Elvis Aaron Presley (January 8, 1935 – August 16, 1977)
This weekend marks the 32nd anniversary of the death of a rock and roll legend, Elvis Presley. It was with great sadness that the world received the news of his death on Aug 16th, 1977. All of the major radio and television networks ran the news bulletin that he was found dead in his bathroom.
It was only 20 or so years before that Elvis burst on the scene as a rock and roll sensation at a tender age. Elvis’ music helped us transition from the Big Band Era of Frank Sinatra and the well-known big bands like Tommy Dorsey to a more relaxed world of rock hops and more informal dance parties. Fans were allowed to express a more open style of hip gyrations and open swing.
In the summer of 1975, a friend offered a chance to go to an Elvis concert at a venue called Scope in Norfolk, Virginia. 
Unfortunately, what I witnessed was far from the entertainer of 1968 who was, in my opinion, at the peak of his game performing at a comeback concert (after his Army Tour-Of-Duty in Germany) dressed in skin-tight black leather and drop-dead handsome. The man I saw was spent, overweight and seemingly unaware of his surroundings, missing lyrics and short of breath. It didn’t matter to the fans through as large throngs of women approached the stage for the endless supply of neckerchiefs that Elvis draped around him and handed out.
It’s strange how the best known and most adored entertainers seemingly have the world at their fingertips but in many instances cannot save themselves from their own devices.
Long live the King of Rock and Roll!
Post by Anita - Meet Me
