Everybody I thought would always know who Elvis was. If you said his name people would automatically know it, in the same way you could say Shakespeare. Everyone knows who he is, despite the fact he lived hundreds of years ago. The very word Shakespeare could immediately conjure up a feeling of dread for some people. But what about Elvis does everyone still know who he is and what does he conjure up? Is he still cool? Or is he old hat?
The singer Elvis Aron Presley would have celebrated his seventieth birthday on the 8th January 2005. Early this year RCA records started to re-release his eighteen UK number one singles. They did it in the order that they were first released and a single would come out every week. When the 1000th UK number one was due to come up, Elvis deservedly claimed it.
Where rock and roll was concerned it was Elvis who really made the difference. And of course having such an impact he became known as The King. He had the most incredible voice ever and once he appeared on television everyone could see he had the looks to go with it merely confirming he was a teen idol. Girls would scream hysterically when he appeared on stage.
He proved to be quite a good actor, when he went into films. He also developed a great respect among the people he worked with. This is because he worked really hard and was always polite. Stardom it seems hadn't gone to his head.
His death on August 16th 1977 had a profound effect on me. I can remember I had just gone to bed still wide awake. I heard a knock on the door and my brother popped his head round the door and said "Elvis is dead." I couldn't speak, due to the shock. The headlines in the paper the next morning simply said The King is Dead.
Of course there has been speculation since that he didn't die but quietly disappeared. Rumours of sightings in supermarkets and of him living in a small town are endless.
Although he died too young, he inspired many artists who came after him. He had a talent like no other, that voice was unique. And so The King maybe dead but we should never forget him.