5 Interesting Facts About Elvis Presley

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5 Interesting Facts About Elvis Presley

When it comes to rock ‘n roll, there is only one king. Elvis Presley will always be an icon of the music industry and even though it has been over 60 years now since he first started his career, we still look at this artist quite fondly. Anyone who is familiar with rock ‘n roll knows quite a bit about Elvis Presley, but here are some interesting facts that you may not be aware of as of yet.

1. You’ll Shoot Your Eye Out

When Elvis was 11 years old, he didn’t want to learn about music. He wanted to learn how to shoot a gun. He asked for a rifle from his mom, but his mom convinced him to get a guitar instead. That one decision by his mother would change the way the world would view music one day.

2. He Was a Shy Guy

When Elvis was 12 years old, he had a chance for a big break. His local radio station offered a chance for him to sing live on the air. This was in 1947 and he was too shy to go on. Six years later, he was in the studio making his first record we paid four dollars for it and it was a gift for his mother. Around the same time, he auditioned to be a part of the gospel quartet. They actually turned him down. Imagine what The Songfellows would be if they had told Elvis Presley that he could join them…

3. He Really Was White

One of the first songs that Elvis Presley got to have aired on the radio was called “That’s All Right.” The radio station received so much positive back from airing the song just once that they played the song 13 more times that day. When people called in to ask about the artist of the song, no one believed the local DJ when he told everyone that Elvis was actually white. Listeners thought that Elvis was an African-American.

4. Blame Milton Berle

The year was 1956 Elvis Presley had just had his breakthrough hit, which was the “Heartbreak Hotel.” As Elvis got ready for television appearance on Milton Berle’s show, Berle apparently told Elvis to perform without the use of his guitar. Elvis had never performed without the guitar before. Not really knowing what to do without the musical instrument, the gyrating hips that were aired on national TV cause quite a stir. It also earned him the nickname “Elvis the Pelvis.”

5. He Was an American Boy

Elvis Presley might be the king of rock ‘n roll, but he rarely left the United States during his entire career, in fact, the only played five concerts on foreign soil. All five of those concerts happened on a three day tour of Canada that was in 1957. Although not confirmed, it is believed that foreign concerts were not booked because his manager, Col. Parker, was an illegal immigrant from Holland. Parker would have been deported if he ever applied for a US passport.