970, where one of the most legendary photographs of the twentieth century was taken, the President told the King of Rock and Roll: “You dress a little strange, don’t you?” Presley smiled and answered him in his own style: “Well, Mr. President, you have your own show, I have mine.” This meeting remained secret until the Washington Post revealed it a year later.

Copycats

Every year Elvis has more and more clones

At the time of his death in 1977, Presley had about 170 imitators. Today there are more than 250,000 of them around the world.

Life after death

After his death, "Elvis" was seen in the supermarket and Burger King

The first appearance of "Elvis" after his death took place in Kalamazoo, Michigan - a mother of five children told Weekly World News that she saw Presley at a grocery store and Burger King.

The first rock star

It's not for nothing that Presley is called the first rock star.

And that’s why some fans call Elvis the first real rock star: periodically he left autographs on the bodies of his fans - the singer wrote “Elvis” on his left breast and “Presley” on his right.

Elvis Presley is one of the legendary icons of the twentieth century, whom you cannot be indifferent to, no matter how old you are. We hope that these facts from the life of the “King of Rock and Roll” will inspire you to become more familiar with his incredible music.

You may know him as "The Flash in Memphis", "The King of the Hillbillies", "The King of Rock 'n' Roll" or simply The King; Elvis Presley is one of the greatest (if not the greatest) cultural icons of the last seventy years. Forty years after his death, he remained the best-selling solo artist of all time, with more than 600 million (and more than a billion, according to record company RCA) sales of his records worldwide. His manner of moving on stage and magnificent images quickly made Presley a fashion legend and the main sex symbol of the whole world, for whom all women went crazy as soon as he appeared on stage or on television.

His influence on modern music and pop culture was best described by Rolling Stone magazine: “Elvis made rock and roll the international language of pop,” and John Lennon once said, “There was nothing before Elvis.” But who was Elvis Presley? Who was behind the personality of the singer who was admired and worshiped by billions of people around the world more than religious figures, politicians and presidents? It's time to find out. We present to you 25 amazing facts about Elvis Presley - the King of Rock and Roll.

Tornado Survivor

Tupelo tornado may have killed 1-year-old Elvis Presley

In 1936, one of the largest tornadoes in history occurred in Tupelo, Mississippi, killing more than 216 people. One of the survivors of this terrible tornado was Elvis Presley, who was fifteen months old at the time.

Songs for Mom

Presley dedicated his first recorded songs to his mother.

Presley dedicated his first recording to his mother. The musician paid four dollars for two songs at Sun Studio: the compositions “My Happiness” and “That’s When Your Heartaches Begin” were a gift for his mother.

How much in total?

According to one estimate, the number of Elvis Presley songs reaches more than a thousand

Presley has, according to various estimates, from 600 to 1200 songs - depending on the accounting of unfinished works, alternative versions, bootlegs, etc.

Striving for beauty

Presley aspired to the stage from infancy

At one service, two-year-old Elvis broke away from his mother's arms and joined the choir to sing with them.

Old Shep

At the talent competition, 10-year-old Presley took only fifth place

At the age of ten, Elvis took part in a children's talent show with the song "Old Shep." He took only fifth place at the competition, but everyone who saw his performance had no doubt about the talent of the young singer.

Fateful gift

Elvis's parents gave him a guitar instead of a bicycle - and no one regretted it

One of the gifts from Presley's parents was a guitar. Eleven-year-old Elvis dreamed of a bicycle, but his parents could not afford it and decided to give him a guitar instead.

Presley - doorman

Presley wasn't the most responsible doorman

As a teenager, Elvis worked as an usher at Loew's State Theater in Memphis. Presley was fired because he took candy from a girl, which was reported by his colleague.

Tony Curtis

Elvis owes his black hair to his love for Tony Curtis

Presley's idol was Tony Curtis, who had shiny black hair. When Elvis first decided to paint himself, he used shoe polish. The singer also dyed his eyelashes - which caused him allergies and other ailments.

One password for everyone

The most popular password in the US in the 90s was the name Elvis.

An online survey in the late nineties found that "Elvis" was one of the most popular passwords among users in the United States.

Fatal prediction

Presley seemed to have foreseen the year of his death

Elvis always told his friends and family that he would die at forty-something, like his mother. Ironically, on August 16, 1977, the day of his death, Presley was forty-two years old.

10,000 tablets

Perhaps the pills did not affect the singer’s condition for the better

In the year of Presley's death (1977), the singer had 199 different prescriptions from doctors, which totaled ten thousand pills.

Eternal Home

Presley was buried with his family at Graceland

Presley, his parents, his grandmother and his golden palomino horse, Rising Sun, are buried together at Graceland.

