Interview with Vernon Presley by Nancy Anderson : Good Housekeeping, January 1978.
My love for my son began even before he was born on January 8, 1935. At that time there was almost nobody poorer than my wife Gladys and me. But we were thrilled and excited when we learned that we were going to be parents. I was only 18 years old, but throughout Gladys’ pregnancy it never occurred to me that I wouldn’t be able to take care of her and the baby. Elvis’ birth was long and difficult for my wife, and as her labor pains went on and on, I grew frantic.
My parents were at our house with us, along with two, women, one a midwife, who told us when it was time to call the doctor. After what seemed to me an eternity, a baby boy was born – – dead. I was desolate at the loss of our child. But then my father put his hand on I my wife’s stomach and announced, ‘Vernon, there’s another baby here?’ At the time Elvis was born, medicine hadn’t advanced far enough for a doctor to predict twins, so his arrival took us completely by surprise. Our little boys looked something alike, but I don’t think they were identical twins. Even though the elder one was dead, we named him Jesse for my father; the younger one we called Elvis, for me, since Elvis is my middle name. We chose the middle names of Garon for Jesse and Aron for Elvis because we knew a couple whose twin sons had those names.
Of course, Elvis and I both wondered, over the years, whether his life would have been drastically different had his brother lived. I’ve concluded that it wouldn’t have been, because I believe Elvis’ career and contribution to the world were fated from the first. For during his early life, certain things happened which convinced me that God had given my wife and me a very special child for whom He had some very special plans.
Gladys and I were so proud of Elvis and enjoyed him so much that we immediately wanted more children. But, for reasons no doctor could understand, we had none. While Elvis grew from infant to toddler to lively little boy, we consulted doctors about our failure to have another child. We prayed about it, too. There was no medical reason why my wife didn’t conceive again, but she didn’t.
https://www.elvis.com.au/presley/interv ... 1978.shtml
Tupelo, Mississippi
1935-1948
1935-1940
306 Old Satillo Road, Elvis’ birthplace, is now 306 Elvis Presley Drive.
Born on this day, Elvis Aaron Presley, the King of rock ‘n’ roll. He had his first No.1 in 1956 with the US No.1 & UK No.2 single ‘Heartbreak Hotel’. His first UK No.1 single was in 1957, with ‘All Shook Up’. Presley went on to have over 100 US & UK Top 40 singles from 1956 – 2006. Presley is one of the most celebrated and influential musicians of the 20th century, with estimated record sales of over a billion million units worldwide.
306 Old Saltillo Road, East Tupelo, Mississippi: the house that Vernon had built with the help of his father and brother, Gladys, attended by Dr. William R. Hunt, gave birth to twin boys. The first, Jesse Garon, was delivered stillborn at 4.00 a.m. and would be buried the nest day in an unmarked grave in the Priceville Cemetery, near Tupelo. The second, named Elvis Aron Presley, was born at 4.35 a.m.
Whether Vernon’s Father – Jessie D or JD Presley was there varies by family telling, the darkest version being that JD was so drunk that he was cooing and cuddling the stillborn until Vernon stopped him.
1938
Vernon Presley ( May 25 1938 to February 6 1939)
1940-41
Reese Street, where the Presleys stayed with Vester and Clettes Presley and their daughter Patsy,
1942
Kelly Street, a rented, small apartment.
August 8, 1945 to July 18, 1946
Berry Street -“Doll” Smith lived here with the Presleys and then Minnie Mae Presley moved in.
January 08, 1946
On his 11th birthday Elvis got a guitar from his parents instead of the bicycle he wanted.
The plain brown, acoustic model cost $12.95 from the Tupelo Hardware Store.
1946
Commerce Street, a rental
510 1/2 Maple Street, South Tupelo -the Presleys lived with Glady’s cousin Frank Richards and his wife, Leona.
1947
David Bowie is born in Brixton, South London, England.
Mulbery Alley
Memphis, Tennessee
1948-1953
Sept. 12, 1948-Sept. 20, 1949
572 Poplar Avenue
January 08, 1949
Vernon gave Elvis a paperback book of cartoons by George Price with the inscription: “May your birthday be sprinkled through ‘n through with joy and love and good times too, Daddy”.
Elvis brought this book with him to Germany, but it was left behind in his rented house at 14 Goethestrasse.
Sept 2o 1949 to January 7, 1950
185 Winchester Street, a two- bedroom apartment (number 328)
January 7, 1950 to April 1953
398 Cypress Street
September 21, 1953 to March 19, 1954
Elvis worked at Precision Tool company, operating a drill press for $1.55 a hour.
The Presleys lived at 2414 Lamar Avenue, rented end of 1954 to mid-1955
The Sun Records Rockabilly Era
1955
Mike Reno (Joseph Michael Rynoski), lead singer of Loverboy, was born in New Westminster, British Columbia, Canada.
