August 16, 1977

[Chris_]

Rock Idol Elvis Presley Dies at 42
^{By Larry Rohter and Tom Zito
Thursday, August 17, 1977}

Elvis Presley, who revolutionized American popular music with his earthy singing style and became a hero to two generations of rock 'n' roll fans, died yesterday in Memphis, Tenn. He was 42.

Presley’s body was discovered at 2:30 p.m. Memphis time by his road manager, Jerry Esposito, in a bathroom in the singer’s multimillion-dollar Graceland Mansion. He was rushed to the Baptist Memorial, where he was met by his personal physician, Dr. George C. Nichopoulos, and pronounced dead.

In 1956, when Presley came crackling out of every radio and speaker in the land, young Americans notions about independence -- from parents, from religion, from the values of the time -- were forming. Elvis became "The King" of rock 'n' roll, but also of the emerging youth culture. He was a young, hip-thrusting, white singing music that was essentially black. Part of his attraction was that the '50s teenagers viewed him as epitomizing everything they thought their parents feared they would become -- cocky, slick, brash, tough, black-leatherclad, motorcycle straddling, stiletto-shoed.

"This is the end of rock 'n' roll," said Bob Moore Merlis, an executive with Warner Bros. Records, who compiled an anthology of Presley’s early material several years ago for RCA. "The void he will leave is impossible to gauge," said Pat Boone, an early rival of Presley’s.

"The King is dead," said former Beatle John Lennon last night. "But rock 'n' roll will never die. Long live the King."

"His music was the only thing exclusively ours," said Carl Wilson of The Beach Boys. "His wasn’t my and mom and dad’s music. His voice was a total miracle in the music business."

© 1977 The Washington Post Co.

The Washington Post

[littlelamb]

It has been that long WOW

[Thor]

I was in the Mediterranean on that day....... aboard the USS Seattle

[Chris_]

I was in the Mediterranean on that day....... aboard the USS Seattle

Good God man! I was 4

[RobJohnson]

I was just a little kid then. I had just recently discovered my partent's Elvis albums and was quickly becoming a fan. I was sad.

[The Hollywood NeoCon]

My mom was a wreck for weeks after that. I was only 12 at the time, but I remember her and my father arguing over the fact that she wanted to make the trip to Graceland.

[Eupher]

Probably workin' in the mess hall that day.

I'd reenlisted just a few weeks before and was looking forward to continuing my Army career as a musician; I'd had enough of cooking.

Anyway, Elvis' croaking didn't impact me all that much. And while I've been to Memphis several times -- maybe a half-dozen -- I've never had a burning desire to visit the "shrine" complete with shag carpeting on the walls.

Mrs E allowed herself to be dragged through that place once and remarked how the decor was still very Seventies.

Gawd......

[NHSparky]

Jebus, people!  The man died ON THE SHITTER!!!  Let him rest already!!!

[Chris_]

[youtube=425,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YjnpEeh6ZKw[/youtube]

Catchy...

[vesta111]

[youtube=425,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YjnpEeh6ZKw[/youtube]

Catchy...

Is that date correct.?    I seem to remember I was living in Chesapeake VA. when he died but in 1977 I was living in Norfork.

We lost Agatha Christie and Louis L'Amour some where in that decade I must have them confused.


Those who bought a ticket to the concert in Bangor Maine and kept them instead of getting their money back, each year they go up in value.

[Eupher]

Is that date correct.?    I seem to remember I was living in Chesapeake VA. when he died but in 1977 I was living in Norfork.

We lost Agatha Christie and Louis L'Amour some where in that decade I must have them confused.


Those who bought a ticket to the concert in Bangor Maine and kept them instead of getting their money back, each year they go up in value.

they have concerts in Bangor, Maine?

[vesta111]

they have concerts in Bangor, Maine?

Yes they do and that Concert was the last one he never got to play.

Sold out it was, buses coming in from NY. and all over New England.

Storeys went out that as the people lined up to get into the building, wondered why the windows were covered and police and Emt's came pulling in.

Must have been quite a scene telling the people that Elvis had in fact left the building--for good.

[NHSparky]

Uh, Vesta...?  Darlin?

