Gladys had to quit her job when she became pregnant with Elvis.

With Gladys out of work money became scarcer than ever for the young couple.

Fortunately a dairy farmer named Orville Bean had loaned Vernon enough money to build a small "shot gun" style home in East Tupelo. The house was completed in time, before Gladys was ready to give birth.

The house, raised on stilts to protect it from overflowing Creeks, was a small two roomed shack whose design was called "shot gun" because it was small enough that if the front and back doors were open you could blast a shot gun clear through without hitting anything.

During the first year of Elvis's life a ruthless tornado hit Elvis's home town of Tupelo and was described as being one of the worst in history, taking many lives and sweeping whole houses into its black vortex of destruction.

Gladys and Elvis would reminisce about that tornado and both be considering themselves so lucky to have escaped with their lives.

Elvis would also remember his twin brother, Jesse Garon. Elvis would alter ponder a sense of incompleteness at having lost a part of himself he could never know.

From Elvis's first moment on earth, until his Mother's death some twenty three years later, Gladys never stopped worrying about her son's every waking moment, and when she discovered her boy was a somnambulist (sleepwalker), she then also worried about his sleeping moments.

Her love for her son was a fawning, all consuming emotion that never stopped growing.

At age three, Vernon was sent to prison for forgery. It seems that Vernon, Travis Smith, and Luther Gable changed the amount of a check from Orville Bean, Vernon's boss, from $3 to $8 and cashed it at a local bank. Vernon pled guilty and was sentenced to three years at Parchment Farms Penitentiary.

Vernon's boss, Mr. Bass calls in a note that Vernon signed to borrow money to build the house. Gladys is forced to move in with Vernon's parents. Vernon would only serve eight months. Afterward Vernon's employment was spotty and the family lived just above the poverty line.

The Presley's attended the First Assembly of God Church whose Pentecostal services always included singing.

The bond between mother, father and son was always strong. Vernon recalls, "When we went swimming, Elvis would have fits if he saw me dive. He was as afraid something would happen to me." The crisis of being separated from his father was noted when Elvis was about five years old.

"Round where we lived in East Tupelo seems there was a fire almost every night and we'd all go running to see what we could do to help the people," Vernon tells.

Although flames were visible and crackling Vernon was still dashing in and out the house carrying furniture.

Gladys takes up the story. "Elvis was sure his daddy was going to get hurt that he screamed and cried. I had to hold him to keep him from running in after Vernon.

Childhood & Family background

In 1954 Elvis went to the Mississippi Alabama State Fair. It was there, at the age of ten that Elvis stood on a chair in front of hundreds of people, unaccompanied by music, Elvis sang "Old Shep," a sentimental ballad about a boy and his dog.

Elvis was awarded second prize. It was the very first time in his life he ever got anything for just singing.

Elvis learned a simple but important lesson that day. His voice was powerful and singing could make his fantasies come true.

The day after graduation he took a job at Parker Machinists Shop. By June was working at the Precision Tool Company and then drove truck for the Crown Electric Co.

After a short time in the stock room he is promoted to truck and began to wear his long hair pompadoured, the current truck driver style.

On the way out to jobs in a Ford pickup, Elvis would drive by the Memphis Recording Service.

One Saturday Elvis stopped by the recording services with his old guitar with plans to record his mother a birthday present.

The place was busy so Elvis took a seat and patiently waited his turn.

Elvis cut 2 songs "My Happiness" and the second "That's When Your Heartaches Begin."

Elvis's name and address were taken, much to Elvis's surprise.

The tape was taken to the boss, Sam C. Phillips - owner of Sun Records. Sam was impressed, but not enough to call Elvis.

Sam promised Elvis nothing, only "he would keep him in mind if something comes up."

January 4 - Elvis Presley visits the Memphis Recording Service to record "Casual Love Affair" and "I'll Never Stand in Your Way"
June 27 - After several fruitless recording sessions, Sam Phillips pairs Elvis Presley with guitarist Scotty Moore and bass player Bill Black.

He hopes the singer might find his voice by rehearsing with other musicians cut from the same country, pop, gospel and R&B cloth.
Though July 4 is often sited as their first meeting, the three had actually been practicing for several months.

July 5 Rock and roll history is made when Elvis Presley, Scotty Moore and Bill Black perform bluesman Arthur "Big Boy" Cruddup's "That's All Right" in romping, uptempo style.

The next day, bluegrass pioneer Bill Monroe's "Blue Moon of Kentucky" is given a similarly playful treatment.

Two days later Memphis disc jockey Dewey Phillips played "That's All Right" on his Red Hot and Blue show on radio station WHBQ.