Sun Records releases Elvis Presley’s “Milkcow Blues Boogie/You’re a Heartbreaker”
The song was released in January 8, 1955 with “You’re a Heartbreaker” as the A-side, but would not be released on LP until 1959, when it was included on the RCA LP A Date with Elvis. The tune was also released as a 45 rpm single, along with “You’re a Heartbreaker” on RCA Victor records (47-6382).
Both singles would flop miserably and add to Sun Records’ already sizeable financial troubles. Elvis would attempt “When it Rains it pours” at Sun, and would do a studio version at RCA.
Elvis performed at the Louisiana Hayride, Municipal Auditorium, Shreveport. Elvis was introduced as the “Memphis Flash” and described to the radio audience by announcer Frank Page as wearing crocodile-skin shoes with pink socks. He performed That’s All Right, Hearts Of Stone, Blue Moon Of Kentucky and Fool Fool Fool.
The RCA Victor Atomic Powered Singer
1956
After appearing on the Hayride the night before, Elvis flew home to Memphis – with Red West – on his birthday. He was asleep that morning when Colonel Parker called to wish him a happy 21st. Just two days later Elvis would record “Heartbreak Hotel” in New York City.
The Presleys lived at Audobon Drive May 11 1956 to March 1957.
1957
In theatres: Love Me Tender. On the Top 100: “Love Me Tender” at #3.
After appearing for the third and last time on The Ed Sullivan Show on the 6th, Elvis spent his birthday at home in Memphis with his parents.
Elvis celebrated his birthday at home with his parents. While he was home Elvis stopped by to see Dixie Locke, who was recently married.
On the same day the Memphis Draft Board announced that Elvis has been classified 1A for the draft.
The Presleys lived at Audobon Drive May 11 1956 to March 1957.
1958
Elvis was photographed on the stairs inside Graceland, with a March of Dimes poster girl. She was waiting for more than 2 hours before the picture was taken.
The Eight-year-old Mary Kosloski, who was the national March of Dimes poster child in 1955, seemed to forgive all when Elvis appeared and told her: ‘If you were 10 years older, honey, I wouldn’t let you go’.
The pair were photographed with teddy bears and pandas Elvis was sending to the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis for auction during an upcoming fund drive.
Mary Kosloski at Graceland as an adult:
Later in the day, a birthday party was held for Elvis, who was scheduled to leave two days later for Hollywood to start work on King Creole.
In theatres: Jailhouse Rock. On the Top 100: “Jailhouse Rock” at #3.
The Military Service Disruption
1959
Elvis celebrated his birthday in the army at the Hotel Grunewald in Bad Nauheim, Germany.
On the Hot 100: “One Night” at #5 and “I Got Stung” at #14.
1960
Elvis was interviewed by Dick Clark on this birthday for American Bandstand. Elvis spoke about his upcoming recording session, his appearance on the Frank Sinatra television show and his new Paramount picture, titled G.I. Blues.
Later in the evening Elvis celebrated at a local recreation center with about 200 guests, including Priscilla. Joe Esposito and the group gave Elvis a trophy with the inscription: ” Elvis Presley. Most Valuable Player. Bad Nauheim Sunday Afternoon Football Association, 1959.”
The Hollywood Decade/The Elvis Establishment
1961
In theatres: Flaming Star. On the Hot 100: “Are You Lonesome Tonight?” at #1. It would be the only time during his career that Elvis had a record at the top of the Billboardpop chart on his birthday.
With Elvis’s birthday falling on a Sunday, a party in his honor took place on the set of Wild in the Country on Friday, January 6. The cast and crew gave Elvis a plaque reading, “Happy Birthday, King Karate.”
1962
Elvis celebrated his 27th birthday at the Sahara in Las Vegas.
https://www.elvispresleymusic.com.au/pi ... ary-8.html
1963: Elvis’s 28th Birthday
Elvis spent his birthday with Priscilla, who had flown in from Germany for a Christmas visit at Graceland. She would head back to Germany three days later, after Elvis failed to convince her parents to extend her visit.
In theatres: Girls! Girls! Girls! On the Hot 100: “Return to Sender” at #8.
1964
Elvis celebrated his 29th birthday quietly at home.
Elvis spent the last birthday in his twenties at Graceland. Four days later he traveled to Nashville for a recording session that produced “Ask Me,” “Memphis,” and “It Hurts Me.”
In theatres: Fun in Acapulco.
1965
Elvis celebrated his 30th birthday quietly at home, thought some newspapers printed the news of his 30th birthday like it was the end of an era.
In theatres: Roustabout.