Sheriff Presley

Not a single violator was in a hurry to hide from such a policeman.

In the early seventies, Presley pretended to be a police officer, driving around the city with a flashing light, high beams, a baton and a pistol, and stopped people on the road, writing them his autographs instead of fines.

Elvis and Muhammad Ali

Muhammad Ali often referred to Elvis as his best friend

When Elvis met boxing icon Muhammad Ali, he gave him a robe embroidered with “Champion of All Men.” In response, Ali gave Presley a pair of boxing gloves with the inscription “You are the greatest.”

Thus spoke Zarathustra

One of Presley's favorite pieces of music was Strauss's poem "Thus Spoke Zarathustra"

In the seventies, Presley began each concert with “Thus Spake Zarathustra,” a symphonic poem by Richard Strauss and the main theme of the film “2001: A Space Odyssey” - the musician liked its rhythm and dynamics.

Tonight

Presley was a fan of the show until it made an offensive joke about him

Elvis was a big fan of the Tonight Show until Johnny Carson joked about Presley being "forty and fat."

Metabolic disorder

Presley's notorious obesity was the result of a metabolic disorder.

In his youth, Elvis could shed a few pounds on a concert tour. As he grew older, his metabolism slowed and he was rumored to weigh more than a hundred kilograms.

Rock 'n' Roll Matador

While serving in Germany, Elvis became addicted to German cigars.

While serving in the army, the Germans gave Presley the nickname “rock and roll matador.” Also in Germany, the singer developed a passion for thin German cigars.

The King's Favorite Dishes

Presley loved meat and hated fish

Elvis' favorite foods included biscuits and gravy, cheese and potato soup, meatloaf with mushroom gravy, and beef steak with tomato. The musician hated fish - so much so that he did not allow his wife Priscilla to eat it at home in Graceland.

Okay, I won't

The singer’s last words were the phrase “Okay, I won’t”

The singer’s last words, according to his then-girlfriend Ginger Alden, were “Okay, I won’t” - he assured her that he would not fall asleep in the bathroom reading a book.

Posthumous record

Presley managed to set a record sales record even after his death

In August 1992, the Recording Industry Association of America awarded Elvis 110 gold, platinum and multi-platinum albums and singles, an all-time record. Forty years after his death, Presley had 106 gold, 63 platinum and 27 multi-platinum albums—a feat never achieved by any artist or group.

Meeting with Nixon

At a meeting with President Nixon in 1970, where one of the most legendary photographs of the twentieth century was taken, the President told the King of Rock and Roll: “You dress a little strange, don’t you?” Presley smiled and answered him in his own style: “Well, Mr. President, you have your own show, I have mine.” This meeting remained secret until the Washington Post revealed it a year later.

Copycats

Every year Elvis has more and more clones

At the time of his death in 1977, Presley had about 170 imitators. Today there are more than 250,000 of them around the world.

Life after death

After his death, "Elvis" was seen in the supermarket and Burger King

The first appearance of "Elvis" after his death took place in Kalamazoo, Michigan - a mother of five children told Weekly World News that she saw Presley at a grocery store and Burger King.

The first rock star

It's not for nothing that Presley is called the first rock star.

And that’s why some fans call Elvis the first real rock star: periodically he left autographs on the bodies of his fans - the singer wrote “Elvis” on his left breast and “Presley” on his right.

Elvis Presley is one of the legendary icons of the twentieth century, whom you cannot be indifferent to, no matter how old you are. We hope that these facts from the life of the “King of Rock and Roll” will inspire you to become more familiar with his incredible music.

