It’s hard to believe, but today marks the 75th anniversary of the birth of one of America’s most beloved entertainers, the one and only Elvis Presley. Many talented impersonators put on shows that are remarkably reminiscent of the King himself, but no one can match Elvis’ charisma and raw talent.
Elvis was much more than just an entertainer, he was a good man and a great American. Sadly, his greatness is overshadowed in the minds of many by the way he died. It’s easy to forget that the man who eventually became the brightest star in music history got his humble start singing gospel songs in church. And even as his popularity rose to unprecedented heights, he never forgot about God or shied away from thanking Him in public for giving him the talent that allowed him to achieve such stardom.
It’s also easy to forget that he made the patriotic decision to serve his country after being drafted into the U.S. Army just as his career began to burst through the stratosphere, even though he could easily have found a way to avoid it given his fame and powerful connections. Elvis’ fans wrote letters to the draft board by the thousands begging them to spare him from having to serve on active duty, but he answered the draft notice anyway and dutifully served his country for the two years it asked of him. Did he receive special treatment during his time in service? Undoubtedly. But he served, proudly wearing the uniform of the United States Army when others of his stature would have declined.
After his stint in the Army, Elvis re-entered civilian life and immediately picked up where he had left off as an entertainer. Even though some aspects of his later years in the business would become fodder for comedians the world over, troubles and all he was still a good man and a good American. The records he set and the firsts he achieved during his amazing career are now legendary, and even all these years after his death the King continues to be larger than life, “earning” more each year than many of the “stars” clawing their way up the charts today will earn in a lifetime.
When Elvis Presley died the world lost one of the greatest entertainers it would ever know. The video that follows is but a mere snapshot of the man and his amazing life.