1976 "Elvis to retire-rumours are rife

[maxiefields]

While sorting out some stuff for a friend I came across this.
"1976 will be the year of decision for ELVIS PRESLEY.Either he will venture outside the USA for the first time in his career,playing selected dates around the world,including Britain,-or he will announce his retirement.And there ia a distinct possibility that both of these alternatives could prove correct.
Rumours have been gaining strength in Los Aneles for some months,suggesting that Presley has -for health reasons -decided to retoire in the near future.
However,Elvis may well be having second thoughts following his REMARKABLE success on New Years Eve when he appeared before his largest ever audience at Pontiac in Michigan .He told reporters backstage that he is still planning overseas dates and, of course,he is already on record as saying that he will do a show in England"
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[Lonniebealestreet]

Many thanks for posting this, maxiefields. I had no idea that his retirement was ever rumored to be imminent. It's too bad that he was not able to at least take a prolonged vacation.

It also makes you wonder if the possibility of touring abroad was in fact very strong in Elvis' own mind at that point or if in fact deep down he knew that would never become a reality. It would appear that he was very hopeful at that time.

[maxiefields]

Thanks for your comment.
Reading newspapers and magazines around that time there were lots of rumours of a world tour.If he had lived I think it was inevitable this would had happened and maybe the challange he needed.I think its a interesting the comment in the article,"This could mean that Colonel Tom parker is determined to keep his artist working as long as possible".Don't you think?
I've never read anywhere else about a retirement but still a interesting cutting.

[ksimms2]

the last sentence is the saddest: Whether Presley will be in show business when he is 42.......thanks for sharing this article......poor Elvis....he certainly did need a break - a rest - and maybe try to get his health back (and away from the pills)......

[cameron]

Thanks, Maxifields :

It seems there were other things on his mind. Just shows, we don't know everything. I really wish he had done that tour and just retired !!
He sure deserved it..