Elvis Aron Presley – Jan. 8, 1935 to Aug. 16, 1977

The King is Dead, Long Live the King!

Today marks the 31st anniversary of the death of Elvis Presley, an important date for music fans, popular culture in general, and especially for those who love and appreciate the work of the "King of Rock and Roll". I count myself in the latter category, and while my interest level in all things Presley has waxed and waned over the years, I grew up with a love of his music and movies (they were staples of Saturday afternoon TV when I was a kid), and that has never disappeared. Over the past decade or so, my interest and respect for Presley has been rekindled. I've rediscovered alot of incredible Elvis music, from the crucial Sun Records years into the often-maligned '70s. I've also enjoyed watching his films, rewatching old favourites such as King Creole, and seeking out lesser-known titles such as Speedway (with Nancy Sinatra!) and Stay Away, Joe, as bad as many of them might be. 

It's next to impossible to look at Elvis objectively, because of all of the baggage surrounding his life and career, and the frankly tasteless and bizarre representation of his image in the decades following his death. As Mojo Nixon pointed out, "Elvis is Everywhere", and his greater contributions often get overshadowed by the 4th rate films, the dubious output and performances of the mid-'70s, and the kitschy Elvis memorabilia that has proliferated over the years. Sure, he was a mess when he met his less-than-respectable end, but I prefer to celebrate his achievements rather than mourn his death every August 16th. What could have been... it's hard to say. I was speculating with a friend of mine last week, envisioning a series of Rick Rubin-produced Elvis albums, along the lines of the Johnny Cash albums that came out in his twilight years, ending the King's career on a high note. As it is, one can only wonder, but the recorded work left by Presley is a staggering legacy, and despite the fact that I have been listening to it and collecting it for over a quarter of a century, I'm still discovering new gems all the time. Long live the King!

In honour of the occasion, I usually listen to some Elvis music, and if possible watch of one of his concerts or films on video. Here are this year's picks:

Elvis record of the day: From Elvis in Memphis (1969, CD reissue)

Elvis movie of the day: Blue Hawaii (1961)

A special mention to Redondo Roundup, one of my favourite music blogs out there. Redondo posted a nice collection of videos of very early Elvis television performances from the Dorsey Brothers' Stage Show in 1956. You can check them out here, and see what the excitement was all about over half a century ago!