10 Facts About Elvis's Youth Elvis Presley was born on January 8, 1935 in Tupelo, Mississippi into a poor family. Presley had a twin brother, but he died during childbirth. The full name of the “king of rock and roll” is Elvis Aron Presley, but the musician liked the biblical pronunciation of the name more - Aaron. He even planned to officially change his name. Elvis Presley was naturally blond. It was only repainted black in 1957. In addition, in the 50s he dyed his hair red. Elvis attended church since childhood and sang in the church choir. Elvis's uncle gave him his first guitar for his birthday. Shortly before this, the future “king” received a prize at the fair for performing folk song Old Shep. After school, Elvis Presley first worked as a garbage man, then as a driver - for $45 a week. At the age of 18, Elvis decided to give his mother a record of his recordings for her birthday. For $4, he recorded the songs My Happiness and That's When Your Heartaches Begin. The sound engineer showed the recording to the owner of Sun records, Sam Phillips. Before that, Phillips had told his friends more than once: “If I could find a white man who could sing like a black man, I would made a million." When he saw Presley perform, he realized: this is the one he was looking for. 10 Facts About Elvis' Early Career Elvis Presley's first release on Sun Records was a slightly sped-up version of Arthur Crudup's rhythm and blues That's All Right, Mama in 1954. Two years after this recording, Presley was lured away by the RCA label, paying Sun Records a then-unheard of compensation - $35 thousand. Supervised by the musician “Colonel” Tom Parker, who by that time was the manager of seven country artists. In January 1956, 21-year-old Elvis Presley began recording his first single for RCA - Heartbreak Hotel. It soared to the top of the American charts and stayed there for eight years. weeks and became Elvis's first million-selling album. In total, Presley received six gold discs in 1956, and the songs I Want You, I Need You, I Love You, the rock and rolls Don't Be Cruel and Hound Dog and the ballad Love. Me Tender was climbing to the top of the charts. Elvis's first album remained at the top of the album list for ten weeks. In October 1956, Presley made his film premiere in the Hal Wallis western Love Me Tender. Over the next year and a half, the musician starred in three more films. In just 15 years - from 1956 to 1969 - he starred in 33 films. Tom Parker, who received 50% of all Elvis's royalties, demanded not less than a million for the film with the participation. Because of this, for example, the singer did not get a role in West Side Story. 10 facts about Elvis' military service On March 24, 1958, 23-year-old Elvis Presley was drafted into the US Army. The news sparked protests in the country, with young people demanding that the service for the singer be cancelled. Accompanied by an escort of flashbulbs, Presley departed for Fort Hood. There, at demonstration performances by jiu-jitsu masters, the singer became interested in martial arts. In late 1958, Presley was sent to West Germany, where he trained in Setokai style karate. After returning to Memphis, he switched to American Kenpo karate. Then Presley became one of 100-150 Americans who hold a black belt. He even taught martial art his bodyguards, the West brothers, who later opened a school where Chuck Norris also visited. The "King of Rock and Roll" served in a tank division. Presley served in the army for two years. In the wake of his demobilization, Presley released a disc called “Elvis Is Back.” 10 Facts About Elvis' Return The albums released after the army were mostly soundtracks to films with Elvis Presley. Presley's position was also greatly ousted by the emergence of the Fab Four, although the Beatles themselves always recognized his importance and influence. In 1968, Elvis Presley once again ascended to the top of the world musical Olympus, began giving concerts in Las Vegas. In February 1970, the singer appeared in a dazzling white jumpsuit created by his personal designer. Then, for each season or concert, Presley had many costumes prepared various colors and styles, often decorated with rhinestones and embroidered with gold. It is this image of Elvis Presley that is still the most recognizable. Another detail of the image of the “king of rock and roll” is dark glasses. Elvis had to wear them because of glaucoma in his left eye, which doctors discovered in 1970. Towards the end of his career, Presley developed a persecution mania: when going on stage, he always pulled on another bulletproof vest under his luxurious white vest. Since 1971, all Elvis Presley concerts have opened with Richard Strauss's overture to the musical poem Thus Spoke Zarathustra. The concerts ended with a performance of the song “Can’t Help Falling In Love” from the movie “Blue Hawaii.” Having finished the composition to the end, the “king” left the stage to the beat of drums. After a while, the entertainer announced: “Elvis has just left the building.” Presley recorded his last disc in 1976, after which he only performed in concerts. 10 facts about Elvis's "kingdom" Elvis Presley is called "The King of Rock and Roll" or simply "The King", often simply by his name - Elvis. The title “King of Rock and Roll” was awarded to Elvis Presley by the American magazine Variety back in October 1956. Presley is in third place among greatest musicians of all times and peoples according to Rolling Stone magazine. The most prestigious music award America's Grammy was awarded to the singer three times - for music with religious content. Elvis delivered music record, which no one has beaten yet. 149 of the “king’s” songs were included in the “hot hundred” of the Billboard charts. 18 of them took first place. More than a billion Elvis Presley records have been sold worldwide. In total, the artist has more than 300 million lifetime musical recordings. From 1969 to 1977, Presley gave about 1,100 concerts in the United States. Presley's concerts often turned into fan riots. Elvis first encountered “girlish passions” in Florida. Several girls jumped up on stage in ecstasy and tore his jacket to shreds while Elvis rescued the guitar. One girl managed to pull off his shoe, while another tore his trouser leg with her teeth. Elvis Presley met with top US officials more than once. In February 1966, President Lyndon Johnson visited "the king" during the filming of the film Spinout. In 1970, Elvis met with Richard Nixon at the White House. Presley also spoke on the phone with President Jimmy Carter. 10 facts about Elvis "in life" Ellis Presley was actively involved in charity work and loved to give gifts. The “King” bought his friends houses and paid for their weddings. Once he purchased 14 limousines at once and gave one of them to an unfamiliar visitor to a car dealership. At one of the concerts, Elvis gave a ring worth $7 thousand to his fan. Even as a child, Presley promised his mother to buy a Cadillac. In 1955, he gave her a pink Cadillac Fleetwood 60 Special. Since the musician’s mother did not know how to drive, he drove this car himself. In 1958, Elvis Presley met his future wife Priscilla Boillier, daughter of an Air Force captain. She was 14 years old at the time. He got married in 1967 and was married for five years. As a result of his only marriage, a daughter, Lisa Marie, was born. Singer Lisa Marie Presley's husbands included the King of Pop Michael Jackson and actor Nicolas Cage. Elvis Presley was an honorary FBI narcotics officer. 10 facts about the death of the “king” Presley passed away at 2 pm on August 16, 1977. The “King of Rock and Roll” was only 42 years old. Another girlfriend found Elvis Presley on the bathroom floor of his Graceland estate in Memphis. Toxicologists found 14 different drugs in the musician’s blood. Later, the musician’s personal doctor admitted in court that for three last year prescribed 19 thousand doses of sleeping pills, sedatives and stimulants to the “king of rock and roll”. Presley became dependent on these drugs in the early 70s. Elvis also took hormonal drugs against obesity. He couldn't shake his passion for food. By the end of his life, the singer weighed over 200 kg, had difficulty moving, slept on a specially reinforced bed and almost never left the house. But the disease did not affect Elvis's voice. It is believed that the cause of death was an overdose of medications - they led to cardiac arrest. Millions of people watched Presley's funeral. Following the hearse with the coffin in the funeral column were not only friends and relatives, but also dozens of “orphaned” Cadillacs, Elvis’s favorite cars. 10 facts about Elvis's life after death Many fans of the artist’s work did not believe in his death then. A third of Americans still doubt it. According to popular legend, the singer's death was staged; in fact, he died much later. According to one version, instead of the “king”, a wax copy of him was buried in a refrigerator. The cooling device is supposedly necessary to keep the wax Elvis in good condition. People present at the funeral claimed that Elvis only had one sideburn, which supposedly could not disappear from the real body, but could come off the mannequin. On the tombstone of the "King of Rock and Roll" his middle name is carved as Aaron, not Aron. Fans consider this further proof that Elvis is, in fact, alive. From time to time, evidence appears that Elvis was seen in one or another corner of the planet. A month after Elvis was buried, someone broke into his coffin to make sure the “King of Rock and Roll” was dead. Not long ago, a psychiatrist from Kansas said that one of his patients was the legendary Elvis Presley. According to a psychiatrist, Elvis Presley is already 67 years old, he has turned gray, suffers from arthritis, but continues to sing. All this time, Presley was allegedly in the hospital under the name of his twin brother Jesse, who died at birth. 10 Facts About Elvis's Inheritance Graceland - Elvis Presley's estate in Memphis - is the second most visited place in the United States after the White House. About 600 thousand people come here every year, ready to pay $22 for a tour of the first floor of the mansion and sightseeing. In Graceland there is the Presley family cemetery, where the “king” himself is buried. Other attractions include two jet aircraft, hotel " Broken Heart", a restaurant serving Elvis's favorite dishes, a museum of Cadillacs of different colors. Elvis Presley was so popular that many people named their children after him. Some Elvises even managed to become famous. Thus, Elvis Stojko became a three-time winner of the World Championship figure skating. British singer and composer Elvis Costello took Elvis's name as the first part of his pseudonym, in fact his name is Dicklan Patrick McManus. Still exists huge amount imitators of the “King of Rock and Roll”, Elvis look-alike competitions are held annually. Anything related to Elvis Presley is in great demand among fans and collectors. In 2008 leather jacket Elvis was sold for $35 thousand at Christie's. In 2009, a lock of the "king's" hair, cut in 1958, was auctioned by Leslie Hindman for $15 thousand. Presley's current popularity varies from country to country, but, let's say, in the UK he has 18 hits that took first place in the charts - more than the Beatles. Elvis Presley is the richest dead man of our time. According to Forbes, he earned $52 million in 2008. The living Madonna earned during the same period. $12 million less. Wealth increases due to royalties from sales. music albums, licensing deals and income from tourists visiting Graceland, his estate in Tennessee in the USA.