1966
Elvis In theatres: Harum Scarum. On the Hot 100: “Puppet on a String” at #21.
Elvis received a telegram from RCA, declaring: “Your understanding and cooperation made 1965 the biggest of all the ten years you have been with us”, what seemed more a statement of hope than of history.
Elvis celebrated his 31st birthday by attending It’s A Mad Mad Mad Mad World at the Memphian. He would continue to watch films almost every night while he was at home.
1967
Gordon Stoker of the Jordanaires visited Elvis on his birthday at Graceland. Elvis was in the midst of a horse-buying spree.
Five days before his birthday, he purchased three horses, including a registered palomino and a Tennessee walker. The day after his birthday he bought three more—a black gelding, a buckskin mare, and a sorrel. The Graceland barn was being remodeled to house all the horses.
In theatres:Spinout.
1968
Elvis celebrated his birthday for the first time as a married man. He and Priscilla spent the evening at the Memphian theatre.
Four days later Colonel Parker reached an agreement with NBC for a TV special to be aired at year’s end.
In theatres: Clambake.
1969
Elvis spent his birthday, his first as a father, with his family at Graceland.
On the Hot 100: “If I Can Dream” at #26.
1970
Elvis and his family were in Los Angeles as Elvis prepared for his February Las Vegas engagement at the International Hotel. Two days later Elvis began rehearsals at RCA’s studio on Sunset Boulevard.
In theatres: Change of Habit. On the Hot 100: “Don’t Cry Daddy” at #15.
1971
Elvis had a police radio installed in his Mercedes and he bought an array of police equipment, including revolving blue lights, shoulder holsters, chemical weapons and handcuffs. Over the next few days he would purchase a number of Smith & Wesson pistols as well as additional police equipment.
In theatres: Elvis: That’s the Way It Is. On the Hot 100: “There Goes My Everything” at #35.
`1972
Priscilla was in Los Angles, having told Elvis 10 days earlier that she was leaving him.
Elvis flew girlfriend Joyce Bova into Memphis to spend his birthday with him at Graceland.
1973
On the Hot 100: “Separate Ways” at #28.
Elvis Presley sued Priscilla Presley for a divorce. Elvis was in Los Angeles prior to flying to Honolulu the next day.
Elvis had lost 25 pounds on a crash diet in preparation for his upcoming “Aloha From Hawaii” TV special concert on January 13.
1974
Elvis’s 39th Birthday
The two mayors of Memphis, city and county, declare Elvis’ thirty-ninth birthday to be Elvis Presley Day, and both march in a parade down Elvis Presley Boulevard to Graceland. In Georgia governor Jimmy Carter issues a similar proclamation, in deference to Elvis’ five Atlanta performances in 1973.
1975
“Elvis Fat and Forty” was the headline over newspaper articles across the country on the day that Elvis turned 40. A story in the Memphis Commercial Appeal noted that Elvis spent the day “in self-imposed seclusion” at Graceland.
True or not, Elvis’ uncle Vester hadn’t seen his nephew since Christmas.
“Promised Land” In the US the album only reached number 47 on the Billboard Top 200 chart but reached 1 in Billboard’s Top Country LPs chart. The album also reached 1 in the Country Cashbox albums chart. In the UK the album reached #21.
1976
Elvis spent the evening of his birthday in a rental home on the slopes of Vail with Jerry Schilling and Myrna Smith. There was a great deal of tension on this vacation, mostly due to Elvis changes of mood and Elvis was not feeling very well this evening until Myrna revealed that she had not seen one of his favorite recent films, Across 110th Street. Elvis recited every line of dialogue from the picture.
Elvis spends the evening of his 41st birthday in a rental home on the slopes of Vail Colorado . with Jerry Schilling and Myrna Smith, who have been living together for more than a year and will eventually marry. Many of the guys and their wives and girlfriends have been taking skiing lessons, but Elvis wears a full face Ski mask during the day but mostly only appears on the slopes at night in a rented ski mobile, causing eighteen-year old Susan Ford, daughter of the President to protest his violation of local regulations.
Elvis: A Legendary Performer Volume 2 is a compilation album featuring recordings by American singer and musician Elvis Presley. As with the first volume of the series, issued in 1974, the collection was a mixture of previously released and never-before-released recordings. In this volume, RCA Records released for the first time “Harbor Lights”, a ballad Presley recorded during his first session for Sun Records in July 1954. This marked the first time since the 1965 album Elvis for Everyone, in which the Sun recording “Tomorrow Night” was included, that RCA had released any “new” songs from the Sun Records archives. Other previously unreleased material included an alternate take of his 1956 hit “I Want You, I Need You, I Love You”, several performances from the 1968 NBC TV special that had not been previously issued, the song “A Cane and a High Starched Collar” from the soundtrack of the 1960 film Flaming Star, and an alternate take of his 1960 recording “Such a Night”. Also included were a pair of previously unreleased interview recordings.
