Elvis' Birthday

I'm so glad Elvis was born. The fact that he was has made my last few months so very enjoyable. And he has made your life more enjoyable, too. Before he came along, the top of the charts included the likes of 'How Much is That Doggie in the Window.' Thank heaven for 'Heartbreak Hotel.'

Elvis was born in a shotgun shack in Tupelo, Mississippi on January 8th, 1935. When he was 13 the family moved to Memphis, where his mother bought him his first guitar (thank you, Gladys). In 1954 he recorded his first song at Sun Studios (I've been there!), and in 1956 he signed with RCA where he recorded his first #1 single, 'Heartbreak Hotel' ('Don't Be Cruel' was the 'B' side).

People fell in love with him. Well, teenage girls did. Adults wrote letters to the FBI saying he was a threat to national security. Since then, of course, tons of people have fallen in love with him (including me!). And with due cause. His music is great, and he hit pretty much every genre - rock 'n roll, country, gospel, soul, blues. He did it all. And then there are his movies. While they are pretty cheesy, they're enjoyable, and in the days before MTV, they gave people a way to see the King. And then there was the '68 Special, which involved black leather, so there you go.

Elvis is great. Oh, and did I mention that I've been to his house? Cuz I have been. So it's like we're friends. Go me.

And with that -

Happy Birthday Elvis!

Long Live the King!