Elvis Presley is one of the most legendary musicians of all time. Even though he never performed outside North America, his fame and talent turned him into a worldwide success. To this day, people listen to his songs all over the world, and impersonators carry on his legacy.
Despite his fame, Elvis tried to safeguard his personal life, which led to a conflict between giving everything to his fans and keeping part of his life to himself. Let’s delve into the lives of Elvis and his family to better understand the one and only King of Rock ‘n’ Roll.
Elvis Was Rejected Early In His Career
When he was only 19 years old, Elvis started auditioning for bands, one of which was the gospel music group The Songfellows. However, they turned him down, one of the members later saying that he’d had difficulty following a harmony. According to Elvis’s father, Vernon Presley, the band told him he couldn’t sing.
But this rejection might have been a blessing in disguise for Elvis, who moved on and quickly rose to fame. As his worldwide fame and net worth grew, The Songfellows probably regretted their decision. It’s a good thing that he was so resilient and determined.
Elvis’s Dance Style Was Seen As Controversial
Elvis’s appearances on TV shows made him a national celebrity. The Ed Sullivan Show was particularly explosive, with fans going crazy and screaming during the entire performance. However, he received a lot of backlash for his dance moves, which were considered to be very provocative.
Nonetheless, Elvis’s earnings were progressively increasing, especially after he started going on tour. He not only gained millions of fans but also introduced rock ‘n’ roll music to pop culture. Many people believe that he opened the door for future rock bands to become mainstream.
Elvis Tried To Hide His Problems
During the last years of his career – and his life – Elvis tried to keep his issues more private than ever, afraid that people would think less of him if they found out. But despite his efforts to conceal it, his physical deterioration was evident to everyone.
A combination of excessive weight gain and abuse of prescription pills had turned him into a shadow of his former glory, yet Elvis tragically refused to ask for help. His fans were everything to him, and he was terrified they would stop loving him if he ever admitted the truth about his lifestyle.