Audience response was overwhelming and later that night Presley came in for his first interview.

By the time the record was ready for release Sam already had orders for five thousand copies, and went on to sell twenty thousand copies.

On July 19th the two songs are released as Elvis Presley's first single, which bears the legend "Sun 209."

Scotty Moore became his manager. His first record "That's Alright Mama" with the flip side "Blue Moon of Kentucky" sold 7,000 copies within a week.

Elvis signed a three year contract with Sun Record Company.

On this day 30th July Elvis made his first professional stage appearance at Overton Park Shell in Memphis. Elvis was very nervous as he walked out to perform "Good Rockin' Tonight".

Elvis was feeling high and pumped up to be appearing on a show he had only dreamed about.

Pacing back stage, thinking about the thirty five hundred people out in the audience.

He felt his voice wasn't doing it alone so he threw his body into the music, his feet began to shuffle, the knees bent and shook, his hips swiveled and pumped in time to the music.

All of a sudden Elvis was sexy, sensuous, dark and dangerous!

This day 10th August Elvis wowed the fans in a concert at Overton park in Memphis, stealing the show from country star Webb Pierce.

Early Fame

American children see standing before them this stunning guy who is over six foot tall, his hair greasy and long, with blue eyes and a curling, self-mocking lip. He comes on stage in a casual and relaxed manner, as if he's always had the spotlight, owning the stage.



He picks up his guitar and lightly strums it, pretending to play. Elvis sees his audience, he grins at them. That's all it took. They were overcome by his charm.
No one knows were he picked up his confidence, charisma or his public ease. He was quite shy.



Back stage he might bite his fingernails, tap his foot on the floor, nervously fidget and tap his finger in an uncontrolled spasm-but once he steps on the stage a glow of confidence fills his body instantly, because he knows he can do it, he is in control.



When he leans toward the mike, when he caress it, there is a passion in his performance and he is willing to share how he feels. He is cool, with a dangerously sexy charm that will transport his audience briefly to heaven.



He is called Elvis Presley.



His rise to local fame involved performing on the back of trucks, in schools and stadiums; he has driven across the south, across Texas, to the nation; he would get through those long nights with any scares of rejection.



The crowd screams, wet the seats, jumping up and down, pulling at their own hair and clawing their faces with excitement. Elvis is aware of what he is doing, twisting his lips as he reaches out for the microphone stand, slowly sliding his fingers down the stand, taking grip and rocking it gently. He then puts in place his crowd teasing growl, flicks his hair from his eyes. He has them going totally wild.



Elvis stands in the spotlight and gives them what they want, enjoying every bit of the hysteria surrounding him. As he starts to sing he will start off slow and easy, sways his body, shakes a leg, rolls his groin, with an innocent but sexy come-on, and then quickens all movement with his guitar. His guitar will soon become a symbol, no more than just a prop.



In 1955, Elvis Presley starts touring with the Grand Ole Opry. This is television program covering the East. He plays at the arena in Norfolk, Virginia, wearing a cowboy outfit with a red silk scarf and a round brimmed black hat, holding his guitar in his hand.



1956, 25 September, Elvis returns to his home town Tupelo to perform in the Mississippi-Alabama fair, where he first performed at the age of 10 years of age and sang " Old Shep ."



He starts his performance off with a little sly but wicked charm. As he leans towards the mike with his lop-sided grin, his slicked back hair style and sideburns looking out into his crowd with deep passion in his eyes, setting his audience on alive.



Then, just to tease, he starts with a ballad, holding the mike so close he is almost kissing it, lowering his long eye-lashes modestly, and luring his audience with every move. The crowd is mesmerized by his stunning grace; he had them right in the palm of his hands.



The guitar, in his early performances become no more than a musical instrument to strum, toy with, an accessory, but it was just more like a symbol that was part of his early stage days.



And his voice, in such ballads would be tuned to almost a groan, drawing his audience right into his world. It is obvious he knows what he is doing. As he continues, he will let his left hand hang limp, then twitch, just enough to watch his audience go wild.



Elvis Presleyknew only to well the affect he had on his audience, and this developing knowledge is something he will never lose. He will watch his audience with his eyes, and his attracting grin. But it is his own instincts he would depend on.



If after performing a ballad, he sensed tension, he would then slightly turn, mumble a few words, in his deep southern accent charm with a soft warm romantic tone - then unexpectedly he will just let lose with "Good Rockin' Tonight" along with "Bill Black" bass to set the change the crowd will experience.



