Elvis Presley 037 – second edition 053

Look closer for two song lyrics and all eight song titles: “Wise men say, only fools rush in”(Can’t Help Falling In Love); “We’re caught in a trap, I can’t walk out”(Suspicious Minds); In the Ghetto; Heartbreak Hotel; Love Me Tender; All Shook Up; Hound Dog; Burning Love; It’s Now or Never; Don’t Be Cruel; Jailhouse Rock 

Known simply as Elvis, who lived from January 8th, 1935 until August 16th, 1977 was an American singer and actor and one of the most significant cultural icons of the 20th century, often referred to as the “King of Rock and Roll” or simply “the King”. His energized interpretations of songs and physically provocative performance style, combined with a singularly potent mix of influences across color lines during a transformative era in race relations, led him to great success—and initial controversy.

Presley was born in Tupelo, Mississippi, and relocated to Memphis, Tennessee, with his family when he was 13 years old. His identical twin brother, Jesse Garon Presley was stillborn, 35 minutes before Elvis.

His music career began in Memphis, in 1954 recording at Sun Records with producer Sam Phillips, who wanted to bring the sound of African American music to a wider audience. Presley, on rhythm acoustic guitar, and accompanied by lead guitarist Scotty Moore and bassist Bill Black, was a pioneer of rockabilly, an up-tempo, backbeat-driven fusion of country music and rhythm and blues. In 1955, drummer D. J. Fontana joined to complete the lineup of Presley’s classic quartet and RCA Victor acquired his contract in a deal arranged by Colonel Tom Parker, who would manage him for more than two decades. Presley’s first RCA single, “Heartbreak Hotel”, was released in January 1956 and became a number-one hit in the United States. With a series of successful network television appearances and chart-topping records, he became the leading figure of the newly popular sound of rock and roll.

In November 1956, Presley made his film debut in Love Me Tender. Drafted into military service in 1958, Presley relaunched his recording career two years later with some of his most commercially successful work. He held few concerts, however, and guided by Parker, devoted much of the 1960s to making Hollywood films and soundtracks. Most were critically derided. In 1968, following seven-years of no live performances, he returned to the stage. The acclaimed television comeback special, Elvis, led to an extended Las Vegas concert residency and a string of highly profitable tours. In 1973, Presley gave the first concert by a solo artist to be broadcast around the world, Aloha from Hawaii. Years of prescription drug abuse severely compromised his health. He died suddenly in 1977 at his Graceland estate at the age of 42.

Rising from poverty to significant fame, Presley’s success epitomized the American Dream. The best-selling solo music artist of all time, he was commercially successful in many genres, including pop, country, R&B, adult contemporary, and gospel. He won three Grammy Awards, received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award at age 36, and has been inducted into multiple music halls of fame. Presley holds several records; the most RIAA certified gold and platinum albums, the most albums charted on the Billboard 200, and the most number-one albums on the UK Albums Chart and most number-one singles on the UK Singles Chart. In 2018, he was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

credit – Wikipedia

I learned some interesting things while visiting Graceland. The house in which Elvis was raised had no electricity or indoor plumbing, which explains why he lavished his family the mansion and with cars, horses, and other comforts of the Graceland Farm. Each member of his family had their own custom golf cart to get anywhere on the farm they wanted. 

One of the letters on display was from a Memphis ISD schoolteacher thanking Elvis for his financial contribution to their fund-raiser. She stated that she really liked doing “the twist,” thanking him for making it popular. So far, she had lost fifteen pounds! If you ever get a chance to visit Graceland, do it. In-fact put it on your bucket list. You will be blessed.

credit – the artist

Digital Print on Archival Matte – Original illustration done in graphite and the following Prisma Colors: – Violet Blue for the line in Jail House Rock, “the whole rhythm section was a purple gang!” also the cut Violet (or Wiffenpoof Song) from the soundtrack of “The Trouble With Girls;” – True Blue for Elvis’s first group, the Blue Moon Boys (1954) also the film, “Blue Hawaii” (1961); – and Sunburst Yellow after Elvis’s favorite horse the Palomino, Rising Sun also the first studio he used for recording, Sun Records.

DERIVATIVE Work – photo credits: Face is from s3-news-tmp-126745-elvis–default–910_thedrum_com and the Shirt and guitar are from rock-and-roll-musician-elvis-presley-strums-an-acoustic-news-photo-74290646-1567542190_housebeautiful_com

What you get:
$40 (36.95 + 3.05 tax) this is 053 the second edition.
11 x 14 Print Package with Authenticity Sheet
signed and numbered (run of 150)
Domestic Priority Mail $8 (Free shipping)