Phyllis Brown
When it comes to Elvis Presley, we often use phrases like “King of Rock and Roll,” or more simply, “the King” to talk about him. With his electrifying performances and soulful voice, the music legend skyrocketed to fame.
With hits like “Heartbreak Hotel” and “Hound Dog,” he captured the hearts of fans worldwide. Elvis’s iconic style and charisma made him a cultural icon, leaving an indelible mark on the music industry that continues to inspire generations to this day.
Despite the love and admiration for him, many unintentionally missed some lesser-known “Elvis Presley” facts. Dive into this article to learn more about him.
1. Elvis Presley had a twin
On January 8, 1935, Elvis Aron Presley was born at his family’s humble two-room home in East Tupelo, Mississippi. Tragically, his twin brother, Jesse Garon, was stillborn just 35 minutes before Elvis’s birth.
It must have been an incredibly difficult moment for their parents, overwhelmed with grief at the loss of one child while trying to summon the strength to welcome their only surviving son into the world. The emotional rollercoaster of losing one child and then meeting the other in such a short span of time is unimaginable.
2. Elvis bought Graceland at age 22
In his breakout year in 1956, when he was 22, Elvis became an international music TV, and movie star. Then, he splurged on a grand colonial-style mansion nestled on 13.8 acres in Memphis, Tennessee.
The property, now famously known as Graceland, was purchased for what would be around $1.1 million in today’s money. Moving in with his parents, Presley called Graceland home for two decades until his passing in 1977.
Over time, the estate expanded to a whopping 17,552 square feet with the addition of new rooms, boasting 23 in total, including eight bedrooms, eight bathrooms, and five staircases.
Its significance was further solidified when it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1991 and later honored as a National Historic Landmark in 2006, making it the first rock-n-roll site to receive both prestigious distinctions.
3. Elvis’ controversial manager, Colonel Tom Parker, was a former carnival barker
Born Andreas Cornelis van Kuijk in the Netherlands in 1909, Elvis’s future manager Immigrated illegally to America as a young man and then transformed into Tom Parker. His early jobs ranged from carnival pitchman to dog catcher and even founder of a pet cemetery.
But it was in managing country music singers that he found his niche. In 1948, he received the honorary title of colonel from the governor of Louisiana, earning the moniker “the Colonel” from then on.
When meeting rising star Elvis in 1955, the Colonel saw an opportunity. He negotiated the sale of Elvis’s contract with tiny Sun Records to RCA, a major label, and officially took the reins as his manager in 1956.
Under the Colonel’s guidance, Elvis skyrocketed to fame. His debut single for RCA, “Heartbreak Hotel,” soared past the million-copy mark, while his first album topped Billboard’s pop album chart. Soon, he made his silver screen debut in 1956’s “Love Me Tender.”
The Colonel, with his portly figure and trademark cigar, held a tight grip on Elvis’s career for the next two decades. While he helped the King achieve unprecedented success, criticism arose over his hefty commissions, sometimes reaching 50 percent of Elvis’s earnings. Some observers even felt he stifled Elvis’s creative freedom.
4. Elvis never performed outside of North America
An estimated 40 percent of Elvis’ music sales have come from outside the United States, highlighting his global popularity.
Surprisingly, despite his international fan base, Elvis never performed outside his home country, except for a few concerts in Canada back in 1957.
A number of sources have suggested that his manager, Colonel Parker, declined lucrative offers for overseas performances due to his own immigration status.
Parker, an undocumented immigrant, reportedly feared that leaving the U.S. could jeopardize his ability to return. This decision deprived Elvis’s fans around the world of the chance to see him live, despite their fervent enthusiasm for his music.
5. Elvis served in the Army after he was already famous
In December 1957, Elvis, already a big star, got drafted into the U.S. military. He got a short break to finish filming “King Creole,” then, at 23, became a private in the Army on March 24, 1958, with lots of media buzz around it. He got placed in the Second Armored Division and did basic training in Fort Hood, Texas.
That August, while still at Fort Hood, he got special leave to see his sick mom, Gladys Presley, who sadly passed away at 46 on August 14, 1958.
The next month, Elvis headed to Friedberg, West Germany, to join the Third Armored Division. There, he drove jeeps and kept getting loads of fan mail, even overseas.
6. Elvis was a black belt in karate while in the army
Elvis was first exposed to Karate in 1958 after he was drafted into the Army and stationed in Germany. His first instructor, Juergen Seydel, a German shotokan stylist, taught Elvis at his off-base housing in Nauheim.
Afterward, Elvis crossed paths with Tetugio Murakami, a Japanese Shotokan Master who rose to prominence as the Shotokan master of Europe. With Japanese-style training under his belt, Elvis’s karate journey continued to evolve.
In 1960, Elvis encountered Ed Parker, widely regarded as the Father of American Kenpo, at the Wilshire Beverly Hills Hotel following a karate demonstration. Parker introduced Elvis to Hank Slomanski, an instructor at Fort Campbell, who put him to the test for his black belt.
It was Hank who proudly promoted Elvis to ‘Black Belt’ on July 21, 1960, and personally bestowed upon him his own black belt. Elvis’s dedication to karate left a lasting impression, as Hank humorously relayed back to Ed Parker, “Your boy ain’t pretty anymore, but he’s a black belt.”
7. Elvis bought FDR’s presidential yacht
In 1964, Elvis made a noteworthy purchase when he acquired the Potomac, a historic 165-foot-long vessel that once served as President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s “floating White House” from 1936 to 1945.
Originally built as a U.S. Coast Guard cutter in 1934, the Potomac had a series of owners before coming into Elvis’s possession. After President Roosevelt’s passing in 1945, the ship changed hands multiple times until Elvis decided to buy it.
However, his ownership was short-lived as he promptly donated the yacht to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital. St. Jude’s, in turn, sold the vessel to raise funds for their charitable endeavors. This act of generosity was just one of many charitable gestures Elvis made throughout his life.
Alongside giving away cars, jewelry, and cash to both friends and strangers, he also lent his talent to numerous benefit concerts, demonstrating his commitment to helping those in need.
8. Elvis recorded more than 600 songs without writing any of them
Throughout his illustrious career, Elvis Presley left an indelible mark on the music industry, recording over 600 songs. However, none of them were written by him.
Known for his versatility, Elvis refused to be confined to one style, opting instead to interpret songs penned by a multitude of composers. This approach allowed him to infuse his unique blend of emotion, energy, and passion into each performance.
Interestingly, while Elvis is often credited as a co-writer on some records, it’s not because he contributed to the songwriting process. Rather, it was a result of his record label’s insistence that certain songwriters relinquish 50% of the credit before Elvis would agree to record their songs.
9. Elvis only appeared in one commercial during his career
Despite his international fame, Elvis Presley only starred in one commercial during his lifetime. It happened on November 6, 1954, during the Louisiana Hayride, a popular radio show. The commercial was for Southern Maid Donuts.
In the ad, Elvis lent his smooth vocals to sing a catchy jingle: “You can get ’em piping hot after four PM, you can get ’em piping hot. Southern Maid Donuts hit the spot, you can get ’em piping hot after four PM.” This commercial remains a hidden gem in Elvis’s career, as it has never been officially released to the public.
