1945
- The facts concerning
Elvis's first guitar vary.
One account claims Elvis
bought a $7.75 guitar from
the
Tupelo Hardware Company
because he wanted to
accompany himself when he
sang. Elvis paid for part
of his 10th birthday
present from money he had
earned doing odd jobs
around the neighborhood.
The owner of the store
claims that Elvis was more
interested in buying a
rifle, but that his mother
Gladys feared he would
shoot someone or
himself. Another story
tell of Elvis wish for a
new bicycle but could not
afford the $55.00 to price
tag. And
Gladys was concerned
that her precious 10 year
old could injury himself,
even though Elvis could be
seen driving his parent to
church meetings in a
rusted-out truck by the
time he could reach the
pedals. Together with a
local teacher and his
uncle Vester Presley Elvis
learned to play the
instrument.
1951 -
Elvis' 16th Birthday.
Girls were frightened of
him because his appearance
was so
unconventional. Some felt
he acted as if he had a
nervous disorder while
most agreed he had the
manners of a hog on heat
when Elvis was around the
opposite sex.
Lisa Marie's Birthday
1953 -
Vernon and Gladys paid $50
for a 1952
Lincoln Zephyr coupe
which they gave to Elvis
on his 18th birthday. With
wheels like any other
teenager Elvis discovered
freedom which scared his
mother. Gladys did not
know how to drive, so she
used the excuse to get
Elvis to drive her
everywhere.
1954 -
Elvis, his mother
Gladys and his father
Vernon celebrated is
birthday singing
inspirational songs at
their home.
1955 -
Elvis performed at the
Louisiana Hayride
concerts, watched by
Hank Williams's son, Jimmy
Rodgers Snow who reported
back to Col Parker that
Elvis was provocative,
sexy and appealed to all
women. (sssh, we already
knew that)
1956 -
Elvis's 21st birthday was
spent on the road going to
and from
Louisiana Hayride
appearances.
1957 -
Elvis traveled by train to
Hollywood on his 22nd
birthday. Scotty Moore,
Bill Black & DJ Fontana
who co-starred in Loving
You, shared a birthday
cake that
Gladys had baked.
1958 -
Elvis was in California to
record his
Christmas album.
1959 -
Dick Clark's American
Bandstand dedicated
its program to Elvis 24th
birthday. It was the first
birthday Elvis ever spent
without his mother's well
wishes.
1960 -
Rumours had it that United
Artists wanted Elvis to
play the lead role in West
Side Story. The Colonel
turned it down because the
character dies a brutal
death.
1961 -
Elvis celebrated his 26th
birthday with Hope Lang on
the set of
Wild In The Country.
He was in a foul mood
because Col Parker
insisted he record the
title track from the movie
which Elvis thought was a
non-singing role.
1962 -
On his 27th birthday
Dick Clark dedicated
his broadcast of American
Bandstand to Elvis.
1964 -
Elvis did not want to
celebrate his 29th
birthday as he was upset
about the way his flagging
movie career and became
violent at how the critics
were panning his movies.
1965 -
Elvis celebrated his
30th birthday quietly
at home, thought some
newspapers printed the
news of his 30th birthday
like it was the end of an
era. However, two
months later Elvis
declared in an interview:
"I can never forget the
longing to be someone. I
guess if you are poor you
always think bigger and
want more than those who
have everything." On that
day Elvis signed a
3-picture contract with
MGM and there was talk of
Elvis starring in BABY THE
RAIN MUST FALL. However,
Steve McQueen got the
lead role of Henry Thomas
an ex-con who had a band
called the Rockabillies.
In the film McQueen
remarks, "Maybe I'll be a
big movie star like Elvis
Presley..."
1967
-
Marty Lacker,
Charlie Hodge and the
other members of the
Memphis Mafia got together
and present
Elvis with "tree-of-life"
medallion
for his 32nd birthday
which Elvis often wore.
1968 -
Just months into his
marriage and the
honeymoon was over. Elvis
just wanted things to stay
the same (horsing around
with the guys) although
his was wed and about to
become a father.
1970 -
Elvis prepared for his
next concert tour
throughout the States.
Elvis was happy to perform
before a live audience
again. To-date his most
successful concert was at
New York, Madison Square
Garden
1971 -
The day after his 36th
birthday Jaycees voted
Elvis Ten Outstanding
Young Men of America.
The tribute brought tears
of joy and was the only
award Elvis accepted in
person.
Holidays with Elvis:
Christmas
| Fourth of July |
Mother's Day | Valentine's
Day | Easter
Other Famous People Born on 8th of
January
1969 Ami Dolenz - Movie actress, daughter of Micky (of the
Monkees)
1967 R. Kelly - I Believe I Can Fly -singer, arrested on
vice charges
1947 Don Bendell -Bestselling author, poet, patriot, and karate
expert
1947 David Bowie - Androgynous rock star of the 1960s and beyond
1946 Robby Krieger - Guitarist for The Doors became an artistic
painter
1942 Stephen Hawking - Brilliant author of A Brief History of
Time
1939 Yvette Mimieux - Teen flick actress: Where the Boys Are
1937 Shirley Bassey - Singer who belted out the theme from
Goldfinger
1933 Charles Osgood - CBS radio commentator on The Osgood Files
1926 Soupy Sales - TV star, famous for his pie-in-the-face
routine
1924 Ron Moody - Lovable villain Fagin from Oliver!
1923 Larry Storch - Comic actor, known to many from TV's F Troop
1912 José Ferrer - Best actor winner for Cyrano de Bergerac
1911 Butterfly McQueen - Actress as Prissy in Gone with
the Wind