Elvis Presley's Rules of Life
Girls are not a hobby. Rather, it's entertainment.
Almost any audience prefers fast songs.
When I started singing, I weighed 153 pounds. And now I’m already 184. I haven’t gotten taller, I’m just getting a little fatter.
I love pork chops and country ham mashed potatoes and so on. And I eat a lot of jelly. Especially fruity ones.
I've never tried alcohol.
When going out in public, I like to dress traditionally, not too flashy. But on stage everything has to be bright - so that it couldn’t be brighter.
Now my mother comes to town and buys everything she wants. This makes me terribly happy.
All my life I lived very well. We never had much money or anything, but you know, we never went hungry. We should thank fate for this.
Except on stage, I don't physical exercise I don't. If it weren't for this, I would have a decent tummy, despite the fact that I eat so much.
I got into unpleasant story only once in my life - in childhood, when I stole eggs. I think I can distinguish bad from good.
What I like about fame is that you have so many friends.
I came to the Sun Records studio, there was some guy sitting there - he wrote down my name and said maybe he’ll call me someday. A year and a half later, he actually called, I came and recorded my first song, “That’s All Right, Mama.”
Some are tapping their feet, some are snapping their fingers, and some are swaying back and forth. I just went ahead and started doing it all at once.
I look at my viewers and feel that we are getting rid of something bad together. None of us knows why. It is important that we get rid of it without harming anyone.
The first car I bought was the most beautiful car of my life. It was used, but I parked it in front of my hotel the same day I bought it. And I didn’t sleep the whole night - I just looked at her, that’s all.
If you want to draw a crowd, you have to put on a show for the people. If you just stand there and sing and don't even lift a finger, then people will say, what nonsense, I could stay home and listen to his records. You have to give them a show.
If they ask me for an autograph, I definitely give it.
I don’t argue with those who like golf and tennis, but I myself love tough sports: boxing, football, karate and so on. Playing football is my deepest dream.
I don't read books that others read. I read a lot of philosophy and sometimes poetry. I'm interested in such things.
If you push me, I can really boil.
As you get older, you start to look at everything a little differently.
It is important to try to have people around who can give you a little happiness - after all, you only live once, my friend.

