Elvis lives on - even though he died 45 years ago

Elvis rock-and-rolls to stardom! See it all with the new Elvis flick, which starts on June 6. The Elvis yarn could not be better told. 

A jet once owned by Elvis Presley, reported AAP, has sold for more than half-a-million dollars.

The jet had been sitting in Roswell, New Mexico for 35 years.

The press agency said that the plane sold at auction for $US430,000 ($576,000) to an undisclosed buyer. It added that the auction house said Elvis designed the interior that has gold-tone woodwork, red velvet seats and red shag carpet.

It added the red 1962 Lockheed Jetstar even though it had no engine and restoration was needed in its cockpit.

In the 1970s, reported Anthony O’Grady, when Elvis was constantly touring America, many of his shows presented him as a bloated, pallid parody of his own legend. Remarkably, though, his voice never failed.

He died in 1977, 45 years ago since he passed away.

Early after his death, his frantic fans were crying on his anniversary “is this the year you planned to do something different”… “I wonder when you are going to come out of hiding”… “If you could drop me a line to say you are well” … “I know deep down that you you’re alive” and so on.

Elvis in an iconic 1970s pose. 

Even when he was dead or alive, Elvis was still the super money-maker of all facets of music.

It’s 40 years ago that the undisputed King of Rock n’ Roll died at Graceland, his Memphis home. Officials of Memphis are still saying that Elvis is purported to bring millions of dollars a year to his hometown.

In a career that spanned 23 years, he made 33 movies and dozens of hit records as a matter of course. He went from Memphis truck driver to the most successful and remembered rock star the world has known.

Elvis wearing the white ‘Lionhead’ jumpsuit.

Born into poverty in Tupelo, Mississippi, Elvis was the surviving member of twins. His first public appearance was at a Country Fair where he sang Old Shep at the age of 10. In 1954, while working as a driver, he was discovered by Sun Records supremo Sam Phillips.

His first hit, That’s All Right Mama, was released in August.

He was with Sun Records for two years and then he signed with manager Colonel Tom Parker who moved him to RCA Records and topped charts around the world with Heartbreak Hotel.

Even a two-year stint in the army could not dent his spectacular popularity.

Sadly, his health deteriorated in the mid-70s due to his dependence on drugs. By the time of his death, he was grossly overweight and obviously ailing.

The legend lives on, and it is the measure of his greatness that we still pay homage to the King of Rock today.

<< Anthony O’Grady, Anthony Batson in New York  carried by The Sun (Sydney); Frank Morris.