He was supposed to play Bangor on the 17th.  I'm thinking they already knew.  Elvis died at Graceland, hon.

[thundley4]

Yes they do and that Concert was the last one he never got to play.

Nope, I'm sure there were other concerts he never got play.

[Wineslob]

"And now, in other news, Elvis Presley is still dead".

[NHSparky]

"And now, in other news, Elvis Presley is still dead".

One of the best running gags on SNL ever.

[Eupher]

One of the best running gags on SNL ever.

They did that a number of times. A few years earlier, Chevy Chase would announce with a good amount of authority on Weekend Update that General Francisco Franco was dead.

Who came up with that "Elvis has left the building" crap?

[Chris_]

Who came up with that "Elvis has left the building" crap?

Some of these people on Wikipedia really need to find another hobby: "Elvis has left the building" Wikipedia page

[Eupher]

Some of these people on Wikipedia really need to find another hobby: "Elvis has left the building" Wikipedia page

Good grief. 

[vesta111]

Uh, Vesta...?  Darlin?

He was supposed to play Bangor on the 17th.  I'm thinking they already knew.  Elvis died at Graceland, hon.

Sparky it is only human nature to want to believe that a Hero or beloved person is not REALLY dead.

Jim Morrison of the Doors is another one that died a strange death in the bathroom.


Had it not been for all the witnesses to M. Jacksons death there would be rumors floating about that he was seen in Detroit at a burger joint.

[Eupher]

Sparky it is only human nature to want to believe that a Hero or beloved person is not REALLY dead.

Jim Morrison of the Doors is another one that died a strange death in the bathroom.


Had it not been for all the witnesses to M. Jacksons death there would be rumors floating about that he was seen in Detroit at a burger joint.

You addressed this to Sparky, but I can't help but comment here.

It is NOT human nature to want to believe that a hero or beloved person is not really dead. It is the mark of someone DELUSIONAL or otherwise mentally incapacitated to not believe that a "hero" -- just how in the hell could Elvis be considered some kind of freakin' hero, vesta???? -- isn't dead.

You are a spooky lady, v. 

[Thor]

You addressed this to Sparky, but I can't help but comment here.

It is NOT human nature to want to believe that a hero or beloved person is not really dead. It is the mark of someone DELUSIONAL or otherwise mentally incapacitated to not believe that a "hero" -- just how in the hell could Elvis be considered some kind of freakin' hero, vesta???? -- isn't dead.

You are a spooky lady, v. 

I think that John Wayne was a hero to many people. However, we didn't hear any rumors that he was alive after he was buried. John Wayne is still one of my "heroes".

I agree with you, 'Bone Blower... Elvis, a hero?? Maybe to the teenage girls of the 50s and early 60s. Little beyond that. Even still, I wouldn't use the term, "hero'.

[Duke Nukum]

I was 12 then and we had spent the afternoon at my aunt's house.  While the adults were talking, we children were playing and the TV was on when the news broke.

[thundley4]

OMG!!  Elvis Presley is dead?  When did this happen? 

[PatriotGame]

Sparky it is only human nature to want to believe that a Hero or beloved person is not REALLY dead.

Jim Morrison of the Doors is another one that died a strange death in the bathroom.


Had it not been for all the witnesses to M. Jacksons death there would be rumors floating about that he was seen in Detroit at a burger joint.

Ready for this:

Elvis was a huge pill freak! Uppers in the morning and throughout the day, pain killers and downers in the evening to sleep. Well over 120 pills a day for years. All those pills have fillers in them to keep their shape and make them a specific size. The pain pills can contain high amounts of Tylenol too. Bad thing about narcotics (pain and downers) is they can/will suppress the natural digestive muscular motions of the intestines and colon yielding to constipation.

A few years back, I heard a radio interview of a guy that was assistant to the coroner that performed the autopsy on The King. Elvis died from a brain aneurysm most likely caused by "pushing" (grunting) too hard while trying to defecate. Yes, he was found dead sitting on the toilet, while trying to take a crap.

During the autopsy, they found (SPORK) OVER THIRTEEN POUNDS of undigested white caulky prescription pill filler compacted in his large intestine and colon.
****ing drug abuse is bad and has killed so many needlessly.