#presleyworld

🥀🥀"He could light up a room just by walking in it, and he had a knack for putting people at ease and making them feel good about themselves. That's what made him so special." -Anita Wood ✨✨

Elvis Presley and Sammy Davis, Jr. backstage in Elvis' dressing room. This was on opening night at the Showroom International Hotel on

August 10, 1970 in Las Vegas ✨✨

Sending love...

Shared by Sera Kuhn 💕

Each night before a performance, he would invite the band to his dressing room.

There was a bar, and although he didn’t drink, he invited us to have one,” says his bassist Jerry Scheff. “He didn’t want a bunch of drunks on stage, but he knew one or two would help us relax.”

Backstage, Scheff adds, Elvis “was always energetic before a show — his leg going up and down like a butter churn and his fingers tapping on his knees like a swarm of white butterflies.”

But onstage, Scheff recalls, “he always focused on the story of the song. It was like the words and melody went through his brain, then to his heart.” ✨✨

🥀🥀"As Elvis came off the stage. he had tears in his eyes and was soaked in sweat, but this was the sweat of a job well done."

Joe Esposito,

July 31, 1969

🥀🥀From Joe Esposito book, Elvis Straight Up

Some highlights

Joe shares, "Once in 1973, Elvis recorded several songs right in the livingroom of his home in Palm Springs. There was no microphone stand in the house, so the guys fashioned one by sticking a mop into a wash bucket and duct taping the microphone to the mop handle. If you listen closely to some recordings, you can sometimes hear those "p" pops, among other extraneous studio sounds like rustling lyric pages, creaking stools, off Mike dialogue, or pieces of Elvis's jewelry clanking against the microphone."

"Elvis would usually begin a session by going around to each and every person in the studio, from the top musicians to the guy who sweeps floors, and greet them all personally.Once that was done, he would often sit and chat with the band for awhile to loosen up and get reacquainted."

"Elvis's approach to making a record was very unorthodox and quite frankly, somewhat inefficient. The producer, engineers, musicians, background vocalists and other studio personnel would be all set up and waiting, sometimes for hours, before Elvis would arrive. Every one of these people was a union member and was being paid Union scale wages. In the studio, time is money. With the number of personnel involved, every hour that ticks by costs a small fortune. Elvis would often arrive late, not because he was unprofessional, but because he realized the longer the sessions ran, the more money the union members could earn to support their families."

When Elvis finally arrived, he rarely went right to work. A specific comfort level had to be achieved in the studio before he was relaxed enough to start recording. This protocol was actually very effective because the inspiration and joy created in the studio comes across on the records. Elvis's charismatic vibe, meshing spontaneously with the musicians, is infused "live" right into the recording."

Picture was from 1970

🥀🥀One of the most famous photos ever taken of Elvis has a story most people don’t know.

This picture was taken on January 16, 1971, at a luncheon for the men who were about to receive the Jaycees Top Ten Outstanding Young Men of the Nation Award.

Photographer Darnell was taking pictures that day, but the moment that created this photo actually came from someone else standing next to him.

There was a little old lady beside him with a small Instamatic camera, taking pictures like everyone else. At one point she called out: “Elvis, turn around!”

Elvis heard her and turned toward the cameras.

Then she said something only a little old lady would say to Elvis Presley: “Elvis, take your glasses off!”

Instead of ignoring her, Elvis accepted the scolding with good humor. He lifted his sunglasses and looked straight ahead for the photo.

That split second became one of the most famous pictures ever taken of him.

Most people think Elvis is posing in this photo.

He wasn’t.

He was simply doing what a little old lady asked him to do — and a photographer happened to capture the moment.

Sometimes the most famous photographs happen completely by accident.

©️ Billy Stanley ✨ ✨ 💫

🥀🥀Ask the question, “Who’s the most handsome man of all time?” For millions, the answer comes without hesitation: Elvis Presley. At first, some might dismiss it, thinking he’s just a relic of the past — a name from another era. But take one real look at him — truly look — and suddenly, the debate is over.

Elvis didn’t just have good looks. He had a kind of beauty that stops you in your tracks, that makes your heart catch. Those chiseled cheekbones, that perfect jawline, those deep, soulful eyes that seemed to hold a thousand secrets — and that smile. My God, that smile. One curl of his lip could set the world on fire.

But it wasn’t only the face. His voice was its own seduction — smooth as velvet, rich as honey, yet raw enough to break your heart. He could sing you sweet, tender ballads one moment and, in the next, unleash a storm of passion that shook the stage. Sexy doesn’t even begin to describe it.

And yet, what made Elvis truly unforgettable was more than looks and sound. It was who he was — kind, generous, full of life. A man who could command an arena and still make you feel like he was singing just for you.

That’s why decades later, people still swoon, still dream, still whisper the same truth: “There will never be another Elvis Presley.” And they’re right. There won’t.

©️Rock Hall

🥀🥀Interview with Bill Belew

By: David Adams

Source: Elvis Australia

April 5, 2020

🎙️Q: Did Elvis ever tell you anything that's always stayed in your mind?

✨A: No, no, not really. I think the only thing for me is, he called and said that Sonny West was gonna get married, and he wanted a suit. And so a tuxedo. So I designed a tuxedo for him. And he said to me, 'Go down to Schwartz and Albusser and have them make me some jewelry'. And I said 'Oh no, no, Elvis. That's too personal. You do that yourself', you know. 'No, no, no, you go on down there. You design me some jewelry'. And so I went down there and that's how I met Saul and Abe. And as time progressed we got to know each other.

And it's just one of the best stories of how generous this man was. And, Saul was tellin' me that there was a lady that had been coming in for quite some time, and had been admiring an emerald and diamond ring. And it was very expensive. And, she just would come in. And look at it and they'd been trying to talk to her about putting some money on it, paying it off. No, no, no her husband wouldn't allow her to do it. So anyway she was there that day when Elvis walked in.

And, she looked at it and he took it and put it back into the case. And Elvis said to him, you know, 'What's that all about?' And he said well, you know, and told him the story about her. And, how she'd always wanted this ring and she was afraid her husband would get upset if she bought it. And, he said, 'Go and box it up and give it to her'. And he said 'You really?' He said, 'Do it', and so he did. He went to the lady and she said What's this?

And he said, 'That gentleman over there, Mr. Presley, would like for you to have this ring'. And she got very emotional and she said 'No, no you can't do this' and he said, 'Anybody that wants something that bad, should have it'. And he said 'I want you to have it. And please, accept it with my love and my gratitude'. And I just thought that was the neatest thing in the world. Just the neatest thing.✨✨✨

©️Elvis Australia

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