With this change, Elvis would start to shake his left leg, tap one hand on his thigh; he would jerk his shoulders around and rock back on his heels, while watching his audience lose control.



The audience is so pumped up by now; Elvis knowing this will shake his head, moving his hair away from his eyes, then let lose with the magical spine tingling drawn out first word "weeellllll%u2026" there's good rockin tonight. His rendition of this number works like a charm because of the way he phrases "rock" in the performance.



By 1957, Elvis knows exactly what works for his audience when performing on stage; he has control of them, firstly when he grabs the mike and pulling it down on an angle, then when he begins to gyrate his pelvis. He is totally wild and outrageous.



On stage he cuts lose like a maniac.


On stage the monster is alive. The music, the song, the crowd, or something laying low until he gets on stage, once he feels the rock 'n' roll beat the feeling takes his body and he has to move, his hands, feet, knees, legs, head, his whole body just goes with the beat and feelings of being alive.



While everyone gets a little of what they need. The Hillbilly cat is now Elvis the pelvis, giving the audience his new hard core material. Singing about sweat, about the highs and lows of love, about blue suede shoes and black cedillas, he will sing of the hidden life.



Letting lose with "I want you, I need you", then groans. "Make me thrill with delight." Then he stings with a real sense of power: "Don't you step on my Blue Suede Shoes", he has his head back, left leg shaking, his guitar slanting upwards, with his pelvis rocking. Then he drops to his knees while he still has hold of the mike running his right hand along it and quivers, the crowd goes crazy with an explosion of excitement, almost blocking out the musicians and his vocal group behind him on stage.



Off stage he is a saint.


He doesn't smoke or drink, he is polite, sings hymns, has a collection of teddy bears, loves his folks, and never touches the devils brew. Dating only nice girls, taking them to the Movie theatre, he never took his dates to nightclubs or bars; he's not a gambler and doesn't smoke. He loves his parents and family members, worships God and his Country, he is grateful for all he has.



1958, Elvis Presley came a time when the world for the young was at a stand still, somewhat stale. His style opened the door to freedom - his performances are lively with unseen movement, with his bump "n" grind defiant gestures, he thrusts his groin, falls to his knees, crows over the stage, leans into the mike attracting the desire and passion of his young audience.



Nevertheless, Elvis would soon be a tamed man. His voice will change as will his acts become toned down.



He will live in a mansion with a swimming pool, have is own 24-7 security, body guards. These men won't even think twice about speaking out, only to offer positive comments. Elvis will go along with the changes willingly give control to the Hollywood promoters, salesmen. Leaving it in their hands how he is to look act and feel, his appearance now includes eye makeup, painted lips, layering on the foundation to his face so any rough features visible would be smoothed out.



The promoters took the steps to make Elvis's appearance perfect, Plastic!
Once the perfect appearance was achieved, next was to sell Elvis Presley to the globe.
Elvis will be only too happy to agree and obey, excepting their control with the Southern obedient upbringing replying yes-sir and no-ma'am.



Download book version of this site "Elvis Presley Forever" with his life story in full

FAMOUS QUOTES ABOUT ELVIS



"I don't admire nobody but Elvis Presley. He was the sweetest most humble and nicest man you'd ever meet."
Muhammad Ali


"Everyone in rock 'n roll including myself was touched by Elvis 'spirit,I was, and always will be a fan."
Bryan Ferry


"Well, we are definitely grown up now. If Elvis is dead we can't be kids anymore, the effect of his life time is well marked."
Paul Simon


"My mother was watching the Ed Sullivan show, and Elvis came on. I went out and got a guitar right away, but I couldn't play it, I was to small, but that was the start."
Bruce Springsteen


"Before Elvis there was nothing."
John Lennon


"Without Elvis, none of us could have made it."
Buddy Holly


"Every time I felt low I just put on an Elvis record and I'd feel great."
Paul McCartney


"Elvis Presley is Probably the main founding father of rock music. He was an unheralded genius behind a new music that changed western civilization for all time."
Peter Noone/Hermans Hermits


"Elvis was my Idol from the beginning and even today when I'm alone, I'll often put on the King Creole album. He's produced the most exciting pop music sounds of all time"
Cliff Richard


"It was Scotty Moore's guitar riff when he was doing the Steve Allen Show that got me into rock music. I've been an Elvis fan since I was a kid."
Elton John


"I thought anyone who had been the centre of all that insanity for so long would have some of it rub off on him. But, after working in Change of Habit with him, I realised I'd never worked with more gentlemanly, kinder man. He's gorgeous."
Mary Tyler Moore


"Elvis is the greatest Blues singer in the world today."
Joe Cocker


"Nothing really affected me until I heard Elvis. If there hadn't been an Elvis, there wouldn't have been the Beatles."
John Lennon


"Like every artist to emerge during the rock scene Elvis was my influence and my idol."
Marty Wilde (Rock'n Roll singer)


FAMOUS QUOTES BY ELVIS



"Some people tap their feet, some people snap their fingers, and some people sway back and forth. I just sorta do 'em all together, I guess."



