The Day Elvis Died

I don't remember much about the day Elvis died in 1977 except that it was like getting hit by a huge ocean wave. Whoa....Elvis in 1977 had been relegated to Las Vegas and the Lounge Lizard set, but the rockers among us always appreciated his legend and music. He would always be the King, a white boy singing black music, and shepherding in the sex revolution with his infinite white hot light.

But, in our new age porno culture blackened by violence and criminality, Elvis was once a beacon of innocence and love, and despite the beating his film career took in the 1960s,  he was a treasured icon to little girls everywhere who could go to Saturday's matinee to see watch Elvis play the romantic hero and save the girl.  I loved those movies and had a mad crush on Elvis and Jerry Lewis because of their screen personas. One was dreamy and could sing, and the other made me laugh myself silly. No matter what they say about Elvis' film legacy, at least an 8-year old girl could go see them without witnessing sexual violence, foul language, and debauchery so prevalent in 'teen' movies today.  

Will Ferrell, so popular with the kids today, is no Jerry Lewis.  I'm watching "Talledega Nights"with my eight year old nephew and after a bit of tawdry dialog, he turns to me and asks, "What's a blow job?"   This movie is rated PG-13.

My eyes widened, my jaw drops, and I respond,  "Ummmm...I...I....I...dunno..." I stammered. Really? What DO you say? (This is why I don't have children) 

I turn around to said child's parents and they just weren't paying attention. 

When I was 8, I watched no more than a sultry kiss from Elvis planted on Ann Margret, and no mention of anything further.  It was all very romantic. Boy meets girl, Boy loses girl, Boy maybe gets girl back after some gratuitous fist fight and a musical number. 

"Kid Galahad," was wonderful as was "Flaming Heart,"  and "Jailhouse Rock." The rest were travel guides like "Fun in Acapulco," "Blue Hawaii," "Viva Las Vegas, " and then some were just cheesecake and music like "Clambake," and "Spinout," and "Double Trouble," but my mom was happy that the Catholic Church didn't list these movies as "Condemned," (more on that later) and I could go see them. 

I was in love with Elvis and wanted to marry him, but by 1977, I graduated to acid jazz and blues, punk, new age, Steely Dan, Led Zep, Stevie Nicks, and Stanley Clarke. 

I was in love with a real guy  I met in Poli Sci or maybe it was a college beer bash, and Elvis and perhaps catching his act in Vegas was always on my mind.  He was Greaser Glam rock and getting older, but who can forget Hound Dog or Heartbreak Hotel?

I always had Elvis albums in my collection - yes, vinyl - which one day after his death were STOLEN!  Whenever Elvis music came on, it resurrected some memory from childhood and a good feeling, like Christmas. And, there will never be a song like Jailhouse Rock or the mother of all rock videos like Jailhouse Rock where Elvis swung around poles in his chain gang prison garb. He was a great dancer, had a great voice, and  was sinfully good looking. 

So, in 1977 I felt bad, but he was '42' and I remember thinking 

"...Wow, he was so  OLD ...."

Ah, the folly of youth...Fast forward to when I'm 42 and I finally go visit Memphis and Graceland on my way to California.  I completely forgot Elvis is buried there and I'm staring at his grave where it says he is 42, and I'm thinking...

"Wow, he was so YOUNG!"

So, I finally caught up to Elvis in Memphis but he was long gone and it made me truly sad. He will always be in the magical realm of American folklore where of course, Elvis lives!