discovering elvis

[geordie]

my parents have told me that ever since i was born i always loved elvis,they said that i used to do immpressions of him when i was only about 2 or 3 ( i was born 1966 ) this is something to be proud of,but ive always been envious of people who can go back to a certain song,film,picture ect which somehow turned them onto the king, i would love to hear the stories of how people DISCOVERED ELVIS

[Albert]

I was born in 1975 and I my father was a Elvisfan since the day he heard Elvis on radio Luxembourg when he was a teenager. He went to all the movies and bought all the records and singels up to 1970. From then he became married and he kinda lost interest in the 70s Elvis.

I was fascinated with Elvis as long as I can remember. I loved watching his movies that my father taped on the VC2000, look at those pictures on the LP's from my father and playing the cassettetapes.

My interest varied from the 50s to the 70s. My father bought the "Elvis In Concert" 2-LP set after Elvis' death and that was my favourite album. By then I still only knew Elvis from the movies and the records. The first time I saw Elvis On Tour (I was about 9 years) really turned me into a 70s Elvisfan. That Elvis guy was no human, he was like Superman! The cape, the outfits, the moves.... A year later I first saw the "Aloha From Hawaii" special. Man, that show only enforced my thoughts about Elvis as a superhuman being.

The first time I saw parts of the Elvis from the CBS Special (that I had been listening over and over on my fathers recordplayer) was when I was, I guess 12. I still remember the feeling that I had when I first saw him being overweight and near his death. Instead of becoming less of an Elvisfan, I even became a bigger one and had much more respect for him: this guy really had given everything for the music and his fans. It was like watching a Greek tragedy.

The funny thing was that I wasn't the only kid on the block and in class who was an Elvisfan: many kids were fan (early 80s). We had posters of Michael jackson, Madonna, Duran Duran and Elvis Presley in the classroom. Collecting Elviscards was also very popular among the youngsters. It was as if he was still alive back then.

At age 12 I first had my own recordplayer and managed to buy the "Aloha From Hawaii" LP. Within a few years I had bought most of the 70s LPs that were missing in my father's collection. 16 Years later my Elvis collection is much larger than my father's (and he also bought all original albums on CD over the years).....

Writing this down makes me curious how the next generation will pick up Elvis

[Leroy]

I became an Elvis fan in 1971 after watching "Elvis-That's The Way It Is" in the local theater in Amsterdam. At first I was a secret fan because my father hated his guts. He called him the greates coke dealer in the world. Only my mother understood. After a couple of years my father had to accept the fact that Elvis was a staying factor in my life although he treathened more than once to throw away all the stuff I collected over the years. In his opinion being an Elvis fan didn't do good to me. Becoming rebelious, a normal happening in everybody's life, was a reason for him to blame Elvis.

[ComeBackChick]

When I was about ten years old I saw the movie Follow that Dream, and I fell in love with Toby Kwimper! LOL! My first album purchase was the Franky and Johnny soundtrack, just for the picture on the cover!!! I was only into the looks than I guess! Than my father ordered the Readest Digest Elvis album box, which is pretty rare now I think (and stupid me, I sold it to my nephew!). My mom said that she thought he didn't have a strong caracter, she could see that in his face... with the dark eyes and big lips... Oh well, it didn't stop me. I bought a lot of records and books and joined the Dutch fanclub, had an Elvis penpal. Did alot of drawing the Presleys. I stayed a fan till my twenties, than I sort of took a rest. About a year ago I am back at full force, trying to make up for lost time! Going crazy buying books and DVD's!
I am kinda on a spending spree....
.. the big difference is: NOW I CAN AFFORD IT!!!

[mistymorning]

discovering elvis...... an interesting question, but I don,t know how and where to begin ! I feel he has been always a part of my life a part of my being as long as I remember,he is not just my favorite artist, he is the love of my life, the very reason for making my life brighter and happier,the ray of sunshine who warms my cold frozen heart.he is the bridge over troubled water of my life.
the first time ever I saw his face :my aunt was a devoted elvis fan who had brought some movies ,books , mags from usa ,the place she had studied nursing for a few years. At that time I was almost 10 years old when I saw "TTwII" on her video player, I had never seen such a charming man with those sweet gestures and hot movements!! My eyes were glued to the screen for a long time! I was hypnotized!! little by little I learned about him from my aunt and when I became older and learned english better, I tried to know him more by myself.It was not an easy thing to do! I couldn,t find books and movies easily here, sometimes I bought them from blackmarkets twice the real price ,or even much more , but most of the times they cheated me.when some relatives and friends went to europe or usa , I begged them to bring them for me. I found some nice friends through elvis who were so kind to help me.elvis has been my hope and consolation during my hard times!
15 years ago my city was under heavy bomb-raids, for some reasons I was lonely at home, terrified, frightened no where to go! no one to turn to! I turned on my cassetteplayer, listened to elvis, when he began to sing "a bridge over troubled water" all my fears and loneliness had gone! I felt he was singing just for me,consolating me,making me hopeful and happy.....
yeah.... he has been my great companion ever since...

[Kapu]

ive always been envious of people who can go back to a certain song,film,picture ect which somehow turned them onto the king, i would love to hear the stories of how people DISCOVERED ELVIS

Well, I guess I'll always be able to go back to the movie "Girls! Girls! Girls!" which is how I "discovered" Elvis - less than two months ago.

Now, of course I'd heard Elvis sing before in the radio, but to me he was just one of the many great artists from the past that I loved to listen to whenever a song of his happened to be playing. But it was the movie that made me want to know more about him and to actually seek out his music.

It's the only movie of his I've seen so far, but I think it'll always remain my favorite. Especially because Laurel Goodwin's the leading lady.

[Davey]

The 10th anniversary, 1987. Elvis showed a 12 year old kid how to rock & roll. We had been on holiday & set the video to record all the tributes. I came back, watched the Comeback Special, Aloha From Hawaii and a couple of documentaries and that was it. Hooked.

[ComeBackChick]

15 years ago my city was under heavy bomb-raids, for some reasons I was lonely at home, terrified, frightened no where to go! no one to turn to! I turned on my cassetteplayer, listened to elvis, when he began to sing "a bridge over troubled water" all my fears and loneliness had gone! I felt he was singing just for me,consolating me,making me hopeful and happy.....
yeah.... he has been my great companion ever since...

OMG! What a powerful story!

Well, I guess I'll always be able to go back to the movie "Girls! Girls! Girls!" which is how I "discovered" Elvis - less than two months ago.

It's the only movie of his I've seen so far...

... than you have a great journey ahead of you! There is so much more great stuff out there! If you already love Girls,Girls,Girls! LOL!

[jeanno]

15 years ago my city was under heavy bomb-raids, for some reasons I was lonely at home, terrified, frightened no where to go! no one to turn to! I turned on my cassetteplayer, listened to elvis, when he began to sing "a bridge over troubled water" all my fears and loneliness had gone! I felt he was singing just for me,consolating me,making me hopeful and happy.....

Waow! Really Impressive.

I discovered EP on the radio 18 years ago. I clearly remember him singing TREAT ME NICE and all was done. I bought immediately Elvis? Golden Records and got, a few monthes later, the ALOHA video tape. That stunning performance converted me in a fan forever. My favourit 3 songs are :
- IF I CAN DREAM
- ANY DAY NOW
- MERRY CHRISTMAS BABY