The King of Rock n Roll, Elvis Presley died on this day, 16th August 1977 at the age of just 42. He was found dead at his Graceland mansion in Memphis, Tennessee and cardiac arrhythmia pronounced as cause of death. A very sad day for his legions of fans worldwide.
I play this in his memory, one of his earliest hits....Hound Dog, from 1956.
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Feel free to reply to any comment by clicking the "Reply" button.I was in a bar called the Rio, a motel bar in Austin where a friend of mine was bartending. Someone came into the bar and announced it. Duffy, the bartender was also a drummer. He gave me my first drum cases. We were both stunned. Neither one of us were big Elvis fans. Duffy was a forty something black man into jazz and soul, and I was a 29 year old into rock,country rock, jazz, and soul, but Elvis was a larger than life character who you felt like would be around forever. Elvis and Kennedy are the only famous people that I remember where I was when they died.
Sticks48
Level 9
Aug 16, 2019
1
I was at home when I heard, nursing my 4 month old baby son....I remembered crying.
@Marionville He definitely had a great voice and charisma. I liked early Elvis. The bad movies and jumpsuits really turned me off. Every once in awhile a video of one of his 70's concerts comes on and I will watch. As with all of those entertainers who died too young, you wonder how their careers would have played out.
@Sticks48 Yes...he was badly advised, even exploited, by his manager Col.Parker. He should never have been contracted to do all these third rate movies.
@Marionville I agree. I really partially blame Parker for his death. Better management would have put him in better movies and protected him from himself. In the right hands there is no telling what he could have done. IMO
I remember where I was. I, along with three of my brothers, were waiting in the car at the bank, listening to the radio, while our mother went inside. When mom came back we all told her Elvis had died. She simply lamented the fact that he was likely in hell.
UPDATE: I just made a trip with my dad (taking him to the doctor) and my mom (who has dementia). My dad brought up the fact that today is the 42nd anniversary of Elvis' death and that he was 42 when he died. My mom, looking at me with a look of shock on her face: "What? Elvis died? Me: "Yes, mom, 42 years ago." Mom: Wow! I didn't know that he died. He was sure young to die." Me: "Yes, mom, he was." I don't like the fact that my mom has dementia; but, at least there was no mention of Elvis likely being in hell.
Joanne
Level 7
Aug 16, 2019
2
I remember hearing someone predict that Elvis would become a religion - he’s already called the king.
Haemish1
Level 8
Aug 16, 2019
1
Indeed he is a deity to some!
This is a day that I will never forget. Not because I was an Elvis fan at the time though.
My sister and I walked into a High's Dairy Store... Very similar to a 7/11 back in the day. There was a big woman with a huge beehive hairdo behind the counter crying like a baby. I went to get the soda I was looking for and went to the counter. She just could not stop crying. I asked her what was wrong. She could barely spit it out.... "The King is dead!... The King is dead!" She just couldn't stop crying. She finally stopped when I asked her, "From what country?" I remember that she stopped crying immediately and looked into my eyes and said, "Elvis honey, he is dead!"
I was 15 then and more into Zeppelin at the time so I said... "Sorry... I'm a Zeppelin fan." My older sister slugged me in the shoulder and we left.
It wasn't until years later that I began to enjoy Elvis a little more.
RiverRick
Level 7
Aug 16, 2019
3
Good story.
I remember that day well. I was in Texas City, Texas on a service call at the home of a black lady. We were on her porch discussing the ailing clothes dryer when her son came out of the house and said "I think y'all better come inside and look at the TV. They just said Elvis Presley was found dead." We went inside and watched TV for the next hour.
DenoPenno
Level 9
Aug 16, 2019
2
A very sad day.
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