Memphis State University - DeSoto Yearbook (Memphis, TN)

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And now, the end is near, And so I face the final curtain. My friend, I say it clear, I state my case of which I ' m certain. I ' ve lived a life that ' s full; I ' ve traveled each and every highway. But more, much more than this, I did it my way. Regrets, I ' ve had a few, But then again, too few to mention. I did what I had to do, And so it proved, without exception. I planned each chartered course and careful step along the bi-way. And more, much more than this, I did it my way. Yes, there were times, I ' m sure you knew When I bit off more than I could chew; But through it all and every doubt, I ate it up and spit it out. I faced it all, and I stood tall And did it my way. I ' ve loved; I ' ve laughed and cried; I ' ve had my fill, my share of losing. And now as tears subside, I find it all so amusing. To think I did all that, And let me say, not in a shy way But more, much more than that, I did it my way. My Way Elvis Presley 1935-1977 Limelight 21

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An Era Comes to an End; Elvis Presley Dies at Age 42 Memphis made a painful dis- covery this summer: how it feels to lose a son. And like a bereaved mother, Memphis mourned. A legend came to an end August 16, sometime between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. where it should have — in the Graceland mansion. Elvis Presley was dead, a victim of car- diac arhythmia at the age of 42. Shock waves echoed throughout the city and the world. Everyone clung to the hope that it was not true, it couldn ' t be. But slowly, the awful news was absorbed. An estimated 200,000 people held a tenacious vigil outside the gates of Graceland, brought together by their love for Elvis. The legend began January 8, 1935 in a modest house on the out- skirts of Tupelo, Miss., where twins were born to Gladys and Vernon Presley. Perhaps the death of one of the twins at birth caused Gladys to develop a deep bond with the surviving twin named Elvis that lasted past her death in 1958. Regular attendance at the First Assembly of God Church in Tupelo was stressed to Elvis by his mother. It was in the church that Elvis developed a taste of gospel music. It remained an un- dercurrent of his singing style. Elvis later attributed his famous hip gyrations to the preachers who cut up all over the place. At age ten, when most boys spend their time pretending, Elvis was becoming a reality. With an emotional rendition of Old Shep he placed second in the Mississippi-Alabama State Fair talent show. Above: In his concert at Alexandria, Louisiana, Elvis performs Love Me Tender, the theme of his first movie. 20 Limelight

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He was the greatest friend I ever had, the most generous person I have ever known and he never forgot his friends. — George Klein Vernon moved his family to Memphis in 1948. Sporting a ducktail in the land of crewcuts, Elvis enrolled in Humes High School. He became a popular figure after appearing in a Humes talent show, where he again daz- zled an unsuspecting audience. Sam Phillips of Sun Record Company once said if he could find a white man who had the Negro sound he could make a billion dollars. Little did he know that man was about to make his debut. Elvis, on a lunch break from his job as a truck driver, went to Memphis Recording Ser- vice to record his mother ' s birth- day present. From then on, nothing stood in his way. Elvis Presley made 45 records that sold more than one million copies. Tunes like Jailhouse Rock, Heartbreak Hotel, Don ' t Be Cruel and Are You Lonesome Tonight? established Elvis as the King of Rock and Roll. His movies were equally suc- cessful. There were 33 in all, beginning with Love Me Ten- der in 1956. Throughout the semester, stu- dents were constantly reminded of the singer ' s death. Controversies surrounding the cause of death and even an attempt to steal his body kept Elvis ' name in the news. The bodies of the late singer and his mother were moved to Graceland and the gravesites were opened to the public. For Elvis ' adoring fans, the summer of 1977 would be remem- bered as a sad one. Although Elvis was out of sight, he would never be out of mind. The memories created by his music would never be forgotten. 22 Limelight M J • • •••■■■ ■ . 1 |.; v JP % Je ' ■fek • TB i , 11 n m m « » , 1 M m A . —. m ■ Top: Elvis demonstrates how he earned the nickname Elvis the Pelvis. Above: Elvis points to the sky after his moving version of Dixie.