Today the King would have been 75. Like many grandparents, I have fond memories of Elvis Presley's music and movies. I remember some of the devout female members of my church skipping Sunday night services when Elvis was scheduled to be on the Ed Sullivan Show. I remember being appalled when he went into the military and they cut off those lustrous locks. I remembered being saddened by his death in 1977.
If, like me, you prefer remembering the early Elvis, you may be interested in a recently released book: Elvis 1956: Photographs by Alfred Wertheimer. Wertheimer was recruited by RCA Victor to photograph their rising young star. No photographer ever again enjoyed the kind of access to Elvis that Wertheimer received. The result is a series of iconic shots that show a wide-eyed, serious but fun-loving young musician. The book is the official catalog for an exhibit opening today at the Grammy Museum in Los Angeles. "Elvis at 21: Photographs by Alfred Wertheimer," a Smithsonian traveling exhibition, will be on view at various locations through 2013.
Grandparents who are Elvis fans will be happy to know that other generations also appreciate his legacy. According to a study by the Pew Research Center, 24% of those 16-29 say they like Elvis "a lot." For those 50+, the number jumps to 58%. But that's only to be expected. He was our King.
Discover what you don't know about Elvis, visit Graceland and remember some who tried to sound like Elvis.
(Photo © Welcome Books)