Elvis Birthday

Today, Jan 8th, is Elvis Presley’s birthday.

Elvis would celebrate his 73rd birthday today if not for that unfortunate day over 30 years ago on August 16th, 1977.

Around the world however the greatest fans of any entertainer continue to keep his memory alive.

Also I feel his legacy has continued burning bright because of the wonderful job his estate has been doing over the past 25 years.

As is tradition this time of year you’ll be able to find Elvis specials, Elvis movies and Elvis events happening on television, radio and the internet from around the world today.

Yesterday as I was reflecting over my years of being an Elvis fan I wondered….

“how long will people continue remembering and celebrating Elvis birthday?”

I also thought of how some of the great leaders of our country are only remembered on their birthdays and when they are it’s mostly when there’s a national holiday that surrounds it.

Yes they are remembered hundreds of years after their death because of their large contribution
to founding this great land.

Then there’s Elvis Presley the greatest entertainer who rose to fame coming from a poor family in Tupelo Mississippi born Jan 8th 1935.

I’ve even began to think how it’s possible that 2 thousand years from now, when the earth has gone through massive change and possibly covered in water or volcanic ash, and new life walks the earth and begins looking for ruins of our ancient civilization they discover….

statues of a man wearing jeweled jumpsuits - dolls with long hair and sideburns - shiny disc with this earth mans pictures on them - etc.

Far fetched maybe but theirs one thing I’m certain of and that is….

Elvis Presley is the ONE celebrity and entertainer that will FOREVER be remembered for centuries to come.

A bit off topic for this post however while I’m here I’d like to comment about some of the newer artist and them breaking or passing Elvis in record sales.

From time to time publicity of an artist who does indeed break one of Elvis records will hit the news but lets keep it in perspective.

Elvis set the stage and became the artist to try to outsell because of his magnitude and drawing power both on record and in live concerts.

You won’t hear them comparing their sales records to…..

“Selling more records than the Monkeys” or “Selling more records than Neil Diamond” although I’m a big Neil fan… or

“Selling more records than AC/DC”

I’m sure you get my point.

Something else to seriously consider is the fact that while Elvis was breaking attendance records and selling Millions of albums from 1954 to 1977 just 23 short years he was not using the internet or all the mediums the newer artist today use to gain public attention at lightening speed.

There were no nightly entertainment shows like, Entertainment Tonight, or those shown on “E” or anything else like the stars of today are able to use to create massive attention for themselves.

Yes - Elvis was able to use television and radio unlike performers before his time.

Each generation of performers will have even more forms of media to help them reach possibly even greater numbers however ELVIS will forever be the one they will always compare themselves to or to try and out perform!

ELVIS forever reigns as the “King Of Rock & Roll!”

TCB

Jim