On August 16, 1977, the king of rock and roll, Elvis Aaron Presley, passed away. On the occasion ELLE chose amazing facts life and work of the legendary singer.

Elvis had a twin brother who died at birth.

Elvis was a natural blond.

He was a direct descendant of Abraham Lincoln.

At the end of his life he weighed 117 kg.

Presley was the first to popularize karate in America. Ironically, the artist’s wife Priscilla Presley left him for a karate trainer.

Elvis suffered several plastic surgery- rhinoplasty and two full face lifts.

Elvis didn't know the music.

During his lifetime he earned 4.5 billion.

Sold 1.8 billion discs - more than any other artist in the world.

Elvis's income dropped from $400,000 to $78 a month after he was drafted into the Army on December 19, 1957.

People who were part of the King's inner circle wore gold rings and rings with diamonds. The jewelry was “given” to Presley himself as an identification mark.

Presley did not keep track of his fleet and never knew how many cars he owned. The King's last limousine, a Cadillac Eldorado, came complete with gold hubcaps, a TV and a bar.

All Elvis's concert jumpsuits had names - “Peacock”, “Flame”, Gypsy”, “Mad Tiger”.

Elvis's favorite movie was Rebel Without a Cause with James Dean. leading role. According to relatives, the musician knew all the lines of the film by heart.

Presley loved weapons, his “warehouse” consisted of 37 guns; at concerts in 1970, he even went on stage with two revolvers.

Elvis wore both a cross and a Star of David around his neck.“I don’t want to miss paradise because of empty formalities,” he said.

In total, the artist recorded 600 songs, all of which were composed by third-party authors.

Elvis's favorite foods are pork chop and apple pie.

Presley's first hit, Heartbreak Hotel, released in 1956, was inspired by a newspaper article about suicide.

He gave only five concerts outside the United States.

The surname "Presley" is a modification of "Pressler". His ancestor Johann Pressler came to North America from Germany in 1710. Elvis's ancestors also include Scots, Jews, Dutch and Cherokee Indians.

I wanted to play Vito Corleono in " Godfather", but was not even invited to audition.

In 1973, it was the largest US taxpayer.

The first riots at Presley's concerts occurred in Jacksonville, Florida, after Elvis, having finished singing, said: “Now, girls, I'm waiting for you backstage.”

Actor Nicolas Cage, married to Elvis's daughter Lisa Marie, was the only one, apart from relatives, who visited the King's bedroom at the Graceland estate.