-Elvis in 1956, famous quote talking about his way of moving on stage.



"I ain't no saint, but I've tried never to do anything that would hurt my family or offend God...I figure all any kid needs is hope and the feeling he or she belongs. If I could do or say anything that would give some kid that feeling, I would believe I had contributed something to the world."



-Elvis commenting to a reporter, 1950's.



"Don't criticize what you don't understand, son. You never walked in that man's shoes."



-Elvis often used this adaptation of a well-known quotation.



"When I was a child, ladies and gentlemen, I was a dreamer. I read comic books, and I was the hero of the comic book. I saw movies, and I was the hero in the movie. So every dream I ever dreamed has come true a hundred times...I learned very early in life that: 'Without a song, the day would never end; without a song, a man ain't got a friend; without a song, the road would never bend - without a song.' So I keep singing a song. Goodnight. Thank you."



-From his acceptance speech for the 1970 Ten Outstanding Young Men of the Nation Award. Given at a ceremony on January 16, 1971. (Elvis quotes from copyrighted material with lines from the song "Without a Song".)



"We do two shows a night for five weeks. A lotta times we'll go upstairs and sing until daylight - gospel songs. We grew up with it...It more or less puts your mind at ease. It does mine."



-Talking about the informal jam sessions he and the band and entourage enjoy each night during the lengthy Vegas engagements. These happen upstairs in Elvis' suite at the Las Vegas Hilton as they all try to "wind down" from the excitement and energy of the live shows. Quote is from a 1972 taped interview used in MGM's documentary "Elvis on Tour".



"I've never gotten over what they call stagefright. I go through it every show. I'm pretty concerned, I'm pretty much thinking about the show. I never get completely comfortable with it, and I don't let the people around me get comfortable with it, in that I remind them that it's a new crowd out there, it's a new audience, and they haven't seen us before. So it's got to be like the first time we go on."



-From a 1972 taped interview used in MGM's documentary "Elvis on Tour".



"FAMOUS QUOTES BY ELVIS And Others:

Elvis Presley Spoke About:

HIS TALENT

I'm not kiddin' myself.
My voice alone is just an ordinary voice.
What people come to see is how I use it.
If I stand still while I'm singin', I'm dead, man!
I might as well go back to drivin' a truck.

HIS MOTHER

We were always an affectionate family.
My mother was the most wonderful person in the world.
I always felt a bit lonely-maybe a better word would be incomplete-when I was little.
But I could tell my mother about it, how I felt and she'd talk to me, and the feeling would go away.

HIS FEARS

I have this recurring dream that everything's gone-the Colonel, the money, the fans at the gate, the girls.
I dream that I'm all by myself.

HIS MEMPHIS MAFIA

If they wore gray flannel suits, people would understand about them.
One makes our transportation arrangements another is a bookkeeper.
I need somebody to do the work they do.
Sure, we're all friends, but in a business organization, somebody has to be boss, and in our case, I'm it.

HIS WOMEN

There's no special kind of girl I like, but I know one thing for sure.
I can't stand girl's who try to impress you by being uptown, who like nightclubs and drinking.
I like a sincere girl who's just herself.

HIS MONEY

Money's meant to be spread around.
The more happiness it helps to create, the more its worth.
It's as worthless as an old cut-up paper if it just lays in the bank and grows there without ever been used to help a body.

AFTER PERFORMING LIVE

"I'd like to say that I learned very early in life,
That without a song the day would never end,
Without a song the road would never end%u2026.
So I keep singin' the song. Good night!"

1955-1956-ELVIS QUOTES

"I never thought my performing style was wicked. Wicked?
I don't even smoke or drink!"

"I don't know what happens to me when I sing. Maybe it's
the music, the song, the crowd or something deep inside me.
But to the rock "n" roll beat I have to move my hands, feet, knee's, legs, my head-everything."

"He who hesitates, meditates horizontally."

1973-Elvis Quote

"Having more cars or houses or clothes that you can use-that doesn't make up for happiness, and don't let anyone kid you, it has to come from inside. It comes if you have a loving home, close family ties. If you're with the people you love best, then you have happieness."