Thought for the Month
Elvis Presley was one of the most successful and well-known performers in history. Below, we’ve shared some trivia that you might not have known about the King.
Elvis was voted into four Halls of Fame: Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (1986), Country Music Hall of Fame (1998), Gospel Music Hall of Fame (2001), and the Rockabilly Hall of Fame (2007).
On December 21, 1970, Elvis paid a visit to President Richard Nixon at the White House. He had been invited to sing at the White House, but his manager said no. The White House didn’t pay performers and Colonel Parker said that Elvis didn’t sing for free!
The Graceland mansion is the second most visited house in America after the White House, and U.S. Highway 51, which runs in front of the mansion, is officially named Elvis Presley Boulevard.
Elvis is buried on the grounds of the mansion. On his gravestone, his name is written as “Elvis Aaron Presley,” while his name was actually “Elvis Aron Presley.”
Elvis had about $5 million in his bank account when he passed away.
His favorite TV shows were The Jeffersons (1975), Good Times, Happy Days, and The Flip Wilson Show (1970). His favorite soft drink was Diet Dr. Pepper.
In June 1993, the U.S. Postal Service approved a commemorative stamp that featured his image. Sweden also approved a stamp with his picture in 2004.
Elvis held the world indoor attendance record for a concert, which was at the Pontiac Silverdome in Detroit, on December 31, 1976. There were 62,500 in attendance, and he was paid a record $850,000.
His 1960 single “It’s Now or Never” is one of the best-selling singles of all time with sales estimated between 25 and 30 million copies.
Elvis sold over 1,000,000,000 albums worldwide: more than any other musical artist or group in the world, including The Beatles.
In April 1955, he auditioned for a spot on Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts and was turned down.
In 1960, he earned a black belt in karate.
When he recorded “Hound Dog,” Elvis insisted on doing thirty or so takes to make sure it was perfect.
Photo credit:
Shutterstock.com
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