Released on January 8, 1976, it was certified Gold on October 25, 1977 and Platinum and 2× Platinum on July 15, 1999 by the RIAA
1977: Elvis’s 42nd Birthday
In the USA, Elvis On the Hot 100: “Moody Blue” at #5.
Elvis celebrated his last birthday in Palm Springs with girlfriend Ginger Alden and her sister Rosemary.
The Wake and Aftermath
1981
‘Elvis Presley Day’ was declared in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kansas, North and South Carolina, Pennsylvania and Virginia.
1985
The US Postal Service issues a stamp marking what would have been Elvis Presley’s 50th birthday. Over 500 million of them are sold. It would be the most profitable Stamp issued by the US Post Office.
At the time of issue, many are mailed to fake addresses, so they are returned by the Post Office, which no longer uses the phrase “return to sender”
2004
Elvis Presley was still the top-selling solo artist of all-time, having sold 117.5 million albums.
2007
Officials from the National Archives announced that their most requested document is a photo of a cloaked and bejeweled Elvis Presley shaking hands with President Nixon at The White House on December 21st, 1970.
2010
The city of Memphis, Tennessee declared today “Elvis Presley Day” in honor of the King of Rock on what would have been his 75th birthday.
2014
It was reported that vinyl record sales had increased 32% in 2013, while CD sales declined 14.5% in the last last year, vinyl sales grew 32% from 4.5 million units sold in 2012 to 6 million sold in 2013, according to Nielsen SoundScan.
2015
https://www.theadvertiser.com/story/dow ... /21469225/
Elvis, a scarf, two women and me
Elvis Presley’s first recording, an acetate disc from 1953 featuring “My Happiness”, backed with “That’s When Your Heartaches Begin”, sold for $300,000 at a Graceland auction
2016
David Bowie released his twenty-fifth and final studio album Blackstar, on Bowie’s 69th birthday and two days before his death. It became his first and only album to reach No.1 on the Billboard 200 album chart in the US.
The album is named for “Black Star” the original name of the Elvis “Flaming Star” movie song.
2017
http://www.cleveland.com/entertainment/ ... wking.html
Elvis Presley, Stephen Hawking: Today’s celebrity birthday list .
2018
Flashback: Hear Elvis Presley’s Rare ‘Way Down’ From Jungle …
OCRegister–21 hours ago
https://www.rollingstone.com/music/musi ... ns-120361/
Why Country Music Loves Elvis Presley
Wide Open Country–18 hours ago
https://www.wideopencountry.com/country ... s-presley/
Tribute acts bid to become Europe’s best Elvis
In-Depth–The Guardian–Jan. 6, 2018
https://www.theguardian.com/music/2018/ ... e-the-king
Elvis @ 83: That’s someone you never forget
In-Depth–Times of India–Jan. 7, 2018
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/cit ... 412016.cms
2020
Today in History, January 8, 1935: ‘The King’ is born
The Tennessean–12 hours ago
Today is Wednesday, Jan. 8. On this date: 1918. Mississippi became the first state to ratify the 18th Amendment to the Constitution, which …
Flashback: Elvis Presley Sings ‘I Forgot to Remember to …
Rolling Stone–4 hours ago
In 1998, Elvis Presley was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. The long-awaited honor came 12 years after Presley was one of the …
Elvis Presley: The King’s life and career in pictures
USA TODAY–12 hours ago
At 85, Elvis Presley Is Still Menswear’s Greatest Style Icon
esquire.com–12 hours ago
From Elvis to Harry Styles, reflecting on the king of rock and …
Opinion–NBCNews.com–3 hours ago
Remembering Elvis Presley’s Service on His 85th Birthday
International–Military.com–3 hours ago
The Jury Is Still Out on Elvis
Opinion–Wall Street Journal–Jan. 7, 2020
The story of how David Bowie and Elvis Presley came *so …
Smooth Radio–12 hours ago
It would have been incredible to have witnessed, but sadly a collaboration between Elvis Presley and David Bowie never happened.
Blogger Nina Notes:
there is zero chance Elvis Presley would have recorded with or had Davie Bowie produce an lp of his. Seriously one of the stranger stories about Elvis after his death
Presley officials all shook up over trademark dispute with Reverend …
Calgary’s Elvis-impersonating preacher is trying to fend off heartbreak hotel as the late singer’s business arm confronts him on a trademark dispute. Memphis-based Elvis Presley Enterprises is moving to strip Rev. Bruce Sheasby’s trademarking of the phrase Your Grace Land, the name of his Calgary …
https://www.buzzfeed.com/stephenlaconte ... -instagram
2026