Weird facts about “The King” at 90
Don Wilburn Times Staff Commentary
As we celebrate Elvis Presley’s 90th birthday (Jan. 8), fans around the world continue to celebrate his iconic music, style, and influence.
While most people know Elvis as the “King of Rock and Roll,” there are many lesser-known stories and details that highlight his extraordinary life and enduring legacy. From his humble beginnings to his larger-than-life performances, here’s a look at some intriguing facts about Elvis Presley that might surprise even his biggest fans.
During the filming of Jailhouse Rock in 1957, Elvis accidentally inhaled a tooth cap while performing a dance routine. The cap lodged in his lung, requiring surgery that temporarily affected his vocal cords. The irony? His character in the film also suffered a vocal cord injury. Despite this, Elvis recovered quickly and continued delivering the powerful performances that cemented his fame.
The Signature Look: From Blonde to Black
Elvis’s famous dark hair wasn’t natural—he was actually a blonde into his late teens. Before he could afford professional hair dye, Elvis used shoe polish to achieve the look that became part of his iconic image. Later, he relied on a mix of Miss Clairol 51D and Black Velvet to maintain his signature style.
The First Song and the Birth of a Legend
At just 18 years old, Elvis paid $4 to record his first song in 1953 as a birthday gift for his mother. Ironically, she never heard it because the family didn’t own a record player. A year later, Elvis recorded That’s All Right Mama,
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launching a career that redefined music history.
In 1957, Elvis purchased Graceland, his Memphis mansion, for $102,500 at the age of 22. Today, Graceland is the second-most visited home in the United States, drawing nearly 600,000 visitors annually, second only to the White House. Now owned by his daughter, Lisa Marie Presley, Graceland generates an estimated $150 million annually for the Memphis economy.
AMan of Many Talents
While Elvis’s musical abilities were legendary, he was also a seventh-degree black belt in karate. He began his training while serving in the Army in Europe in 1958 and continued practicing martial arts throughout his life. One memorable encounter with Alice Cooper in 1971 showcased Elvis’s martial arts skills when he disarmed Cooper in a Las Vegas hotel room with a flying kick, demonstrating his quick reflexes and sense of humor.
Jumpsuits That Stole the Show
Elvis’s jumpsuits, first introduced in the 1970s, were as much a part of his identity as his music. Initially weighing 25-30 pounds, these elaborate outfits became more intricate over the years, with some tipping the scales at 75 pounds due to heavy embroidery and jewels. His most famous jumpsuit, the “Aloha” or “American Eagle,” cost $65,000 to create—a price that would quadruple in today’s economy.
Elvis and the Charts
Even decades after his death, Elvis remains a powerhouse in the music industry. In 2023, Forbes ranked him as the second- highest-earning deceased celebrity, with $100 million in revenue. He continues to sell over one million albums annually, proving that his music transcends generations.
ATwin Brother and a Las Vegas Comeback
Elvis was born 35 minutes after his identical twin brother, Jesse Garon Presley, who was stillborn. This loss profoundly impacted him throughout his life.
Elvis’s Las Vegas career began in 1956 at the New Frontier Hotel, where he performed as “The Atomic Powered Singer.” After a 13-year hiatus from the Vegas stage, Elvis made a triumphant return in 1969, performing 837 consecutive sold-out shows until 1976.
The King Without Borders
Though Elvis’s music reached global audiences, he never performed outside North America, aside from a few shows in Canada in 1957.
Many speculate his manager, Colonel Tom Parker, refused international tours due to his status as an illegal immigrant who feared being denied reentry into the U.S.
Elvis NeverWrote a Song
Elvis recorded more than 600 songs in his career, though he didn’t write or compose any of them. On some of his records, he is listed as a cowriter, due to his label demanding certain songwriters to give up 50 percent of the credit before Elvis began recording it. He even appeared in one commercial for Southern Maid Donuts in 1954, singing an unreleased jingle in exchange for a box of donuts.
The only commercial Elvis ever did. However, Elvis made 17 major television appearances and starred in 31 movies. In 2004, a jukebox musical, All Shook Up, was released with music from Elvis Presley. However, the movie featuring the most Elvis tunes is Disney’s Lilo & Stitch.
From humble beginnings to global superstardom, Elvis Presley remains one of the most influential figures in music and culture. His legacy continues to shine, reminding us why he will always be the King.
Happy birthday, Elvis!
